Biological Equilibrium Processes One example of a biological equilibrium process in nature is the formation of a coral reef. Coral reefs, like the one shown in Figure 7.21, are diverse ecosystems that protect fish and provide natural breakwaters to protect coastlines. Tiny organisms, called polyps, which feed on small particles floating in the water, form coral reefs. These polyps also absorb nutrients and sugars from tiny photosynthetic algae that live inside the coral. A coral colony may consist of thousands of polyps that leave behind a hard, branching structure made of calcium carbonate when they die. The algae that live in the coral cement various corals and shells together with calcium compounds to create the coral reefs Many factors affect the health of coral, but increasing amounts of carbon dioxide, CO₂(g), in the atmosphere present a long-term threat. The burning of fossil fuels releases about 25 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year. Increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide enhance the greenhouse effect over time and, consequently, result in global warming. Higher global temperatures ultimately raise the temperature of the world's oceans. Even a small increase in seawater temperature causes coral to be stressed and to take on a bleached appearance. Chemical reactions in the seawater involve equilibrium processes. Carbon dioxide gas dissolves in water to form carbonic acid, H,CO,(aq). a weak acid. This creates an equilibrium system in seawater, involving three different reversible reactions: CD,(g) +H,O( = H,CO,(44) H_CO_{aq) +H_O0 =H,O+@q} + HCO,(aq) HCO, (aq) + H_O(Đ) = H,O*(@q) + CO,?"(aq) The equilibrium in seawater can be simplified to CO₂(g) + CO, (aq) + H₂O() 2HCO, (aq). This equilibrium is very important to the chemistry of the ocean and the health of coral reefs around the world. Carbon dioxide is not very soluble in water. However, as the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increases, more carbon dioxide gas dissolves in ocean water. As more carbon dioxide gas dissolves in the oceans, Le Châtelier's principle predicts a shift to the right, and the concentration of carbonate ion, CO,- (aq), decreases. The decrease in carbonate ion affects the amount of dissolved calcium carbonate that is available to coral polyps for making shells: CaCO,(s) = Ca²+ (aq) + CO,¹- (aq) With less calcium carbonate available, corals grow more slowly. The slow growth of the corals affects the entire ecosystem, because it limits the success of the other organisms that depend on the coral reef for food and shelter. Today, many groups are working together to conserve and restore coral reefs, including the World Wildlife Fund and the Coral Reef Alliance. Figure 7.21 Coral reefs are slow-growing ecosystems that are affected by changes to their environment. These ecosystems provide food and shelter to many organisms, as well as absorb about one third of the carbon dioxide gas released by fossil fuel combustion
Biological Equilibrium Processes One example of a biological equilibrium process in nature is the formation of a coral reef. Coral reefs, like the one shown in Figure 7.21, are diverse ecosystems that protect fish and provide natural breakwaters to protect coastlines. Tiny organisms, called polyps, which feed on small particles floating in the water, form coral reefs. These polyps also absorb nutrients and sugars from tiny photosynthetic algae that live inside the coral. A coral colony may consist of thousands of polyps that leave behind a hard, branching structure made of calcium carbonate when they die. The algae that live in the coral cement various corals and shells together with calcium compounds to create the coral reefs Many factors affect the health of coral, but increasing amounts of carbon dioxide, CO₂(g), in the atmosphere present a long-term threat. The burning of fossil fuels releases about 25 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year. Increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide enhance the greenhouse effect over time and, consequently, result in global warming. Higher global temperatures ultimately raise the temperature of the world's oceans. Even a small increase in seawater temperature causes coral to be stressed and to take on a bleached appearance. Chemical reactions in the seawater involve equilibrium processes. Carbon dioxide gas dissolves in water to form carbonic acid, H,CO,(aq). a weak acid. This creates an equilibrium system in seawater, involving three different reversible reactions: CD,(g) +H,O( = H,CO,(44) H_CO_{aq) +H_O0 =H,O+@q} + HCO,(aq) HCO, (aq) + H_O(Đ) = H,O*(@q) + CO,?"(aq) The equilibrium in seawater can be simplified to CO₂(g) + CO, (aq) + H₂O() 2HCO, (aq). This equilibrium is very important to the chemistry of the ocean and the health of coral reefs around the world. Carbon dioxide is not very soluble in water. However, as the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increases, more carbon dioxide gas dissolves in ocean water. As more carbon dioxide gas dissolves in the oceans, Le Châtelier's principle predicts a shift to the right, and the concentration of carbonate ion, CO,- (aq), decreases. The decrease in carbonate ion affects the amount of dissolved calcium carbonate that is available to coral polyps for making shells: CaCO,(s) = Ca²+ (aq) + CO,¹- (aq) With less calcium carbonate available, corals grow more slowly. The slow growth of the corals affects the entire ecosystem, because it limits the success of the other organisms that depend on the coral reef for food and shelter. Today, many groups are working together to conserve and restore coral reefs, including the World Wildlife Fund and the Coral Reef Alliance. Figure 7.21 Coral reefs are slow-growing ecosystems that are affected by changes to their environment. These ecosystems provide food and shelter to many organisms, as well as absorb about one third of the carbon dioxide gas released by fossil fuel combustion
Chapter26: Plant Nutrition And Transport
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1CT
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Briefly summarize this piece of text
Transcribed Image Text:Biological Equilibrium Processes
One example of a biological equilibrium process in nature is the formation of a coral reef.
Coral reefs, like the one shown in Figure 7.21, are diverse ecosystems that protect fish and
provide natural breakwaters to protect coastlines. Tiny organisms, called polyps, which
feed on small particles floating in the water, form coral reefs. These polyps also absorb
nutrients and sugars from tiny photosynthetic algae that live inside the coral. A coral colony
may consist of thousands of polyps that leave behind a hard, branching structure made of
calcium carbonate when they die. The algae that live in the coral cement various corals and
shells together with calcium compounds to create the coral reefs.
Many factors affect the health of coral, but increasing amounts of carbon dioxide,
CO₂(g), in the atmosphere present a long-term threat. The burning of fossil fuels releases
about 25 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year. Increased levels
of atmospheric carbon dioxide enhance the greenhouse effect over time and, consequently,
result in global warming. Higher global temperatures ultimately raise the temperature of
the world's oceans. Even a small increase in seawater temperature causes coral to be stressed
and to take on a bleached appearance.
Chemical reactions in the seawater involve equilibrium processes. Carbon dioxide gas
dissolves in water to form carbonic acid, H₂CO,(aq).
a weak acid. This creates an equilibrium system
in seawater, involving three different reversible
reactions:
CO,(g)+H_O(0)=H,CO,(aq)
H_CO,aq) +H_O(0=H,O*aq) + HCO, (aq)
HCO, (aq) +H_O(Đ) =H_O*(aq) +CO,? (@q
The equilibrium in seawater can be simplified to
CO₂(g) + CO,¹- (aq) + H₂O() = 2HCO, (aq).
This equilibrium is very important to the chemistry
of the ocean and the health of coral reefs around the
world.
Carbon dioxide is not very soluble in water.
However, as the concentration of carbon dioxide in
the atmosphere increases, more carbon dioxide gas
dissolves in ocean water. As more carbon dioxide
gas dissolves in the oceans, Le Châtelier's principle
predicts a shift to the right, and the concentration of
carbonate ion, CO,- (aq), decreases. The decrease
in carbonate ion affects the amount of dissolved
calcium carbonate that is available to coral polyps for
making shells:
CaCO,(s) = Ca²+ (aq) + CO,²-(aq)
With less calcium carbonate available, corals grow
more slowly. The slow growth of the corals affects
the entire ecosystem, because it limits the success
of the other organisms that depend on the coral
reef for food and shelter. Today, many groups are
working together to conserve and restore coral reefs,
including the World Wildlife Fund and the Coral
Reef Alliance.
Figure 7.21 Coral
reefs are slow-growing
ecosystems that are
affected by changes to
their environment. These
ecosystems provide food
and shelter to many
organisms, as well as
absorb about one third
of the carbon dioxide
gas released by fossil fuel
combustion.
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