Salinity Salt- ionic compound composed of a cation (+) and and anion (-) – Ionic bond- atoms...

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Salinity • Salt- ionic compound composed of a cation (+) and and anion (-) – Ionic bond- atoms transfer electrons to form electrostatic attraction

Transcript of Salinity Salt- ionic compound composed of a cation (+) and and anion (-) – Ionic bond- atoms...

Salinity

SalinitySalt- ionic compound composed of a cation (+) and and anion (-)Ionic bond- atoms transfer electrons to form electrostatic attraction

SolutionsSolution- molecules of one substance homogeneously dispersed among molecules of another substanceSolvent- more abundant substance (does the dissolving)Solute- substance being dissolvedDissociation- when salt dissolves its ions are pulled apart by water moleculeshttp://www.wou.edu/las/physci/ch412/dis_nacl.mov

Salinity- total concentration of dissolved salts (expressed in parts per thousand (ppt, %o)Salt cycle- how salt is added or removed from oceanAdded by runoff, erosion of coastal rock, and hydrothermal ventsRemoved by certain biological and chemical factorsThe ocean is in chemical equilibrium because these processes balance out so the average salinity does not change

Oceans salinity varies very little from 35 pptBrackish- freshwater mixes with saltwater (0.6- 30 ppt)