Compounds Connected to Coral Bleaching
My ecological concern is coral bleaching due to climate change. Like in all ecosystems, this one has many compounds that are related to how well the ecosystem will function. Here are just a few of the many compounds related to coral reef bleaching.
H₂O
Since this is an aquatic ecosystem, the compound H₂O (water) is very important. This compound is made up of 2 hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atom. These two elements are both non-metals, making water a covalent compound.
CaCO₃
Calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) is a compound found in the skeleton of the coral. The coral polyps form a sort of living skin over this skeleton. This compound contains 1 atom of calcium, 1 atom of carbon, and 3 atoms of oxygen. After some research online, I found that calcium carbonate has both ionic and covalent bonds in it, which is something I have yet to learn about myself. I highly suggest reading this article for more info on this topic, since I am not an expert.
CO₂
If you know anything about climate change, you know that carbon dioxide (CO₂) is its main cause. This compound is made of 1 atom of carbon and 2 atoms of oxygen. Since both of these elements are non-metals, carbon dioxide is a covalent compound.
Click here to learn more about ionic and covalent bonds!
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