Question

How can human activities change the pH of the environment?

Answer 1

Well, there are some data to suggest that increased concentrations of atmospheric `CO_2` has increased the `pH` of the oceans.

Explanation:

`CO_2` is an acidic oxide, whose acidic behaviour may be represented by the following equation:

`CO_2(g) + H_2O(l) rightleftharpoons H_3O^+ + HCO_2^-`

Oceanic `pH` levels may have increased over an historical time period. The depletion of the world's coral reefs is a direct consequence of ocean acidity.