If increased C02 raises the acidity of the ocean will the acidity constantly be seeking neutral by reacting with other things and breaking down? If so what is it when it breaks down?
Coral.
Nitpick: Instead of more acidic, seawater is becoming less basic.
Surface ocean water is actually moving toward neutral. Here are past and projected pH:
1750 8.18
1995 8.10
2018 8.07
2050 7.95
2100 7.82
(7.0 is neutral; below 7 is “acidic.”)
Is this because of rising CO2 level in the atmosphere or all the melting ice (presumably neutral ) which is also raising the ocean levels ?
The CO2 reacts with water to form carbonic acid, which disassociates into hydrogen ions and bicarbonate ions. The hydrogen ions may react with carbonate in the water to convert it into bicarbonate. This reduces the amount of carbonate in the water, which many aquatic organisms use to build their skeletons out of calcium carbonate, in particular coral and some plankton. This is a simplification, but in effect ocean acidification can cause coral reefs to dissolve.