Ocean Water Properties and Chemical Composition

Questions and Answers

What is the primary reason why ocean water is not suitable for drinking, cooking, or watering plants?

Its high temperature

Its high pressure

Its high salinity (correct)

Its low density

What is the main source of salt in the oceans?

Evaporation of seawater

Rocks containing sodium chloride on land (correct)

Underwater volcanoes

Rain and moving water in rivers and streams

What happens to the salt in oceans as water from the surface evaporates?

It becomes more concentrated (correct)

It gets diluted

It stays the same

It disappears

What is a unique property of ocean water?

It is layered, with dense water sinking and lighter water floating Signup and view all the answers

What is the percentage of Earth's water that is found in oceans?

97% Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the mineral that is the main source of salt in ocean water?

Sodium chloride Signup and view all the answers

What gases are dissolved in ocean water?

Nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of excessive growth of ocean plants due to nitrogen-rich fertilizer runoff?

Suffocation of other ocean creatures, such as crabs and fish Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of oceans in the study of global climate changes?

Oceans absorb and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere Signup and view all the answers

What affects the temperature of ocean water?

The distance from the equator Signup and view all the answers

Why does it take longer for the sun's energy to heat ocean waters?

Ocean water has a high heat capacity Signup and view all the answers

What is the freezing point of ocean water?

28 degrees Fahrenheit Signup and view all the answers

What two factors affect the density of ocean water?

Salinity and temperature Signup and view all the answers

What happens to cold, salty ocean water?

It sinks to the bottom Signup and view all the answers

Why do oceans play a crucial role in mitigating the effects of climate change?

They absorb and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Ocean Water Properties

Ocean water is salty due to high salinity, making it undrinkable and unusable for other purposes.
Salinity is the amount of salt dissolved in water, mainly originating from rocks containing sodium chloride (common table salt) on land.
Rain and moving water in rivers and streams wash over these rocks, carrying salt into the oceans.
Underwater volcanoes also contribute to the salt concentration in oceans.

Chemical Properties

Ocean water contains other chemicals like magnesium, sulfate, calcium, and potassium, essential for sustaining life.
Gases dissolved in ocean water include nitrogen (N2), oxygen (O2), and carbon dioxide (CO2).
Nitrogen from fertilizer runoff can cause excessive growth of ocean plants, leading to oxygen depletion and harm to other ocean creatures.
Oceans act as carbon sinks, absorbing and storing carbon dioxide, making them crucial for studying global climate changes.

Ocean Water Temperature

Ocean temperatures range from highest at the equator to increasingly colder towards the poles.
Ocean water has a high heat capacity, requiring more energy to change its temperature and taking longer to heat up and release heat.
The freezing point of ocean water is around 28°F, lower than freshwater due to its higher salinity.

Ocean Water Density

Ocean water density depends on its temperature and salinity, with denser water sinking to the bottom and less dense water floating on top.
Cold, salty water is denser than warm, less salty water.
This layered density structure is a unique property of ocean water.