Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

GeoChemistry > Midterm 1 - Elements & Nuclides > Flashcards

Midterm 1 - Elements & Nuclides Flashcards

1
Q

What is geochemistry?

A

The use of chemistry to understand the earth and how it works, including the solid earth, natural waters, and atmosphere. Can be applied to aspects of either natural or anthropogenic processes.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What do geochemist study?

A

formation and differentiation of planets, mantel convection, origin of granite and basalt, mineral deposits, lithification, metamorphism, changes of oceans, etc.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is the two traditionally geochemistry sub-fields?

A

Low temperature and high temperature.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Structure of the Earth - Core

A

~3,500 km thick
extends about 1/2 way to the surface
~about 1/3 of the mass of the earth
FE-Ni alloy
inner solid and outer is liquid.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Structure of the Earth - Mantle

A

~2900 km thick
~2/3 of the mass of the earth
mostly ultramafic (olivine and pyroxene dominated)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Structure of the Earth - Crust

A

<100 km thick
~0.5% of the mass of the earth
continental vs.oceanic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Structure of the Earth - Continental crust

A

typically ~35-40km thick
relatively permanent
felsic (feldspar dominated)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Structure of the Earth - Oceanic Crust

A

typically <6km thick
<200 Myr old
Magic (sub-equal amount of olivine, pyroxene, and feldspar)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Energy drive geological processes - solar energy

A

Hydrologic cycle: solar energy drives atmospheric and oceanic circulation, thus the hydrologic cycle.

Water vapor in the atmosphere precipitates on the land as rain/snow, percolated as surface/ground water into the ocean.

Streams and oceans evaporated into atmosphere

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Energy drive geological processes - earths internal heat

A

Tectonic Processes: the gravitational potential energy released during the formation of the earth (accretion of planetesimals and core segregation) and head from radioactive decay of U,Th, and K drives tectonic processes such as convection into the outer core and mantle. This leads to plate tectonics.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Outermost part of Earth is cool nigh to be rigid, which is the?

A

lithosphere

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

**

how the studying going?

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Mantle below the lithosphere is hot enough to flow slowly under stress is

A

the asthenosphere

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

convection flow of the asthenosphere drives?

A

the motions of the lithospheric plates, which cause most geological action (earthquakes, volcanism, and metamorphism)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Other examples of the convection flow of the asthenosphere are?

A

mantle convection, subduction, and arc volcanism.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

how do geochemists study the earth?

A

using analytical data like
1. major and trace element concentration.
2. isotopic rations
3. elements in solutions, mineral phases, or organic matter.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Bulk Silicate Earth (BSE) includes what elements?

A

44% O
21% Si
2.5% Ca
23% Mg
6.2% Fe
2.4% Al

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Trace elements not stoichiometric constituents of phases in the system of interest are?

A

Rb, Sr, Sm Nd, Th, U, and Pb

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Bulk Earth (including the core)

A

O=32
Fe=32
Mg=15
Si=14
Ni=1.8
Ca=1.7
Al=1.6
most of the Fe and Ni is located in the core.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is an Earth Reservoir and what is it used for?

A

Used to better understand the origin and evolution of our plant.

Can be real (upper mantle, core, atmosphere) or hypothetical (BSE).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What are the compositional differences between the reservoirs?

A

C1 chondrites: type of primitive meteorite that is though to be compositionally similar to the building blocks of the earth

Continental Crust: a bulk average estimate

Primitive mantle: the composition of the earthʻs mantle right after core information, but before the differentiation of the mantle or formation of the crust.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What were the steps and calculations done for the earth reservoirs google sheet.

A

review google sheet and question answers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

elements are composed of?

A

subatomic nucleons.

positively charged protons and neutral neutrons orbited by negatively charged electrons.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

atomic number?

A

Z = # of protons in the nucleus of an atom

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

atomic number determines?

A

the number of electrons in a neutrally charged atom

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Example of Helium

A

z= 2

charge = # protons - # neutrons
2-2=0 (neutral)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

neutron numer

A

n = number of neutrons in the nucleus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

ions form?

A

when an atom gains electrons to form negatively charged anions or loses electrons to form positively charged cations

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

mass of proton and neutron are?

A

similar

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

mass of a proton or neutron is

A

1836x greater than an electron.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

mass number

A

A = z + n

aka number of protons + number of neutrons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

Isotopes =

A

same Z but different N and A

remember z = protons
N = neutrons
A = mass number

do same element different mass

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

Isobars =

A

different z and N but same A. different element same mass

34
Q

atomic mass unit, abundance, and weight

A

amu

relative proportion of the naturally occurring isotopes

sum of the masses

so atomic weight = mass of element * abundance. added together = amu

DO SOME PRACTICE ONES - ON SLIDES

35
Q

Radioactive decay is a process?

A

in which a nucleus undergoes a spontaneous transformation into one or more different nuclei and simultaneously emits radiation, loses electrons, or undergoes fission.

36
Q

what is radioactivity?

A

property of the nucleus. it is independent of the number of electrons, and thus, any physical or chemical environment of the atom (mineral or fluid host, temperature, pressure, time,etc)

37
Q
A
38
Q

Radioactivity is a property?

A

of the nucleus. It is independent of the number of electrons, and thus, any physical or chemical environment of the atom.

39
Q

details about the chart of the nuclides?

A

black: naturally abundant nuclide
gray: naturally rare or artificial nuclide

yaxis: Z
axis: N

y=different elements
x= different isotopes of each element

40
Q

valley of nuclear stability…

A

for heavier elements, N>Z
extra neutrons help to counteract the repulsive force between the positively charged protons.

41
Q

unstable or radioactive isotopes…

A

most known nuclides decompose spontaneously until they reach a stable configuration.

most do not occur naturally because their decay rates are rapid compared to the age of the solar system.

42
Q

one of the most important elements in geochemistry is?

A

strontium…

isotope geochemists routinely use mass spectrometers to detect minute differences in the atomic weight of Sr separated from geological materials, such as foraminifera or basaltic lavas.

43
Q

Alpha Decay:

A

is spontaneously emitted from the nucleus

a different element is left behind with Z-2, N-2, and A-4

most common at high mass numbers

44
Q

Beta(Negatron) Decay

A

a neutron in the nucleus is transformed into a proton and electron

the electron is expelled from the nucleus

an isobar of a different elements is left behind (Z+1, N-1, A constant)

Occurs in N>Z

45
Q

Positron Decay

A

A proton in the nucleus is transformed into a neutron and positron

the positron is expelled from the nucleus

an isobar of a different element is left being (Z-1, N+1, A constant)

Occurs if N<Z.

unusual for natural nuclides

46
Q

Electron Capture

A

an extranuclear electron is captured by a proton in the nucleus, which is transformed into a neutron

an isobar of a different element is left behind

47
Q

Branched Decay

A

a nuclide that is unstable (radioactive) with respect to more than one decay mechanism. the probabilities of decay by each process are additive.

48
Q

Spontaneous Nuclear Fission

A

a relatively massive nucleus splits into smaller nuclei with the simultaneous release of energy

49
Q

practice how to do the Decay Series!!

A

On SLIDES

50
Q

the chemical properties of an…

A

element are determined by the way its outermost, loosely bund electrons interacts with other elements to form chemical bonds

51
Q

the electronic structure of an atom and the number of its outermost, loosely bound electrons is controlled by…

A

quantum mechanic. this also controls the order of the elements in the periodic table

can understand the geochemical behavior of the elements based on their electronic structure.

52
Q

three quantum numbers determine?

A

the organization of electrons into shells and orbitals.

n: the principal quantum number, the word shell is used t refer to all orbits with the same value of n because each increasing value of n defines a layer of electron density that lies further from the nucleus

I: shape of the orbitals (s,p,d,f)

m: the orientation of the orbital

the fourth quantum number determines the electronʻs spin… s:+1/2 or -1/2

53
Q

Pauliʻs exclusion principle

A

no two electrons in an atom may have the same values of all four quantum numbers

54
Q

electronegativity is?

A

a unit-less quantity that describes the tendency of an element to attract a shared electron when bonded to another element. Increases across the periodic table from left to right and bottom to top.

PRACTICE!!!!!

55
Q

Types of Bonding are?

A

Ionic: total transfer of electrons from one atom to another. difference in electronegativity

covalent: atoms have a fair share of the electrons. difference in electronegativity.

56
Q

what is a mineral?

A

a naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a defined chemical composition and a characteristic crystalline structure.

57
Q

the silica tetrahedron is?

A

the building block of the silicate minerals
where the O-Si-O bonds are strongly covalent
it may polymerize to form a variety of structure by sharing O2

other metal elements fit into and modify the framework.

58
Q

Isolated tetrahedra silicates

A

such as olivine and garnet

59
Q

single chain silicates

A

such as pyroxenes, orthopyroxene and clinopyroxenes

60
Q

double chain silicates

A

such as amphiboles

61
Q

sheet silicates

A

such as micas and clay minerals.

62
Q

framework silicates

A

such as quartz and felspars

63
Q

The key controls on substitution are?

A

ionic charge and ionic radius. two ions must have a similar charge and size in order to substitute easily for one another.

64
Q

the chemical properties of an element are determined by….

elements in the same…. or group of the PT have a similar….

thus their…. is similar and leads to the periodic chemical properties of the elements.

A

number of electrons

same column, similar configuration of outermost electrons

chemical behavior is similar

65
Q

Ionic Radius is?

A

the effective size of an ion (bond length of an atom that is bonded to one or more other atoms).

is determined by the outermost electrons (just like bonding)

66
Q

shielding is?

A

the electrostatic attraction of the outer electrons by the nucleus that is reduced by the cloud of the inner electrons.

67
Q

the lanthanide contraction results from?

A

increasingly inefficient shielding.

as the atomic number increases from La to Lu, the positive charged in the nucleus increases.

the iconic radii might be expected to remain content

f orbitals are large and diffuse so not bale to shield nucleus

effective nuclear charge felt by the outermost electron increases and the ionic radius decreases.

68
Q

Cations (+) have?

A

smaller ionic radii than anions

69
Q

Ionic radii increase?

A

down the rows of the periodic table increases

70
Q

ionic radii decreases?

A

across a row as charge increases

71
Q

ionic radii decreases as atomic number?

A

increases for ions with the same charge

72
Q

the large increase in ionic radii between?

A

column 10 and 11

73
Q

goldschmidtʻs classification of the elements

A

atmophile elements are generally extremely volatile and are concentrated in the atmosphere and hydrosphere.

74
Q

Lithophile elements?

A

readily form compounds with O2, and tend to be concentrated in the silicate portion of the earth (crust and mantle)

75
Q

siderophile elements?

A

prefer to form metallic alloys, and tend to partition into a metallic liquid and are depleted in the silicate portion of the earth and concentrated in the earthʻs core.

76
Q

chalcophile elements?

A

most easily form sulfides and are depleted in the silicate portion of the earth and maybe be concentrated in the earthʻs core.

77
Q

large ion lithophile elements are

A

large ion, weak charge

78
Q

high field strength elements are

A

small ion, strong charge

79
Q

rare-earth elements

A

every element between La and Lu

80
Q

noble metals or Pt group elements

A

Ru, Rh, Pd, Os, Ir, and Pt

81
Q

Actinide elements include?

A

Ac, Th, Pa, U, and others that are no naturally occurring.

82
Q
A

GeoChemistry (1 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions