Question

One of the possible consequences of global warming is an increase in the temperature of ocean water. The oceans serve as a "sink" for \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\) by dissolving large amounts of it. (a) How would the solubility of \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\) in the oceans be affected by an increase in the temperature of the water? (b) Discuss the implications of your answer to part (a) for the problem of global warming.

Short answer

In conclusion, an increase in ocean water temperature due to global warming will cause a decrease in the solubility of \(\mathrm{CO}_2\). This leads to a higher concentration of \(\mathrm{CO}_2\) in the atmosphere, worsening the greenhouse effect and exacerbating global warming. Furthermore, the ocean's ability to act as a \(\mathrm{CO}_2\) sink will be reduced, making the removal of excess \(\mathrm{CO}_2\) more challenging and resulting in various negative consequences for the Earth's ecosystem.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the relationship between solubility and temperature

According to the principles of chemistry, for most compounds, the solubility increases with increasing temperature, but for gases like \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\), the opposite is true. The solubility of gases tends to decrease as the temperature increases. This behavior can be explained using Le Chatelier's principle.

Apply Le Chatelier's Principle

Le Chatelier's principle states that if a system at equilibrium is subjected to a change in conditions, the system will adjust itself to counteract the change and reach a new equilibrium state. When the temperature of ocean water increases, the equilibrium in the following reaction will shift in the direction that absorbs heat: \[ CO_2_{(aq)} + H_2O_{(l)} \rightleftharpoons H_2CO_3_{(aq)} \] The forward reaction releases heat, so in order to absorb the extra heat resulting from the increase in temperature, the reaction will shift to the left, meaning the solubility of \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\) in the ocean water will decrease.

Implications for global warming

Based on the knowledge we gained in steps 1 and 2, we can deduce two major implications of decreasing \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\) solubility for global warming: 1. If the solubility of \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\) decreases, then more \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\) will remain in the atmosphere instead of getting dissolved in the ocean water, leading to an increased concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This will cause an enhancement in the greenhouse effect, ultimately resulting in an even higher increase in temperature and worsening the problem of global warming. 2. The ocean's ability to act as a \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\) sink will be reduced, making the removal of excess \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\) from the atmosphere more challenging. This will accelerate the warming of the planet, leading to various negative consequences such as melting ice caps, rising sea levels, and other climate-related issues. In conclusion, if ocean water temperature increases due to global warming, the solubility of \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\) in ocean water will decrease. It will result in a higher concentration of \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\) in the atmosphere and accentuate the problem of global warming, along with several associated adverse effects on the Earth's ecosystem.