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Environmental Chemistry Flashcards

1
Q

How is aspirin derived from the environment?

A

Aspirin is made up of salicylic acid, from Willow Tree Bark

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2
Q

What makes up the atmosphere?

A

78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.9% Argon, 0.1% Trace (Carbon Dioxide)

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3
Q

What is nitrogen fixation?

A

The process of changing free nitrogen into nitrogen compounds (hydrogen, oxygen) so that it can be used by organisms.

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4
Q

How does nitrogen fixation occur?

A

Bacteria in the root nodules of plants convert free nitrogen into nitrates and nitrites.

Lightning

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5
Q

Nitrates + Nitrites

A

NO3 (nitrates), NO2 (nitrites)

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6
Q

What is pollution?

A

Any change to an environment which is harmful to living things

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7
Q

What is an issue?

A

Conflicting views about an important topic

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8
Q

What is fertilizer?

A

A substance which enriches the soil for optimal plant growth

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9
Q

What do the labels on a fertilizer bag represent?

A

nitrogen - phosphorus - potassium

possibly “S” for sulphur

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10
Q

What is a pesticide?

A

chemicals used to kill pests

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11
Q

What is a herbicide?

A

chemicals used to kill plants

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12
Q

What is an insecticide?

A

chemicals used to kill insects

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13
Q

What is a fungicide?

A

chemicals used to kill fungi

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14
Q

What type of chemicals are put into the environment by farming?

A

Pesticides, Herbicides etc

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15
Q

What type of chemicals are put into the environment by wastewater?

A

Motor Oil, Rock Salt

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16
Q

What type of chemicals are put into the environment by fuel combustion?

A

Carbon Dioxide, Water Vapour

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17
Q

What type of chemicals are put into the environment by industrial processes?

A

Sulphur Dioxide (g)

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18
Q

What is solid waste?

A

Garbage

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19
Q

What are sanitary landfill sites?

A

Landfills specially built to prevent waste chemicals from moving into the soil (plastic liner and compacted clay)

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20
Q

What is wastewater?

A

Water that has been affected by human use

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21
Q

What is sewage?

A

Wastewater containing dissolved or undissolved materials from kitchens, bathrooms, laundry

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22
Q

What is a septic tank?

A

An underground container where bacteria breaks down organic materials

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23
Q

What is effluent water?

A

Water which has been treated and is then pumped into a natural body of water

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24
Q

What are fossil fuels?

A

ex) coal, oil and natural gas

Formed from dead plants and animals

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25
Fossil Fuel Combustion Reaction
hydrocarbon + oxygen - carbon dioxide + water + energy
26
What is natural gas that contains hydrogen sulphide called?
a "sour gas"
27
What is an acid?
An acid is a compound with a pH lower then 7 Higher concentration of hydrogen ions
28
What is a base?
A base is a compound with a pH higher then 7 Lower concentration of hydrogen ions
29
What is litmus paper?
Determines whether or not a solution os an acid or a vase (not very precise)
30
What is a universal indicator?
Determines the pH of a substance using colour (more precise)
31
What do an acid and a base form?
acid + base - "salt" + water
32
What are the most common chemical elements in living things?
Carbon, Oxygen, and Hydrogen
33
What are macronutrients?
Nutrients in which you need lots of ex) organic molecules
34
What are micronutrients?
Nutrients in which you need smaller amounts of ex) Selenium
35
What are the four groups of organic molecules?
Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins and Amino Acids, Nucleic Acid
36
What is the test for glucose?
Benedict's Solution
37
What is the test for starch?
Iodine Solution
38
What is the test for protein?
Biuret Solution
39
What is diffusion?
The movement of a substance form an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration
40
What is osmosis?
The movement of water from an area of high concentration of water to an area of low concentration of water
41
What is active transport?
Movement of low concentration to high concentration through the use of energy.
42
What is hydrolysis?
The breakdown of large organic molecules through `the use of water
43
What is a substrate?
The material in which a material moves or lives
44
What are the five categories of water usage?
``` human drinking water recreation (swimming) livestock drinking water irrigation protection of aquatic life ```
45
What characteristics are important for aquatic life survival?
dissolved oxygen content, acidity, heavy metals, pesticides
46
What are biological indicators?
What lives around it, what doesn't love around it
47
What is the concentration of chemicals in the environment measured in?
parts per million (ppm)
48
How do you calculate ppm?
ml divided by l or cross multiply to get the value of x
49
What is toxicity?
How poisonous a substance is
50
What is LD50?
Lethal Dose and 50% The amount of a substance given to population according to body weight (higher toxicity, lower LD50 number
51
How can air quality be determined?
- Measuring the level of pollutants in the air | - Estimating the the amount of emissions from pollution sources
52
What is sulphur dioxide?
a major air pollutant which affects the respiratory system and can be removed with scrubbers
53
What is ozone?
ozone in the atmosphere helps to protect us from UV rays , on the ground however it is harmful to be inhaled by humans. Lightning can cause ozone
54
What are greenhouse gases?
water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen oxides
55
What is the greenhouse effect?
Gases in the atmosphere act like glass in a greenhouse and keep the heat in. If more greenhouse gases are placed into the atmosphere then more heat is trapped in causing global warming
56
What are chlorofluorocarbons?
the products responsible for the thinning of the ozone layer, used in refrigerators, aerosol cans.
57
What are the three stages of transportation of substances in air?
1. Release of the chemical 2. Dispersion of the chemical into the atmosphere 3. Deposition of the chemical in soil or water
58
What are two factors that affect the distribution of airborne pollutants?
lack of wind and precipitation
59
What is groundwater?
The water that fills up spaces below the soil
60
What is the water table?
The top of the groundwater zone
61
What are pores?
the tiny spaces between soil grains
62
List 4 ways contaminants can enter surface water systems
- air - groundwater - run off from farm fields - outflow from storm sewers
63
What is a leachate?
a water that takes on and dissolves substances in the soil and carries them
64
What is biodegradation?
The breakdown of organic material using algae, protozoan, fungi, earthworms
65
What are PCB's?
human made oils used in electrical equipment
66
What is phytoremediation?
A technique used to reduce the concentration of harmful chemicals in soil or ground water
67
What is photolysis?
The breakdown of compounds with sunlight
68
What is biomagnification?
The increase of a chemical as it moves up the food chain
69
When and where did the Exxon Valdez leak oil?
The south coast of Prince William Sound of Alaska in 1989
70
How did the oil spill get cleaned-up?
``` biodegraded by light in water degraded by light in air beached recovered by ships deposited in sub-tidal sediment dispersed in water absorbed by oil eating grass ```
71
What are new oil spill procedures?
All spills have to be reported Training for employees Emergency response plans are in place
72
MSDS stands for
Material Safety Data Sheets
73
What are the 4 scenarios for the labels?
transport, supply, workplace us, disposal
74
What information must a company provide for government approval?
intended use, safety precautions, instructions, health effects
75
What are 2 guidelines for safe disposal of household hazardous chemicals?
Empty aerosol containers | Take antifreeze to a recycling centre

Science 9 (1 decks)

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