Environmental Chemistry Vocab

Question 1

Elements

Answer 1

Pure substance that cannot be broken down into any simpler form

Question 2

Nitrogen fixation

Answer 2

Process of changing free nitrogen so the atoms combine with other elements for organisms to use

Question 3

Fertilizer

Answer 3

Substance that enriches soil so plants grow better

Question 4

Pesticides

Answer 4

To control or kill pests

Question 5

Fossil fuels

Answer 5

Fuel formed from dead organisms

Question 6

Sewage

Answer 6

Wastewater containing undissolved materials from households

Question 7

Effluent

Answer 7

Treated sewage water put back into the environment

Question 8

Septic tank

Answer 8

Underground container with bacteria that breaks down organic materials

Question 9

Sour gas

Answer 9

Natural gas containing hydrogen sulfide

Question 10

Acid

Answer 10

A substance with a pH lower than 7

Question 11

Base

Answer 11

A substance with a pH higher than 7

Question 12

Neutral

Answer 12

pH of 7

Question 13

pH

Answer 13

Measure of percent of hydrogen ions in a solution

Question 14

Neutralization

Answer 14

Reaction between acid and base that produces water and salt

Question 15

Salt

Answer 15

Compound produced in a neutralization reaction between acid and base that produces

Question 16

Organic compounds

Answer 16

Compound molecules containing carbon and comes from organisms

Question 17

Inorganic

Answer 17

Compounds not including carbon and usually comes from rocks and minerals. This includes carbon dioxide and monoxide, carbonates and cyanide

Question 18

Macronutrients

Answer 18

Large amount of nutrients an organism needs

Question 19

Micronutrients

Answer 19

Small amount of nutrients an organism needs

Question 20

Optimum amounts

Answer 20

The perfect amount of nutrients an organism needs

Question 21

Carbohydrates

Answer 21

Organic molecules made from carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. It provides energy for metabolism

Question 22

Lipids

Answer 22

Stores fats and oils in the body. Made from oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen

Question 23

Protein

Answer 23

Organic compound made up of amino acids and it helps grow and repair.

Question 24

Diffusion

Answer 24

Transport of molecules from an area with high concentration to an area with low concentration

Question 25

Osmosis

Answer 25

Transport of water molecules from an area with high concentration to an area with low concentration

Question 26

Active transport

Answer 26

Transport of molecules using energy from an area with low concentration to an area with high concentration

Question 27

Hydrolysis

Answer 27

Break down by water

Question 28

Substrate

Answer 28

A surface an organism lives or moves on

Question 29

Invertebrates

Answer 29

Animals with no spine or back bones

Question 30

Parts per million (ppm)

Answer 30

Measurement of very small concentration of chemicals

Question 31

Biodegradation

Answer 31

Breaking down of materials by organisms

Question 32

Phytoremediation

Answer 32

Using sunlight to break down compounds

Question 33

Bioaccumulation

Answer 33

The increase of concentration of a toxin in an organism over time

Question 34

Biomagnification

Answer 34

Increased concentration of a toxin in organisms as it goes up the food chain

Question 35

Spring acid shock

Answer 35

Concentration of acid that can dramatically lower pH of water in a pond

Question 36

Toxicity

Answer 36

How Poisonous a substance is

Question 37

LD50

Answer 37

Lethal does 50 Amount of substance needed to kill 50% of a group

Question 38

Heavy metals

Answer 38

Metals with density of 5 or higher

Question 39

Greenhouse gases

Answer 39

Gases in earth’s atmosphere that traps heat that forms when radiant from the sun reaches earth surface

Question 40

Global warming

Answer 40

The increase of temperature worldwide

Question 41

Permeable

Answer 41

Description of a substance that contains connected pore; permeable allows more substances to pass through than non-permeable

Question 42

Leachate

Answer 42

Water moving with non-dissolved materials as it moves through soil

Question 43

Dispersion

Answer 43

Scattering a substance away from the source