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Chemistry > Environmental > Flashcards

Environmental Flashcards

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1
Q

How is glass recycled?

A

Crushed, melted, molded into new products.

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2
Q

What are the advantages of recycling glass?

A

Reduces energy costs

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3
Q

How are plastics recycled?

A
  • heated in absence of air
  • split up into monomers (pyrolysis)
  • separated by fractional distillation
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4
Q

What are the benefits of recycling plastics?

A
  • Reduce the amount made

* save crude oil reserves

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5
Q

What are the drawbacks of recycling plastics?

A
  • Mixtures of plastics are weaker

* Cost in sorting and melting

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6
Q

How are metals recycled?

A

• sorted, melted, reused as alloys

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7
Q

How is paper recycled?

A
  • cleaned from ink and additives
  • added to water to form slurry
  • repulping: cellulose fibers separated
  • bleached (for white paper), but causes reduced strength
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8
Q

What are the benefits of using landfills for waste disposal?

A

• it is efficient with large volumes

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9
Q

What are the drawbacks of using landfills?

A
  • requires maintenance

* material dumped must be controlled

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10
Q

What are the benefits of open dumping?

A
  • convenient

* inexpensive

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11
Q

What are the drawbacks of open dumping?

A
  • air and ground pollution

* rodents and insects

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12
Q

What are the benefits of ocean dumping?

A
  • source of nutrients

* convenient and inexpensive

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13
Q

What are the drawbacks of ocean dumping?

A
  • pollutes the sea

* danger to marine animals

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14
Q

What are three organic soil pollutants and their sources?

A
  • Hydrocarbons/VOCs: transportation, industrial processes.
  • Agrichemicals: pesticides, herbicides, etc.
  • PCBs: insulator in electrical equipment
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15
Q

What are some properties of Soil Organic Matter (SOM)?

A
  • organic constituents of soil
  • consists of plant/animal tissues; soil biomass
  • serves as food for microorganisms
  • humus
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16
Q

What are some properties of Humus?

A
  • it is residue left after decomposition of organic material
  • Biological: source of energy, nutrient elements
  • Physical: humus helps the soil return moisture; provides good soil structure; dark color; absorbs heat
  • Chemical: cation exchange capacity (bonds to nutrient cations); good for plants, not washed away; constant pH; metal ions don’t spread through ecosystem
17
Q

What causes salinization in soil?

A
  • through excess irrigation

* dissolved salts accumulate to toxic levels; prevent roots from taking up enough water

18
Q

What are the constituents of soil?

A

• organic and inorganic matter

19
Q

How is nutrient depletion created in soil?

A
  • nutrients are absorbed while growing
  • over-harvesting without letting soil recover nutrients
  • use of fertilizers/ manure
20
Q

How is soil pollution created?

A
  • oil from transportation/ illegal dumping of engine oil

* use of pesticides/fertilizers reduces soil biodiversity

21
Q

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using CFC alternatives?

A
  • HFCs: non-flammable; non-toxic

* Hydrocarbons: flammable; toxic

22
Q

What chemical reactions take place under UV light in the atmosphere with oxygen?

A
  • O(2) [yields] 2O•
  • O• + O(2) [yields] O(3)
  • O(3) [yields] O(2) + O•
  • O(3) + O• [yields] 2O(2)
23
Q

What affects ozone concentration?

A

• Oxides of Nitrogen and CFCs

24
Q

What are the effects of decreased ozone levels?

A
  • increase in sunburn
  • growth of plants inhibited
  • increase in eye cataracts
25
Q

What are the sources of greenhouse gases?

A
  • H(2)O: evaporation of lakes
  • CO(2): combustion of fossil fuels
  • N(2)O: artificial fertilizers
  • O(3): photochemical smog
  • CFCs: refrigerants, propellants
  • increase in particulates decrease global warming
26
Q

What are the consequences of global warming?

A
  • thermal expansion of oceans
  • reduced crop yield
  • change in flora and fauna distribution
  • desertification
27
Q

What is the greenhouse effect?

A
  • incoming solar radiation is UV/visible
  • some of it is absrobed by gases in the atmosphere
  • some passes through atmosphere and warms the surface of the earth
  • surface reradiates Infrared radiation
  • vibration of covalent bonds (IR frequency)
28
Q

What are the effects of acid rain?

A
  • Al (3+) ion released from rocks, which damages roots, kills fish
  • eutrophication
  • marble buildings: erode, crack
  • increased risk of respiratory illness/poisonous ions in H(2)
29
Q

How are the effects of acid rain counteracted?

A
  • lower amounts of SO(x) and NO(x) released
  • alternative methods of energy
  • liming of lakes with CaO
30
Q

What are some post-combustion methods of removing sulfur?

A
  • Alkaline Scrubbing
  • fluidized bed combustion
  • gravitational settling tank
  • electrostatic precipitation

Chemistry (3 decks)

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