Question

The pH of healthy lakes is around 6.0. Due to acid rain, the pH of our lakes & rivers is decreasing. At low pH levels, producers such as phytoplankton cannot thrive. Decreased plankton can cause consumer populations to crash. The end result is a lake devoid of life. <b>If the pH of an unhealthy lake is 4.0, explain why adding NaOH would not be a good compound to "de-acidify" the lake to a healthy pH."</b>

Well...such a change would be disruptive, but is there any specific scientific reason?

Thanks,
Lucy

Answer 1

what effect will all those sodium salts have on the flora and fauna in the lake?

Answer 2

Oh...I think I understand now.
Does this make sense?

Sodium hydroxide will react with the acids in the lake to form water and a salt.

Flora and fauna cannot thrive in a salty environment (from what I remember in biology class, osmosis draws out water from their cells). Therefore, adding sodium hydroxide would be harmful to these organisms living in the lake.