Question

1. you’ve been doing some research and have discovered that the breakdown of the green mineral olivine (aka, peridot), naturally found in rocks like gabbro, can remove carbon dioxide from seawater and ultimately make the carbon available to organisms like corals for building their skeletons. you come up with the idea that spreading sand - sized grains of this green mineral over many of the world’s beaches could accelerate the conversion of “living loop” carbon to “fossil loop” carbon, possibly removing it from the atmosphere—a solution to global climate change! what are two advantages and two challenges to your idea?

a. advantages
b. challenges

Explanation:

a. Advantages

1. Carbon Sequestration: Spreading olivine on beaches can chemically react with seawater to remove $\ce{CO_2}$, helping reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, which mitigates global warming.
2. Ecosystem Support: The carbon made available (as carbonate) can be used by marine organisms like corals to build their skeletons, promoting coral reef growth and enhancing marine biodiversity.

b. Challenges

1. Scale and Feasibility: Collecting, transporting, and spreading sufficient olivine globally would require massive infrastructure and energy, making large - scale implementation logistically and economically challenging.
2. Environmental Impact: The introduction of large amounts of olivine - derived minerals into marine environments could alter ocean chemistry (e.g., pH, mineral composition) in unforeseen ways, potentially harming non - target marine species or disrupting existing ecosystems.

Answer:

a. Advantages: 1. Reduces atmospheric $\ce{CO_2}$ to mitigate global warming. 2. Supports marine organisms (e.g., corals) in building skeletons.
b. Challenges: 1. Massive logistical and economic challenges for large - scale implementation. 2. Potential to disrupt marine ecosystems through altered ocean chemistry.