Transcript Slide 1
Composition of Ocean Waters
Salts and Salinity
Ions
Ions are stable forms of elements that acquire
an electrical charge by gaining or losing electrons
Elements that lose electrons and become
positively charged are called cations.
Elements that gain electrons and become
negatively charged are called anions.
Cations: K+, Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+
Anions: Cl-, CO3-2, SO4-2
Salts
Salts are formed by combining cations and
anions to form solids that have no charge.
Cations: K+, Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+
Anions: Cl-, CO3-2, SO4-2
K+ + Cl- = KCl
Ca+2 + 2Cl- = CaCl2
KCl, NaCl, MgCl2, CaCO3, CaSO4
Conversely, if solid salts are mixed with water
they dissolve and the ions go into solution
solution
solid
KCl
NaCl
Water
Water
K+ + Cl-
Na+ + Cl-
CaCO3
Ca+2 and
CO3-2
CaSO4
Ca+2 and
SO4-2
Ocean Salinity originates from dissolution
of salts and erosion of rocks and minerals
as water moves at or below the earth surface
River water contains dilute amounts
of dissolved salts that are ultimately
delivered to the oceans
As water evaporates, the oceans
concentrate the salts to levels far
exceeding those found in rivers.
Average Ocean Salinity = 3.5%
What kind of Salts?
River Salt Composition
KCl
KAlSi3O8
NaCl
CaAl2Si2O8
MgCl2
NaAlSi3O8
CaCO3
CaSO4
Ion
Carbonate
Calcium
Sulfate
Silicate
Chloride
Sodium
Magnesium
Potassium
River Water
35.15
20.39
12.14
11.67
5.68
5.79
3.41
2.12
Dominated by Carbonate, Calcium, Sulfate, and Silicate
Ocean Salt Composition
Cl-
Na+
Ion Sea Water (%)
Chloride
55.04
Sodium
30.62
Sulfate
7.68
Magnesium
3.69
Calcium
1.15
Potassium
1.10
Carbonate
0.40
Silicate
.0004
Na+ and Cl(85% of total)
Dominated by Chloride and Sodium
Percentage of Total Dissolved Minerals
River Water
Ion
Sea Water
35.15
Carbonate
.40
20.39
Calcium
1.15
79%
11.67
Silicate
.0004
12.14
Sulfate
7.68
5.68
Chloride
55.04 85%
5.79
Sodium
30.62
3.41
Magnesium
3.69
2.12
Potassium
1.10
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Alterations
• Enrich
Chloride and Sodium
in ocean water
Remove
Silica, Calcium, Carbonate
from river water
Enriching Sodium and Chloride
Solubility: ease of salt dissolution in water
sodium, potassium, and ammonium salts are soluble
chloride, bromide and iodide salts are soluble.
Once these types of ions reach the oceans they stay dissolved
NaCl Solubility 350 g/L
Ion
Chloride
Sodium
Sulfate
Magnesium
Calcium
Potassium
Carbonate
Silicate
Sea Water (%)
55.04
30.62
7.68
3.69
1.15
1.10
0.40
.0004
Both chloride salts and sodium salts are
extremely soluble in water and do not
combine with other elements to form solids
Alterations
• Enrich
Chloride and Sodium
in ocean water
Remove
Silica, Calcium, Carbonate
from river water
Calcium and Carbonate Removal
Incorporation into shells of marine invertebrates
Ca2+ + CO32- = CaCO3
Life and Silica
• Remove Silica, Calcium, Carbonate
Diatoms
Use silica as structural material
Percentage of Total Dissolved Minerals
Ion
Carbonate
Calcium
Silicate
Chloride
Sodium
Magnesium
Potassium
Sulfate
River Water
35.15
20.39
11.67
5.68
5.79
3.41
2.12
12.14
Sea Water
.40
1.15
.0004
55.04
30.62
3.69
1.10
7.68
Extra Credit Questions
1. Cations become positively/negatively
charged by gaining/losing electrons.
2. The dominant ion in river water is ___
3. The dominant ion in sea water is ___
4. Marine invertebrate shells are made from ____
Other Constituents in Ocean Water
The Oceans, Heat, and Carbon Dioxide
380 ppm
Global Temperature
CO2
Middle
Ages
Industrial
Revolution
Ocean Temperature
Oceans can buffer changes
in atmospheric temperature
Present and Future Problems
Gases/Heat
Gas
Warmer oceans
?
October, 2005
Rising CO2 and Ocean Chemistry
Gases Dissolve in Water
Gases
Gas
dissolution
Composition of the Atmosphere
Gases
Nitrogen
Oxygen
Argon
CO2
78.1%
20.9%
0.93%
0.038%
Oxygen
Solubility: 0.043 g/L
(20oC)
Carbon Dioxide
-
O
+
C
O
-
Solubility = 1.69 g/L
380 ppm
CO2
Solubility = 1.69 g/L
Between 1800 and 1994, the oceans have
removed about 118 billion metric tons of CO2.
Middle
Ages
Industrial
Revolution
Equivalent to 48 percent
of all fossil fuel emissions
Buffering
Carbon Dioxide also is an Acid
Dissolution of Carbon Dioxide
CO2 + H2O
H2CO3
H+ + HCO3-
H2CO3
H+ is acid
Water
CO2
Acid
Acids (H+) are reactive and dissolve a number of substances
Common Acid Dissolution
CuO + 2HCl → CuCl2 + H2O
Ag2O + 2 HCl → 2 AgCl + H2O
CaCO3
Fe2O3
Fe2O3 + 6H+
2Fe3+ + 3H2O
CaCO3 + H+
Ca2+ + HCO3-
Invertebrate shells and skeletons largely CaCO3
Corals, “lithic” plankton, clams, oysters
Water
CO2
H+
pH change: 8.179 to 8.104
CaCO3 + H+
Ca2+ + HCO3-
Acidification of the oceans
Inhibits the calcification and
growth of invertebrates
Analysis of coral cores shows a steady drop in calcification over the last 20 years
Coral Reef Bleaching
Temperature and Acidity
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17243164
Anthropogenic Inputs of Solutes to the Oceans
Homework II Oceanic Dead Zones
Due Friday, October 2nd in class
Assignment is posted on the website