Environmental Chemistry Flashcards
What are Phosphates?
They are nutrients that enhance and stimulate growth of plants
What happens if there is an excess amount of phosphates
It can lead to stimulated growth of weeds
What are Dioxins?
They are chemicals found in certain pesticides and weeds.
Why are dioxins harmful?
Dioxins are harmful because they can lead to severe illnesses and even birth defects
What are the types of Pollution
-Noise Pollution
-Thermal pollution
-Air pollution
-Soil Pollution
What is Nitrogen Fixation?
Nitrogen occurs naturally in the environment as N2 but it needs to be separated to be useful to organisms this is nitrogen fixation.
What things can Fix Nitrogen?
The atmosphere, Root Nodules, and lightning can fix nitrogen and also certain types of bacteria.
What is Fuel Combustion?
It is the burning of hydrocarbons(fossil fuels including coal, oil, and natural gas) that produces large amounts of carbon dioxide and water vapor. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, traces of lead and mercury are also formed.
What are Industrial Processes?
This is where electrical generation, mineral and fertilizer production causes the release of harmful chemicals such as sulfur dioxide and natural gas into the air.
What is Natural Gas?
It contains things like methane, ethane, propane, and butane.
What is Sour Gas?
When natural gas contains Hydrogen sulfide it is called a sour gas
If it doesn’t contain it then it was considered a sweet gas.
What is pH?
Its a measure of hydrogen ions in a solution
What pH are acids?
Anything lower than 7(Acids taste sour)
What pH is considered to be a base?
Anything higher than 7(Bases taste bitter)
What are Indicators?
These are things that are used to determine whether a substance in an acid, neutral, or base. They can also identify the number of pH
What is Neutralization?
It was when an acid and a base are mixed together. When these two mix both a salt and water are produced.
What are the Macro-Nutrients?
-Nitrogen
-Phosphorus
-Potassium
-Magnesium
-Calcium
-Sulfur
What do Maco-Nutrients do for Plants?
-Nitrogen(Produces proteins and chlorophyll - Leaf and stem growth)
-Phosphorus(root and flower growth - cellular respiration and photosynthesis)
-Potassium(stimulates early growth - starch and protein production - disease resistances - chlorophyll production and tuber formation)
-Magnesium(Chlorophyll structure - photosynthesis)
-Calcium(Cell wall structure - cell division)
-Sulfur(Production of fruits and grains)
What do Macro-Nutrients do for Humans?
-Nitrogen(Composition of proteins and nucleic acids - growth and repair of tissue)
-Phosphorus(Composition of bones, teeth, and DNA - metabolic reactions)
-Potassium(Muscle contraction and nerve impulses)
-Magnesium(Composition of bones and teeth - absorption of calcium and potassium)
-Calcium(Composition of bones and teeth - blood clotting - muscle and nerve function)
-Sulfur(Protein synthesis - enzyme activation - detoxification)
What are the ways organisms take in substances?
They take them through diffusion, osmosis, and active transport
What is Diffusion?
The movement of molecules from areas of high concentration to low areas of concentration(High to low)
What is Osmosis?
When water moves through a plant through the walls of a plants roots from where there is an area of a lot of water molecules to an area where there is low water molecules(High to low with water)
What is Active Transport?
