build their own protective shells To do this a growing oyster will draw calcium and carbonate from the water creating a compound called calcium carbonate CaCO3 Examine the image Two chemicof equations dictute ocean acidification CO H O Co Co ocum Ocean Acidification What Does It Mean for Oysters conte 2HCO Abone halomp carbonate Carbon dioxide reacts with seawater and cortionate to form bicarbonato This reduces the amount of carbondeovalable in the seawater which outers and other manne ey use to build the shells and skeletons This decrease in carbonate overlobility can slow growth and weaken heb Apted from eaction to Soy Concreto nosyreuter prodimtadinance C HO H CO carbonic acid HCO The buming of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere some of which then absorbed by the oceais Cortion dioxide reacts with seawater and carbonate to form carbonc acid which breaks down into hydrogen los and bicarbonate The increase in hydrogen tons couses a decrease in pH and an increase ocean acidity As the acidity increases ousters may need to spend more energy regulating the chemistry inside their bodies This may leave teas energy for important things like growth and reproduction YOU What happens to an oyster s ability to build its CaCO3 shell when waters become more acidic from tho