Environmental Chemistry Terminology Flashcards
Nitrogen Fixation
The process of changing free nitrogen so that the nitrogen atoms can combine with other elements to form compounds that organisms can use; carried out mainly by bacteria in soil
Element
A pure substance that cannot be broken down into other substances; substance made up of only one type of atom
Pollution
Any change in the environment that produces a condition that is harmful to living things
Fertilizer
A substance that enriches soil so that plants will grow better
Pesticide
A chemical used to kill pests
Pest
Organism that harms people, crops or structure
Sewage
Wastewater containing dissolved and undissolved materials from your kitchen, bathroom and laundry
Septic Tank
Underground container where bacteria break down organic material in sewage before they are moved out to the soil
Sewage Treatment Plant
Building and grounds containing special equiptment to treat wastes from homes, businesses, industries and institutions so the wastes can be disposed of safely
Effluent
Wastewater released from a factory or sewage treatment plant
Storm Sewers
large pipes that carry runoff water from yards and streets directly (without treatment) into a river, lake or ocean
Fossil Fuels
A natural fuel such as coal or gas, formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms
Sour Gas
natural gas containing hydrogen sulfide
Acid
Compound that dissolves in water to form a solution with a pH under 7
Base
Compound that dissolves in water to fro a solution with a pH higher than 7
Neutral
pH of 7; a neutral substance is neither an acid nor a base
Neutralization Reaction
A reaction between an acid and a base that produces water and a solid compound called a salt
Salt
A compound in a neutralization reaction between an acid and a base
Organic Compounds
Compounds whose molecules contain carbon (eg. fossil fuels), except carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, carbonates and cyanides, which are Inorganic compounds
Inorganic Compunds
Compounds whose molecules do not contain carbon, except carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, carbonates and cyanides
Nutrients
Elements and compounds that organisms need for living, growing and reproducing.
Macronutrients
Nutrients that organisms need in relatively large amounts
Micronutrients
Nutrients that organisms need in only minor or trace amounts
Optimum amounts
Amount of a substance that provides an organism with the best health
Carbohydrates
Organic molecules made up of toms of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen; can form simple molecules such as sugar, or large and complex molecules such as starch, cellulose or glucose.
Lipids
Organic molecules made up of atoms of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen; lipids are insoluble in water
Proteins
Organic compound made up of units called amino acids, protein molecules contain atoms of nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen and carbon
Enzymes
Catalyst involved in chemical reactions in living things
Amino Acids
Building blocks of proteins
Nucleic Acids
Largest and most complicated molecules found in all the cells of living things ; the two most important are DNA and RNA; made up of simple phosphates, a simple sugar called ribose, and nitrogen containing bases; plays a major role in heredity and in contolling a cell’s activity
Diffusion
A process in which molecules move form an area of high concentration, to an area of low concentration
Osmosis
Type of diffusion in which water molecules move across a membrane from an area where there are more water molecules to an area where there are fewer water molecules.
Active Transport
Process in which plant cells use energy to move nutrient molecules from areas of lower concentration to areas of higher concentration
Hydrolysis
Reaction of a substance with water; “hydro means water and “lysis” means break down
Substrate
A surface on which an organism lives or moves
Invertebrates
Animals without backbones
