Question 1

If the ocean's water evaporated completely leaving its salts behind, what would the dried residue look like?

Accepted Answer

A)  It would cover the entire planet with an even layer 45 meters thick. 
B)  It would evaporate into the air with the water. 
C)  It would leave a thin layer of salts at the bottom of the ocean basin. 
D)  Approximately 35% of the Earth would be covered with salt. 
A)  It would cover the entire planet with an even layer 45 meters thick. 
B)  It would evaporate into the air with the water. 
C)  It would leave a thin layer of salts at the bottom of the ocean basin. 
D)  Approximately 35% of the Earth would be covered with salt. A

Question 2

The density of seawater will increase when .

Accepted Answer

A)  the temperature increases 
B)  the salinity decreases 
C)  the salinity increases 
D)  dissolved gases increase 
A)  the temperature increases 
B)  the salinity decreases 
C)  the salinity increases 
D)  dissolved gases increase C

Question 3

Describe how carbon dioxide acts as a buffer in seawater.

Accepted Answer

The proportion of carbon dioxide gas in the ocean is greater than that in the atmosphere; however CO₂ still readily dissolves into seawater because it reacts with H₂O to change chemical forms. In the ocean, CO₂ combines chemically with water to form carbonic acid, (H₂ CO₃), which can further break down into bicarbonate (HCO₃^-) and carbonate (CO₃^2-). While carbonic acid will lower pH (more acidic), formation of bicarbonate and carbonate increase pH (more alkaline). These chemical changes help to balance pH and hence act as a buffer. This chemical equilibrium is important for marine organisms because the carbonate ions are an important component of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), the compound that forms the skeletal material of many marine organisms (sponges, corals, snails, sea stars, etc.). An increase in CO₂ ultimately reduces the amount of carbonate available to organisms for building their skeleton, another threat to their survival.

Question 4

Which of the following contains more heat?

Accepted Answer

A)  a pot of boiling water 
B)  a warm Jacuzzi 
C)  a room temperature swimming pool 
D)  the Pacific Ocean 
A)  a pot of boiling water 
B)  a warm Jacuzzi 
C)  a room temperature swimming pool 
D)  the Pacific Ocean

Question 5

What is the average residence time water stays in the ocean?

Accepted Answer

A)  about 4,100 years 
B)  only 9 days 
C)  forever 
D)  approximately 3 million years 
A)  about 4,100 years 
B)  only 9 days 
C)  forever 
D)  approximately 3 million years

Question 6

Carbon dioxide combines chemically with water to form a(n) .

Accepted Answer

A)  weak acid 
B)  weak base 
C)  strong base 
D)  strong acid 
A)  weak acid 
B)  weak base 
C)  strong base 
D)  strong acid

Question 7

Because CO2 dissolves readily in the ocean, it forms a carbonic acid making the average pH of the ocean slightly acidic.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Sound intensity increases as it travels through seawater because of spreading, scattering, and absorption.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

Why does ice float and why is this important for life in our ocean?

Accepted Answer

Most substances increase their density a

Question 10

What is meant by the mixing time of the ocean?

Accepted Answer

The ocean, as a vast body of water, is m

Question 11

The pycnocline can occur at the same range of depths as a halocline.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

How much water is on Earth and how does it circulate between the ocean, the atmosphere, and the land?

Accepted Answer

About 1.37 billion cubic kilometers (329

Question 13

How does water dissolve sodium chloride (NaCl)?

Accepted Answer

A)  Water molecules neutralize sodium ions (Na+) and chloride ions (Cl-). 
B)  The polarity of water causes the sodium ion (Na+) to separate from the chloride ion (Cl-). 
C)  When seawater evaporates, its ionic components combine to dissolve table salt. 
D)  Water molecules expand causing sodium ions (Na+) and chloride ions (Cl-) to decompose. 
A)  Water molecules neutralize sodium ions (Na+) and chloride ions (Cl-). 
B)  The polarity of water causes the sodium ion (Na+) to separate from the chloride ion (Cl-). 
C)  When seawater evaporates, its ionic components combine to dissolve table salt. 
D)  Water molecules expand causing sodium ions (Na+) and chloride ions (Cl-) to decompose.

Question 14

The ocean is stratified with respect to .

Accepted Answer

A)  pH and light transmission 
B)  temperature and salinity 
C)  the amount of dissolved oxygen 
D)  the amount of dissolved carbon dioxide 
A)  pH and light transmission 
B)  temperature and salinity 
C)  the amount of dissolved oxygen 
D)  the amount of dissolved carbon dioxide

Question 15

River water contributes which ions to the ocean?

Accepted Answer

A)  carbon dioxide and oxygen 
B)  hydrogen and oxygen 
C)  calcium and bicarbonate ions 
D)  nitrogen and carbon dioxide 
A)  carbon dioxide and oxygen 
B)  hydrogen and oxygen 
C)  calcium and bicarbonate ions 
D)  nitrogen and carbon dioxide

Question 16

The term "salinity" refers to the total quantity of .

Accepted Answer

A)  dissolved inorganic solids in water 
B)  sodium chloride dissolved in the ocean 
C)  chlorine in 1 kilogram of water 
D)  chloride ions in ocean water 
A)  dissolved inorganic solids in water 
B)  sodium chloride dissolved in the ocean 
C)  chlorine in 1 kilogram of water 
D)  chloride ions in ocean water

Question 17

The amount of dissolved oxygen that seawater can hold in solution will be greater in .

Accepted Answer

A)  colder water 
B)  warmer water 
C)  water with a higher salinity 
D)  water with lower pressure and density 
A)  colder water 
B)  warmer water 
C)  water with a higher salinity 
D)  water with lower pressure and density

Question 18

The property of water that accounts for the ability of liquid water to absorb large amounts of heat and change relatively little in temperature is called .

Accepted Answer

A)  high heat capacity 
B)  latent heat of evaporation 
C)  latent heat of fusion 
D)  freezing coefficient 
A)  high heat capacity 
B)  latent heat of evaporation 
C)  latent heat of fusion 
D)  freezing coefficient

Question 19

Heat can be carried to the polar regions .

Accepted Answer

A)  in ocean currents from the tropics 
B)  in the circumpolar ocean current 
C)  as water is transported away from the poles 
D)  as water is transported toward lower latitudes 
A)  in ocean currents from the tropics 
B)  in the circumpolar ocean current 
C)  as water is transported away from the poles 
D)  as water is transported toward lower latitudes

Question 20

As carbon dioxide dissolves at the surface of the ocean, it combines chemically to form a weak acid called carbonic acid.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

If the ocean's water evaporated completely leaving its salts behind, what would the dried residue look like?

The density of seawater will increase when .

Describe how carbon dioxide acts as a buffer in seawater.

Which of the following contains more heat?

What is the average residence time water stays in the ocean?

Carbon dioxide combines chemically with water to form a(n) .

Because CO₂ dissolves readily in the ocean, it forms a carbonic acid making the average pH of the ocean slightly acidic.

Sound intensity increases as it travels through seawater because of spreading, scattering, and absorption.

Why does ice float and why is this important for life in our ocean?

What is meant by the mixing time of the ocean?

The pycnocline can occur at the same range of depths as a halocline.

How much water is on Earth and how does it circulate between the ocean, the atmosphere, and the land?

How does water dissolve sodium chloride (NaCl)?

The ocean is stratified with respect to .

River water contributes which ions to the ocean?

The term "salinity" refers to the total quantity of .

The amount of dissolved oxygen that seawater can hold in solution will be greater in .

The property of water that accounts for the ability of liquid water to absorb large amounts of heat and change relatively little in temperature is called .

Heat can be carried to the polar regions .

As carbon dioxide dissolves at the surface of the ocean, it combines chemically to form a weak acid called carbonic acid.

An Ocean World

Plate Tectonics

The Ocean Floor

Atmospheric Circulation

Ocean Circulation

Waves and Tides

Coasts

Life in the Ocean

Marine Communities

Uses and Abuses of the Ocean

Filters

Exam 4: Water and Ocean Structure

If the ocean's water evaporated completely leaving its salts behind, what would the dried residue look like?

The density of seawater will increase when .

Describe how carbon dioxide acts as a buffer in seawater.

Which of the following contains more heat?

What is the average residence time water stays in the ocean?

Carbon dioxide combines chemically with water to form a(n) .

Because CO2 dissolves readily in the ocean, it forms a carbonic acid making the average pH of the ocean slightly acidic.

Sound intensity increases as it travels through seawater because of spreading, scattering, and absorption.

Why does ice float and why is this important for life in our ocean?

What is meant by the mixing time of the ocean?

The pycnocline can occur at the same range of depths as a halocline.

How much water is on Earth and how does it circulate between the ocean, the atmosphere, and the land?

How does water dissolve sodium chloride (NaCl)?

The ocean is stratified with respect to .

River water contributes which ions to the ocean?

The term "salinity" refers to the total quantity of .

The amount of dissolved oxygen that seawater can hold in solution will be greater in .

The property of water that accounts for the ability of liquid water to absorb large amounts of heat and change relatively little in temperature is called .

Heat can be carried to the polar regions .

As carbon dioxide dissolves at the surface of the ocean, it combines chemically to form a weak acid called carbonic acid.

An Ocean World

Plate Tectonics

The Ocean Floor

Atmospheric Circulation

Ocean Circulation

Waves and Tides

Coasts

Life in the Ocean

Marine Communities

Uses and Abuses of the Ocean

Filters

Because CO₂ dissolves readily in the ocean, it forms a carbonic acid making the average pH of the ocean slightly acidic.