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Most of us have heard of the threats of global climate change, including melting icecaps, rising sea levels, and increases in extreme weather events. As bad as all of these consequences are, there is still another threat that lurks beneath the surface: ocean acidification. Increased carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere lead to greater amounts of dissolved carbon dioxide in the ocean, which decreases the pH of ocean waters. This makes it more difficult for marine creatures to build shells and could impact cold-water coral reefs, shellfish, and many types of plankton.

Students can explore this issue and possible solutions with the Ocean Carbon Equilibrium STEM Case. This case study looks at the erosion of mussel shells due to acidic seawater. After reviewing the chemistry behind this phenomenon, students explore possible solutions to reverse this trend, both on a local and global scale. This STEM Case represents a great application of chemistry equilibrium principles to a pressing real-world problem.

You can learn more about ocean acidification in this short documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVWZyDz--30&t=5s