These activities are designed to explore ocean acidifcation in the middle school classroom. As oceans absorb atmospheric CO2, they undergo a series of reactions that cause a reduction in normally stable ocean pH.

Our daily activities have a profound impact on water chemistry. One of the most pervasive chemicals in the products that we regularly use is phosphorus. It’s in fertilizer and cleaning agents. But excess phosphorus in aquatic ecosystems is a serious pollutant. In this activity, students estimate the amount of phosphorus in water discharged from a dishwasher and relate that to the Environmental Protection Agency’s recommended limits on phosphorus in lakes and streams.