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PaperclipPerfector  1yr ago (text post)   3460 thread views

Friday Fun Thread for September 8, 2023

Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.

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Went a little further. It kept throwing in there before that there is a huge problem:

The decline in the pH of the ocean is a serious problem for marine life. Many marine organisms build their shells and skeletons out of calcium carbonate, which is dissolved by acidic water.

So I asked, "What level of pH do I need in water to dissolve calcium carbonate?"

Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is a relatively insoluble substance in water. It will dissolve more easily in acidic water than in alkaline water. The pH level at which calcium carbonate begins to dissolve significantly is around 6.5.

This prompt seemed to be isolated enough that it didn't quite trigger its rant, though it did say:

However, it is important to note that dissolving calcium carbonate in water can also have negative environmental consequences. For example, it can contribute to the acidification of lakes and rivers.

So, I persisted a little. "What is the rate of pH change of the ocean due to climate change?"

The rate of pH change of the ocean due to climate change is currently about 0.1 pH units per century. [Add Rant]

It even finished its rant with:

We need to act now to protect the ocean from acidification. The future of our planet depends on it.

Finally, I gave it a math problem, "If the pH of the ocean right now is 8.1, but it is changing by about 0.1 pH units per century, and calcium carbonate starts dissolving at a pH of about 6.5, how many years will it take before the pH of the ocean is about acidic enough to start dissolving calcium carbonate?"

It binned it as a math problem, solved it as a math problem, told me it would take 16 centuries, gave me the python code it used, and then finished:

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.

No rant included, this time.

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