Question

What is the effect of `"CO"_2` on pH?

Any help is much, much appreciated.

Answer 1

Does it not decrease `"pH"` from the equilibrium value....?

Explanation:

Carbon dioxide is an acidic oxide, for which the following equilibrium operates....

`CO_2(aq) + H_2O(l) rightleftharpoons HCO_3^(-) + H_3O^+`

And water saturated by carbon dioxide should have `"pH"` REDUCED from `7` on the basis of this equilibrium, and enhanced concentrations of `H_3O^+`.

For coral reefs around the globe, this is not good news...