Their model estimates that it took Earth 500 million years to neutralize ocean acidity enough to support life.
Ben Matthews @ benjhm @sopuli.xyz Posts 0Comments 130Joined 2 yr. ago
Ben Matthews @ benjhm @sopuli.xyz
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pH 7 being neutral only works at STP (lab temperature). Actually the dissociation constant Kw of water increases a lot across the normal range of seawater (0-30oC), so in tropical seas there's a lot more of both H+ and OH- around. I'd imagine that molecules of early life could be stable at some temperatures - i.e. in some regions, while not in others.