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Enviro > Background Review > Flashcards

Background Review Flashcards

1
Q

Isotopes

A

Atoms of the same elements with different numbers of neutrons

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2
Q

Atoms of the same elements with different numbers of neutrons

A

Isotopes

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3
Q

What do environmental scientists use isotopes for

A

To evaluate environmental conditions such as air pollution

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4
Q

What can help tell whether pollution comes from a forest fire or combustion of fossil fuels

A

different isotopes (found in wood/fossil carbon found in coal)

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5
Q

Radioactive decay

A

The spontaneous release of material from the nucleus from unstable isotopes

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6
Q

The spontaneous release of material from the nucleus from unstable isotopes

A

Radioactive decay

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7
Q

What is the heat from radioactive decay used for by nuclear power plants

A

To produce steam that turns turbines to generate electricity

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8
Q

What does knowing the half-life of an element allow scientists to determine?

A

The length of time that a radioactive element may be dangerous

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9
Q

Cohesion

A

Water molecules sticking together

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10
Q

Water molecules sticking together

A

Cohesion

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11
Q

Adhesion

A

Water molecules sticking to other substances

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12
Q

Water molecules sticking to other substances

A

Adhesion

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13
Q

Surface tension

A

Results from the cohesion of water molecules at the surface of a body of water and creates a skin on the water’s surface

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14
Q

Results from the cohesion of water molecules at the surface of a body of water and creates a skin on the water’s surface

A

Surface tension

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15
Q

Capillary action & example

A

When adhesion of water moleculed to a surface is stronger than cohesion

-absorption of water by a paper towel
-transport of underground water
-water-conducting vessels in tree trunks

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16
Q

At what temperature does water boil (C)

A

100°C

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17
Q

At what temperature does water freeze (C)

A

0°C

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18
Q

______________ between water molecules means it takes a great deal of energy to change the temperature of water

A

Hydrogen bonding

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19
Q

Why does water in organisms protect them from wide temperature swings

A

Due to hydrogen bonding between water molecules which means it takes a great deal of energy to change the temperature of water

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20
Q

Neutral pH #

A

7

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21
Q

Basic pH #

A

8-14

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22
Q

Acidic pH #

A

0-6

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23
Q

What has a pH of 1

A

Stomach fluid

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24
Q

What has a pH of 2-3

A

Cold beverage

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25
Q

What has a pH of 4

A

Lakes affected by acid rain

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26
Q

What has a pH of 5-6

A

Normal rainwater

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27
Q

What has a pH of 7

A

Pure water

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28
Q

What has a pH of 8-9

A

Seawater

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29
Q

What has a pH of 11-12

A

Highest pH known to support life

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30
Q

What has a pH of 12-13

A

Household bleach

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31
Q

What has a pH of 13-14

A

Sodium hydroxide

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32
Q

Ocean acidification

A

As atmospheric concentration of CO2 have increased, more atmospheric CO2 has dissolved into oceans and the oceans have become more acidic

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33
Q

As atmospheric concentration of CO2 have increased, more atmospheric CO2 has dissolved into oceans and the oceans have become more acidic

A

Ocean acidification

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34
Q

Law of conservation of matter

A

Matter cannot be created or destroyed, it cannot change form

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35
Q

Matter cannot be created or destroyed, it cannot change form

A

Law of conservation of matter

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36
Q

How does the law of conservation of matter explain why we cannot easily dispose of hazardous material

A

The hazardous material turns up elsewhere in the environment where they may harm humans and other organisms

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37
Q

Inorganic compounds

A

Compounds that either do not contain carbon or contain carbon bonded to elements other than hydrogen

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38
Q

Is water an organic or inorganic compound

A

Inorganic

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39
Q

Is carbon dioxide an organic or inorganic compound

A

Inorganic

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40
Q

Organic compounds

A

Compounds that have carbon-carbon and carbon-hydrogen bonds

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41
Q

Carbohydrates

A

Compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms

42
Q

Compounds that have carbon-carbon and carbon-hydrogen bonds

A

Organic compounds

43
Q

Compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms

A

Carbohydrates

44
Q

Glucose written in elements

45
Q

What is glucose used for and by who

A

Used by plants and animals for quick energy

46
Q

What do plants store energy as

47
Q

What is starch

A

Long chains of glucose molecules

48
Q

Proteins
(What are they made up of & their purpose)

A

Made up of long chains of amino acids
-structural support, energy storage, internal transport, defense against foreign substances
-enzymes
-antibodies

49
Q

Nucleic acids

A

Organic compounds found in all living cells. Long chains make DNA and RNA

50
Q

Organic compounds found in all living cells. Long chains make DNA and RNA

A

Nucleic acids

51
Q

DNA

A

genetic material organisms pass to their offspring

52
Q

RNA

A

translates the code stored in DNA, which allows protein synthesis

53
Q

translates the code stored in DNA, which allows protein synthesis

54
Q

Lipids

A

Smaller molecules that dont mix with water
Form a major part of the membrane that surrounds cells

55
Q

Smaller molecules that dont mix with water
Form a major part of the membrane that surrounds cells

56
Q

Joule

A

Basic unit of energy

57
Q

Basic unit of energy

58
Q

Energy vs power

A

Energy is the ability to do work/transfer heat while power is the rate at which work is done

59
Q

Electromagnetic radiation

A

Energy emitted by the sun

60
Q

Energy emitted by the sun

A

Electromagnetic radiation

61
Q

What is electromagnetic radiation carried by

62
Q

Photons

A

Massless particles of energy that travel at the speed of light and can move through the vacuum of space. Amount of energy it contains depends on its wavelength
Long wavelength = low energy
Sort wavelength = high energy

63
Q

Massless particles of energy that travel at the speed of light and can move through the vacuum of space. Amount of energy it contains depends on its wavelength

64
Q

Kinetic energy

A

Energy of motion

65
Q

Energy of motion

A

Kinetic energy

66
Q

Potential energy

A

Energy stored and not yet released

67
Q

Energy stored and not yet released

A

Potential energy

68
Q

Chemical energy

A

Energy stored in chemical bonds

69
Q

Energy stored in chemical bonds

A

Chemical energy

70
Q

All matter has ______

71
Q

Temperature

A

Measure of average kinetic energy of a substance

72
Q

Measure of average kinetic energy of a substance

A

Temperature

73
Q

First law of thermodynamics

A

Energy is neither created nor destroyed but it can change from one form to another

74
Q

Energy is neither created nor destroyed but it can change from one form to another

A

First law of thermodynamics

75
Q

Second law of thermodynamics

A

When energy is transferred, the quantity of energy remains the same, but its ability to do work diminishes

When one form of energy is transformed into another, some of that energy is converted into a less usable form of energy, such as heat

76
Q

When energy is transferred, the quantity of energy remains the same, but its ability to do work diminishes

A

Second law of thermodynamics

77
Q

Energy efficiency

A

Ratio of the amount of energy in the desired form to the total amount of energy that is introduced into the ecosystem

78
Q

Ratio of the amount of energy in the desired form to the total amount of energy that is introduced into the ecosystem

A

Energy efficiency

79
Q

Calculate the energy efficiency

Coal to electricity power plant 35%
Transmission 90%
Compact fluorescent bulb 20%

A

0.35 x 0.90 x 0.20 = 0.06

6% efficient

80
Q

Energy quality

A

The ease with which an energy source can be used

81
Q

The ease with which an energy source can be used

A

Energy quality

82
Q

Entropy

A

Randomness in a system (all systems move towards randomness rather than order unless new energy from outside the system is added to create order)

83
Q

Randomness in a system

84
Q

Open system

A

Exchanges of matter or energy occur across system boundaries

85
Q

Exchanges of matter or energy occur across system boundaries

A

Open system

86
Q

Closed system

A

Matter and energy exchanges do not occur across system boundaries

87
Q

Matter and energy exchanges do not occur across system boundaries

A

Closed system

88
Q

Inputs

A

Additions to a given system

89
Q

Additions to a given system

90
Q

Outputs

A

Losses from the system

91
Q

Losses from the system

92
Q

System analysis

A

Determine inputs, outputs, and changes in a system under various conditions

93
Q

Determine inputs, outputs, and changes in a system under various conditions

A

System analysis

94
Q

Steady state

A

Inputs = outputs
so that the system isnt changing over time

95
Q

Inputs = outputs
so that the system isnt changing over time

A

Steady state

96
Q

Feedbacks

A

Adjustments in input rates caused by changes to a system

97
Q

Adjustments in input rates caused by changes to a system

98
Q

Negative feedback loop

A

System responds to change by returning to its original state, or by decreasing the rate at which the change is occurring

Resists changes

99
Q

System responds to change by returning to its original state, or by decreasing the rate at which the change is occurring

A

Negative feedback loop

100
Q

Positive feedback loop

A

A change in a system is amplified

101
Q

A change in a system is amplified

A

Positive feedback loop

Enviro (8 decks)

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