# Ocean Acidification: Chemistry and Coral Reef Loss
> Learn how CO2 and carbonic acid dissolve calcium carbonate (CaCO3) skeletons, leading to coral bleaching and the decline of marine ecosystems.

Tags: ocean-acidification, coral-bleaching, marine-biology, environmental-science, chemistry, climate-change
## Hawaii: A Personal Connection to Ocean Chemistry
- A story about surfing and diving in Hawaii leads to an exploration of ocean health.
- Contrasts vibrant, healthy reefs with grey, crumbling 'bleached' reefs that look like underwater graveyards.

## The Biology of Coral
- Coral is a living animal (polyp), not a rock or plant.
- It builds skeletons from calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), the same material found in limestone and seashells.
- When coral dies, it loses its vibrant tissue, leaving behind a hard, grey skeleton.

## The Chemical Process: Ocean Acidification
- Atmospheric CO₂ dissolves into seawater to form carbonic acid (H₂CO₃).
- This chemical reaction lowers the ocean's pH, making it more acidic.
- The acid dissolves the CaCO₃ skeletons of coral reefs, effectively eating them away.

## Global Impact and Statistics
- 50% of the world's coral reefs have been lost since the 1950s.
- Ocean acidity has increased by 30% (pH drop from 8.2 to 8.1).
- 25% of all marine life relies on coral reef ecosystems for survival.
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