Chemical Equilibrium and Ocean Acidification Vocabulary

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the key chemical concepts, pH scales, and oceanographic changes discussed in the lecture notes.

Reversible reaction

A chemical reaction in which the products re-form the original reactants.

Chemical equilibrium

A state of balance in which the rate of a forward reaction equals the rate of the reverse reaction and the concentrations of products and reactants remain unchanged.

Châtelier’s principle

The principle that states that a system in equilibrium will oppose a change in a way that helps eliminate the change.

Ocean acidification

Decrease in the pH of ocean water due to the absorption of abnormally high levels of carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) from the atmosphere as a fuel source.

pH

A value that is used to express the acidity or basicity (alkalinity) of a system; each whole number on the scale indicates a tenfold change in acidity; a pH of $7$ is neutral, a pH of less than $7$ is acidic, and a pH of greater than $7$ is basic.

Neutral

Substances with a pH of $7$ (neither acidic nor basic).

Acidic

A substance that releases hydrogen ions in water, forming a solution with a pH of $7$ or less.

Basic

A substance that releases hydroxide ions in water, resulting in a pH greater than $7$.

Ionize

The process of converting electrically neutral atoms, molecules, or compounds into electrically charged particles by gaining or losing an electron.

Strong acid

An acid that ionizes completely in a solvent.

Strong base

Substances that completely dissociate into cations and hydroxide ions.

Weak acid

An acid that releases few hydrogen ions in aqueous solution.

pH meter

A device used to determine the pH of a solution by measuring the voltage between the two electrodes that are placed in the solution.

Carbonic sink

A system that absorbs and stores carbon dioxide.

Carbonic acid

The unstable acid formed when carbon dioxide dissolves in water.

Bicarbonate ions

Negatively charged electrolytes that balances pH in the human blood system.

Dynamic equilibrium

When the forward and reverse processes happen at the same rate, resulting in a constant concentrations.

Global

Worldwide; all around the world.

Human activities

Conscious actions performed by humans to achieve specific goals, work, and culture.