Other Properties of Water

As you learned in this topic, pH is a measure of the amount of hydrogen ions present in a solution; in this case, seawater, which has a pH level of about 8.1, making it slightly basic. Higher hydrogen ion concentrations increase the acidity of solutions. Fortunately, carbon dioxide present in seawater acts as a buffer to help maintain a relatively constant pH level. Removing hydrogen ions will raise the pH level if the seawater becomes too acidic.

Even a slight change in pH affects the survival of some species. Unfortunately, due to the constant burning of large amounts of fossil fuels, the atmosphere contains too much carbon dioxide. Over time, the increased carbon dioxide levels raised slightly the ocean's acidity.

Water is the key to life on Earth; most life on Earth will die without access to sufficient water. With all of the water in the oceans, we should have enough for all living things.

However, seawater is too salty for most land-dwelling organisms, including humans. In areas near the ocean, but with little access to freshwater, a process called desalination helps remove the salts to make fresh, clean drinking water.