environmental chemistry

Question 1

what is the nitrogen cycle

Answer 1

nitrogen is an essential component of DNA, RNA, and proteins the building blocks of life. All organisms require nitrogen to live and grow.

Question 2

nitrogen fixation

Answer 2

the process for changing free nitrogen into nitrogen atoms which can combine with other elements to form compounds which can be described as nitrogen fixation. This can happen in 3 ways
- biological
- environmental
- human

Question 3

biological (nitrogen fixation)

Answer 3

bacteria (nitrogen-fixing bacteria). These bacteria form symbiotic relationships with host plants. Lives in nodules found in the roots of the legume family plants (e.g. beans, peas, and clover). THIS PROCESS ONLY OCCURS MOSTLY IN THE SOIL BY BACTERIA.

Question 4

environmental (nitrogen fixation)

Answer 4

high energy natural events which N2 –> No3 break the food N2. Examples: lighting, forest fires, and hot lava flows.

Question 5

human (nitrogen fixation)

Answer 5

burning fossil fuels using synthetic nitrogen fertilizers and cultivation of legumes all fix nitrogen

Question 6

pros of fertilizers

Answer 6

• increase plant growth
• land not normally suitable for farming, can yield large crops when
  
  • high yield
  • properly used
  • fertilizer used

Question 7

cons of fertilizers

Answer 7

• fertilizer can be an expensive price for productivity
• single crop = increased chance of impact by disease
• pesticides can be used to reduce loss of crops, but are not without cost

Question 8

3 types of pesticides

Answer 8

1. herbicides
2. insecticides
3. fungicides

Question 9

herbicides

Answer 9

these chemicals that are designed to kill pants or environmental impact

Question 10

insecticides

Answer 10

chemical designed to kill bugs and insects

Question 11

fungicides

Answer 11

designed to kill fungus

Question 12

bioaccumulation

Answer 12

an increase in concentration of a material from the environment over time in a organism food chain

Question 13

biomagnification

Answer 13

an increase in concentration of a pollution from one link in a food chain to another
- in order for this to occur, the pollutant must be long-lived, mobile soluble in fats and biologically active

Question 14

4 main types of organic molecule

Answer 14

• carbohydrates
• lipids
• protein
• nucleic acid

Question 15

what do the numbers in fertilizers mean

Answer 15

nitrogen
phosphate
potash aka potassium

Question 16

what does organic stuff contain?

Answer 16

they contain carbon and hydrogen. ex carbohydrates lipids protein and vitamin

Question 17

what does inorganic stuff contain?

Answer 17

they contain minerals such as iron coal calcium etc

Question 18

primary treatments?

Answer 18

Large solid seperation

Question 19

secondary treatments?

Answer 19

when bacteria decomposes organic matter and is later processed through chlorine

Question 20

tertiary treatment?

Answer 20

water goes through a plant bed and removes phosphates and nitrates

Question 21

what are sewages?

Answer 21

sewages can be found in laundry pipes, kitchen pipes, and bathroom pipes. etc.

Question 22

what are septic tanks?

Answer 22

they are large underground pipes which trap large solids and grease

Question 23

sanitary landfills?

Answer 23

used for normal household and industrial waste

Question 24

fuel combustion?

Answer 24

occurs when hydrocarbons are released in the air which include coal, gas, oil from dead plants and animals. they release carbon dioxide and water vapour.

Question 25

industrial process?

Answer 25

the generation of electricity, mineral processing and further production can release harmful chemicals in the air.

Question 26

sulfur dioxide?

Answer 26

is caused by major industrial process and the burning of fossil fuels that contain sulfur

Question 27

carbon monoxide?

Answer 27

is caused by burning fossil fuels and it is a colourless and odourless gas.

Question 28

carbon dioxide?

Answer 28

can be deadly because it reduces the amount of oxygen in the our blood which an cause headaches, sleepiness, chest pains, burn pains etc.

Question 29

groundwater zone

Answer 29

groundwater zone is the water that soaks into the soil and is then collected in a zone called "groundwater zone"

Question 30

heavy metals?

Answer 30

have a density of 5 g/cm3 or more. meaning that they are 5 times more heavier than an equal volume of water.

Question 31

what can enter surface water?

Answer 31

- the air - the groundwater - runoff from agricultural fields and industrial sites - outflow from storm sewers and sewage treatment plants

Question 32

dispersion?

Answer 32

dispersion is the scattering of a substance away from its source

Question 33

dilution?

Answer 33

dilution reduces the concentration of a pollutant by mixing it with large quantities of water or air.

Question 34

biodegradation

Answer 34

biodegradation occurs in the environment because living things like earthworms bacteria and fungi are actively breaking down organic substances including many pollutants.

Question 35

microscopic organisms

Answer 35

small bacteria which can cause health problems. this is why samples are taken to maintain the levels of harmful bacteria build up.

Question 36

macroinvertebrates

Answer 36

good quality water will have a large variety of organisms but a higher ocurrence of organisms that needs lots of oxygen

Question 37

what is pollution?

Answer 37

any alteration to the environment producing a condition that is harmful to living things.