lake. Scientists now see acid, aluminum and shortages of calcium as the three determining factors in the extinction of fish. As well there is the problem of chlorine. In many parts of the world it is commonly found in the soil. If it enters the fish's environment it can be deadly. It affects many of the fish's organisms and causes it to die. As well it interferes in the photosynthesis process in plants. NaOH + HCl ----* NaCl + H2O The carbon in the water can become very dangerous for fish and plants in the water if the following reaction happens: CaCO3 + 2HCl ---* CaCl2 + H2CO3 then H2CO3 ---* H2O + CO2 The salt created by this reaction can kill. It interferes directly with the fish's nervous system. Acid lakes are deceivingly beautiful. The are crystal clear and have a luscious carpet of green algae on the bottom. The reason that these lakes are so clear is because many of the decomposers are dead. They cannot break down that material such as leaves and dead animals. These materials eventually sink to the bottom instead of going through the natural process of decomposition. In acid lakes decomposition is very slow. "The whole metabolism of the lake is slowed down." During this same period of time the Canadian department of fisheries spent eight years dumping sulfuric acid (H2SO4) into an Ontario lake to see the effects of the decrease in the PH over a number of years. At the PH of 5.9 the first organisms began to disappear. They were shrimps. They started out at a population of about seven million, but at the pH of 5.9 they were totally wiped out. Within a year the minnow died because it could no longer reproduce it's self. At this time the pH was of 5.8. New trout were failing to be produced because many smaller organisms that served as food to it had been wiped out earlier. With not enough food the older fish did not have the energy to reproduce. Upon reaching the pH of 5.1 it was noted that...
