Beau's Chemical Solution to Help Oysters Build Their Shells Faster by DeRoux, Beau (Student)

1. Whats happening

sderouxb — 2025-06-06 17:07:31 UTC

The oysters are dying, and here's why. The pH of the ocean is slowly falling, becoming more acidic. This is causing oysters to have less Calcium molecules to grab from the water during the earlier parts of their life, since calcium is vital to the construction of their shells. And without their shell, they cannot survive.
Our goal is that we can potentially find a way to reverse the problem and fuel the young oysters with calcium within our oceans, in order to help construct their shells. And restore the oyster population

4. Reflection

sderouxb — 2025-06-06 17:07:31 UTC

In this unit, I learned how Carbon Dioxide from my knowledge does not only effect the air around us, but also the what's beneath the water in our oceans. I learned more about ocean acidification and its affect on oysters. As it is crazy to think that living in the pacific northwest, oysters have been so present through many people's daily meals, and even throughout our environment.

2. The Restuarant's Perspective

sderouxb — 2025-06-06 17:07:31 UTC

Hello, my name is Maria Delgado. I have a restaurant in Seattle, WA and we specialize in giving the people what they want, OYSTERS! But recently, the oyster population has dropped, and my restaurant is losing business. Here are somethings that I am concerned about.

We have fewer oysters available due to acidification and contamination within the ocean.
Rising prices make oysters hard to offer on our amazing and cheap menu.
- Now here are some ways we can fix this. For My restaurant to combat the shortage
  1. We can partner with local farms to ensure oyster supply isn't disrupted
  1. We can encourage our customers to participate in oyster shell recycling initiatives.
  2. Also educating our customers about the impact our climate has made on seafood can bring attention and change to this problem

The Chem

sderouxb — 2025-06-13 17:16:54 UTC

So here's the chemistry. We know that CO₂ is entering the water at a very constant rate. This is causing the ocean to become more acidic, due to the increase in H⁺ ions because of the CO₂ bonding with one of the Oxygen and Hydrogen molecules, leaving a H⁺ left over.
- CO₂ + H₂O ⇌ H₂CO₃ ⇌ H⁺ + HCO₃⁻
With the H₂ bonding to CO₃, Ca²⁺ cannot bond leaving it unable for the oyster larvae to grab it out of the water in order to make their shell
Our solution is that if we plant sea grass or kelp, the plants can perform photosynthesis. Which would remove the amount of CO₂ from the water, raising the pH would cease the production of H⁺ molecules, and give oysters a stronger ability to construct their shells. And live their lives.