Dissolved Ions In Saltwater

This experiment analyzed the dissolved ions in a certain sample of seawater that was collected all around Galveston Bay and allowed an understanding of the composition of saltwater. The students were separated into four groups, each received a sample of seawater from a different location, such as Buoy 21, Day Mark 1, Pelican Island Cut, and the Coast Guard Station.
The main ingredient in saltwater is water. Water is composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom that are covalently bonded and forms a polar molecule because the electrons are shared unequally. The unequal distribution causes the oxygen atom to have a negative pole and the two hydrogen atoms have a positive pole. The polarity of water makes it unique and allows it to perform as a solvent (Duke University, n.d.). Since water is a solvent, most material found in saltwater is dissolved. The most present ions are: sodium, chloride, bromine, and different …show more content…
This displays that the ocean is at equilibrium. However, there is a nonstop flow of ions going in and out of the ocean from nearby rivers that feed into the ocean (Duke University, n.d.). The salinity at the surface of the ocean depends on rain fall which means it is always changing (Kemker, 2014). Other elements that dissolve in saltwater are gases such as nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide. Nitrogen affects the growth of many proteins by all aquatic organisms. Oxygen is used by the organisms to breathe. Carbon dioxide is used by seaweed and other algae during photosynthesis. Also the levels of carbon dioxide affect the balance of acids and bases in saltwater when it produces carbonate ions under specific conditions (Duke University, n.d.). There is a lot of carbon dioxide in the ocean because of the burning of fossil fuels, coals, oils, and natural gases. The dumping of our waste into the ocean also affects the amount of carbon dioxide present (Stewart,