Ocean Acidification

Ocean acidification refers to the process by which the ocean becomes more acidic due to the absorption of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere. When CO₂ dissolves in seawater, it forms carbonic acid, which dissociates into bicarbonate ions and protons, leading to an increase in the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+). This increase in H+ concentration results in a decrease in the pH level of the ocean.

To understand why the pH level goes down, we need to recall that pH is a scale used to specify the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. It is important to know the formula:

Where [H⁺] represents the concentration of hydrogen ions. Since pH is inversely related to [H+], an increase in hydrogen ions due to ocean acidification leads to a reduction in pH value, thus making the solution more acidic.

Accordingly, the correct answer to the question is: The pH level goes down.