Chapter 11.2

Question 1

What are contaminants?

Answer 1

Contaminants are unwanted substances that dissolve in water.

Question 2

How can contaminants enter our water supply?

Answer 2

Contaminants in the air can dissolve into the precipitation that falls back to Earth. Surface water and groundwater dissolve many chemicals as they flow into oceans such as salt and toxins.

Question 3

What are fertilizers?

Answer 3

Fertilizers are a substance used to provide nutrients to plants.

Question 4

What are herbicides?

Answer 4

Herbicides are a chemical substance used to kill or slow the growth of certain plants; often used to kill weeds.

Question 5

What are pesticides?

Answer 5

Pesticides are a chemical substance used to kill animal pests that damage crop plants

Question 6

What transportation forms can impact our water?

Answer 6

Road, rail, and boat accidents can spill unwanted chemicals into our water

Question 7

How does salt enter our water?

Answer 7

Melting snow and ice wash road salt into ditches and streams.

Question 8

How do minerals enter our water?

Answer 8

Minerals from rocks can dissolve in water. When limestone dissolves, it adds calcium carbonate to our water. The harder the rock, the fewer minerals that are added to water

Question 9

How do fertilizers enter our water?

Answer 9

Fertilizers enter our water through surface runoff. In the water, fertilizers promote the growth of algae. When algae decomposes, the oxygen level is lowered which makes it harder for fish to breathe.

Question 10

How do herbicides and pesticides enter our water?

Answer 10

Herbicides and pesticides can dissolve in groundwater and may be carried to waterways. Herbicides and pesticides are harmful for 5 years until they are naturally converted into safer toxins.

Question 11

How does acid rain enter our water?

Answer 11

Burning fossil fuels released many fossil fuels into the air. Some of these chemicals react with water vapor and form acid rain. Acid takin damages land and aquatic ecosystems.

Question 12

How do other toxic chemical enter our water?

Answer 12

Ships on the great lakes release pollutants when they empty stored water or dump garbage. Shop collisions also really in spills of harmful substances.

Question 13

How do other toxic chemical enter our water?

Answer 13

Ships on the great lakes release pollutants when they empty stored water or dump garbage. Shop collisions also really in spills of harmful substances.

Question 14

What are the harmful effects of salt in our water supply?

Answer 14

Kills crops or reduces yields, contaminates freshwater supplies

Question 15

What are the harmful effects is toxic chemicals in water?

Answer 15

Mild immune suppression, acute poisoning, reproductive failure

Question 16

What are the harmful effects of acid?

Answer 16

Harms aquatic organisms, moves heavy metals from soils into water bodies, damages trees

Question 17

How are heavy metals harmful to our water supply?

Answer 17

Enters the tissues of fish and shellfish; when we eat, it is toxic to us

Question 18

How do biological contaminants enter our water?

Answer 18

Surface runoff often mixes with farm manure. Parasites enter the water from feces of infected animals. Runoff carries the feces into nearby water. Animal feces add organic matter into the water system.

Question 19

What are the harmful effects of microorganisms in water?

Answer 19

Spreads infectious diseases through contaminated drinking water

Question 20

What are the harmful effects of organic matter?

Answer 20

Uses up oxygen from water as it decomposes and suffocates aquatic life

Question 21

What are the 6 chemical contaminants?

Answer 21

Salt, minerals, nutrients, toxic chemicals, acid, heavy metals

Question 22

What are the two types of biological contaminants?

Answer 22

Micro-organisms and organic matter