Question

which of the following statements identify a way in which acid rain is harmful to aquatic environments? select 2 correct answers. a acid rain raises the ph of the water, increasing nutrient availability and causing algal blooms. b acid rain lowers the ph of water, harming fish and other aquatic organisms. c acid rain reduces the ph of oceans, dissolving limestone and causing coral reefs to fall apart. d acid rain can change the way sound moves through water, confusing whales and other marine mammals.

Explanation:

Acid rain has a low pH (is acidic). When it enters aquatic environments:

• For option B: Lowering the pH of water (making it more acidic) can harm fish and other aquatic organisms as they are adapted to a certain pH range.
• For option C: Oceans have some carbonate - based structures (like coral reefs which are made of calcium carbonate). Acid rain (which is acidic, reducing the pH of the ocean water) can react with calcium carbonate ($CaCO_3 + 2H^+

ightarrow Ca^{2+}+H_2O + CO_2\uparrow$) and dissolve limestone (which is mainly calcium carbonate) and cause coral reefs (made of calcium carbonate) to fall apart.

Option A is incorrect because acid rain lowers the pH (makes water more acidic), not raises it. Option D is incorrect as acid rain does not change the way sound moves through water in a significant way that confuses whales and other marine mammals.

Answer:

B. Acid rain lowers the pH of water, harming fish and other aquatic organisms.
C. Acid rain reduces the pH of oceans, dissolving limestone and causing coral reefs to fall apart.