How can human activities change the pH of the environment?

1 Answer
Nov 18, 2016

Well, there are some data to suggest that increased concentrations of atmospheric #CO_2# has increased the #pH# of the oceans.

Explanation:

#CO_2# is an acidic oxide, whose acidic behaviour may be represented by the following equation:

#CO_2(g) + H_2O(l) rightleftharpoons H_3O^+ + HCO_2^-#

Oceanic #pH# levels may have increased over an historical time period. The depletion of the world's coral reefs is a direct consequence of ocean acidity.