Final answer:
Carbon Dioxide is injected into reservoirs as part of carbon capture and sequestration to mitigate atmospheric release and climate change. CO₂ reacts with water to form carbonate compounds, contributing to long-term carbon storage in marine sediments and limestone.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Carbon Dioxide is injected into a reservoir, such as those deep in the earth's crust or in the ocean, it is generally part of a process known as carbon capture and sequestration (CCS). This process is employed to help mitigate the release of CO₂ into the atmosphere from sources like coal combustion. CCS involves separating CO₂ from emissions sources, capturing it, and then storing it securely so that it does not contribute to atmospheric greenhouse gasses which are a driving factor of climate change.
Carbon Dioxide reacts with water to form carbonic acid, which then ionizes to form carbonate and bicarbonate ions. These ions can combine with calcium to form calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), which is a significant process for long-term carbon storage in the forms of marine organism shells and limestone sediment.
Overall, the injection of Carbon Dioxide into reservoirs is a technique used to prevent its release into the atmosphere and cycle it back into the Earth, where it can be stored long-term, keeping it out of the carbon cycle and reducing the impact of human emissions on climate change.