Exam #1 Flashcards
What makes a molecule
atom + atom
What is an ionic bond? Give an example
an atom donates 1 (or more) electron to another element with an incomplete outer shell, held together electrostatically
Example: sodium atom donates to chlorine
Covalent bond, give an example
bond of sharing electrons
Example: Water; oxygen atom has 6 electrons & lacks 2, H atom lacks another so they’re attracted to eachother
What is another name for water?
“universal solvent”
What is cohesion?
water’s exceptional ability to stick to itself
What is the surface tension of water?
the property of a water surface that allows it to resist external forces due to the strong attraction between water molecules
What is polarity?
The unequal sharing of electrons
How does polarity affect water?
high surface tension, cohesion, and its ability to dissolve many substances
Polarity -> hydrogen bonds..how?
polarity makes water molecules attract each other due to the slightly positive charge on the hydrogen atoms and the slightly negative charge on the oxygen atom, allowing water to form hydrogen bond
Explain hydration process
basically the pulling of a substance’s molecules apart and then surrounding them with water (dissolving)
electrostatic attraction is greatly reduced
What is the mean salinity of seawater?
35
35 PSU
or 35 ‘per mil’
What is the modern way of measuring salinity? How does it work?
electrical conductivity
is the comparison of the conductivity of two solutions:
1. seawater
2. standard concentration of potassium chloride
What does PSU stand for
practical salinity units!
What are some major components of salinity?
chlorine, sodium, magnesium, sulfur, calcium, potassium
What is the seawater pH buffer?
7.5 to 8.1
How does pH change with depth? and why?
It decreases (becomes more acidic) with depth
1. as you go deeper, concentrations of dissolved carbon dioxide increases (due to respiration of marine orgs)
2. reacts with water to form carbonic acid
3. this lowers pH, making water MORE acidic
What is the pH of seawater?
8.1
What are the 2 most important influences on density? Why more than the 3rd?
2 most important = temperature & salinity
pressure is not as important because liquid is virtually incompressible
What is a halocline? Where in the ocean is salinity relatively the same?
rapid change in surface water salinity
when greater than 100m deep, salinity
What is the difference in density from shallow to deep water?
2%
density _______ as temperature _______ for pure water (0 to 4 degrees Celcius)
increases; increases
(normal behavior) density _______ as temperature __________ from 4 to 100 degrees Celcius
decreases; increases
Why is iron important in the ocean
vital nutrient for phytoplankton
What is plate tectonics?
theory explaining earth’s crust; rigid lithospheric plates which move slowly over the underlying mantle