Ch. 12 Key Terms

Question 1

air pollution

Answer 1

the contamination of the atmosphere by the introduction of pollutants from human and natural sources.

Question 2

primary pollutant

Answer 2

a pollutant that is put directly into the atmosphere by human or natural activity.

Question 3

secondary pollutant

Answer 3

a pollutant that forms in the atmosphere by chemical reaction with primary air pollutants, natural components in the air, or both.

Question 4

smog

Answer 4

urban air pollution composed of a mixture of smoke and fog produced from industrial pollutants and burning fuels.

Question 5

temperature inversion

Answer 5

the atmospheric condition in which warm air traps cooler air near Earth’s surface.

Question 6

sick-building syndrome

Answer 6

a set of symptoms, such as headache, fatigue, eye irritation, and dizziness, that may affect workers in modern, airtight office buildings; believed to be caused by indoor pollutants

Question 7

asbestos

Answer 7

any of six silicate minerals that form bundles of minute fibers that heat resistant, flexible, and durable.

Question 8

decibel (dB)

Answer 8

the most common unit used to measure loudness ( abbreviation, dB).

Question 9

acid precipitation

Answer 9

precipitation, such as rain, sleet, or snow, that contains a high concentration of acids, often because of the pollution of the atmosphere.

Question 10

pH

Answer 10

a value that is used to express the acidity or alkalinity ( basicity) of a system; each whole number on the scale indicates a tenfold change in acidity; a pH of 7 is neutral, a pH of less than 7 is acidic, and a pH of greater than 7 is basic.

Question 11

acid shock

Answer 11

the sudden runoff of large amounts of highly acidic water into lakes and streams when snow melts in the spring or when heavy rains follow a drought.