Ocean chemistry

Okay kiddo, let's talk about the water in the ocean and what's inside it.

You know how we have blood running through our bodies? Well, the ocean water has something similar called "salinity". Think of it like saltiness, but not quite the same. It's a measure of how much salt and other minerals are in the water.

Sea creatures use some of these minerals to build their shells or bones, just like we use calcium to build our bones. But not all minerals are the same, and some can be harmful if there are too many of them in the water.

Another important thing to know is that the ocean is like a giant recycling program. It has currents that move water and minerals around, and it goes through a process called "ocean circulation". That means the water moves around the world and goes through changes.

One of the changes that happen is called "acidification". It's a big word, but it means the water is getting more acidic. The main cause of this is when the ocean takes in carbon dioxide gas from the air. You know how you breathe out air and it has carbon dioxide in it? Well, factories and cars also release carbon dioxide into the air, and this builds up over time.

As the ocean takes in more carbon dioxide, it changes the chemistry of the water. This can make it harder for some sea creatures to build their shells, and can also make it easier for harmful algae to grow.

So, we have to be careful about what we do to the air and the water. It's important to keep the ocean chemistry balanced so that sea creatures can thrive and we can enjoy the benefits of the ocean too!