environmental chemistry - science 9

organic compounds

carbon attached to carbon/hydrogen

non-organic compounds

carbon NOT attached to carbon/hydrogen

macronutrients

carbohydrates, proteins and lipids/fats

micronutrients

vitamins and minerals

carbohydrate + examples

short term energy storage (ex. glucose, sucrose (sugar), fructose)

lipids + examples

long term energy source isolates components as a membrane from the solutes of the body which is water. (ex. phosphorus)

proteins + examples

source of amino acids ← contains nitrogen (ex. sulfur)

nucleic acid example

DNA

vitamins + examples

cofactors of enzyme function (ex. a, b, c, d, e)

minerals + examples

used to restore bodily functions (ex. iron, uses it to breathe)

structure of unsaturated fats

unbent atoms

structure of saturated fats

bent atoms

trans fats

hard to break down

diffusion

fluid movement of particles from an area of higher concentration to lower concentration.

osmosis

molecules move from an area of low concentration to high concentration through a semi permeable membrane.

absorption

the process of taking in or soaking up nutrients, gases, or toxins.

ingestion

The process of an organism swallowing or absorbing nutrients or toxins.

biomagnification

The process of toxins building up in an organism because of its ingesting other plants or animals which contained the toxin.

bioaccumulation

the process of toxins being built up in one organism.

dissolved nitrates and phosphates

fertilizers for plants, sometimes resulting in algae blooms when not controlled

toxicity

the degree to which a chemical substance or a particular mixture of substances can damage an organism.

LD50

the percentage of a group of animals or cultured cells or microorganisms killed by such a dose, typically standardized at 50 percent

pesticide

a chemical designed to kill insects or animals, such as ants or mice

remediation

the process of removing hazardous chemicals from the environment

biodegradation

the process of a toxin being broken down by bacteria or other living organisms

dispersion

the action or process of distributing a toxin over a wide area

effluent

liquid waste or sewage discharged into a river or the sea

groundwater

water held underground in the soil or in pores and crevices in rock 

leach

to drain from soil by the action of rainwater or groundwater

biological indicators

a population of organisms that indicate the suitability of an environment

acid

toxic solution

base

basic solution (non-toxic)

pH scale

an exponent which shows the toxicity of something

neutralization

neutralizing a toxic substance

pollution

a substance that has harmful affects to the environment.

turbibity

cloudiness of a fluid

dilution

clearing something in a substance such as toxins.

eutrophication

the process in which a water body becomes overly enriched with nutrients, leading to the plentiful growth of simple plant life. 

universal indicator

finds the pH level of a substance (reveals pH through changing color of solution)

acid rain

rain that contains toxins inside of the rain droplets