Ch. 12 Key Terms

Question 1

air pollution

Answer 1

When harmful substances build up in the air to unhealthy levels

Question 2

primary pollutant

Answer 2

A pollutant that is put directly into the air by human activity

Question 3

secondary pollutant

Answer 3

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

Question 5

temperature inversion

Answer 5

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

Question 7

asbestos

Answer 7

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

Question 8

decibel (dB)

Answer 8

The intensity of sound is measured in units

Question 9

acid precipitation

Answer 9

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

Question 10

pH

Answer 10

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