Ch. 12 Key Terms.

Question 1

air pollution

Answer 1

When harmful substances build up in the air to unhealthy levels, the result is air pollution.

Question 2

primary pollutant.

Answer 2

A pollutant that is put directly into the air by human activity is called a primary pollutant.

Question 3

Secondary pollutants

Answer 3

Secondary pollutants form when primary pollutants react with other primary pollutants or with naturally occurring substances such as water vapor

Question 4

smog

Answer 4

When air pollution hangs over urban areas and reduces visibility, it is called smog

Question 5

temperature inversion

Answer 5

temperature inversion occurs when the air above is warmer than the air below

Question 6

sick-building syndrome.

Answer 6

Buildings that have very poor air quality have a condition called sick-building syndrome.

Question 7

asbestos.

Answer 7

Several minerals that form in long, thin fibers and that are valued for their strength and resistance to heat are called asbestos.

Question 8

decibels

Answer 8

The intensity of sound is measured in units called decibels

Question 9

Acid precipitation

Answer 9

Acid precipitation is precipitation—rain, sleet, or snow—that contains a high concentration of acids

Question 10

pH

Answer 10

A pH number is a measure of how acidic or basic a substance is.

Question 11

acid shock.

Answer 11

This sudden influx of acidic water that causes a rapid change in the water’s pH is called acid shock.