Grade 9 - Environmental Chemistry

Nutrients

a chemical in food, used for energy, growth, body building, or cell repair

carbohydrates

an organic nutrient made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen; the starches and sugars present in foods

lipids

Energy-rich organic compounds, such as fats, oils, and waxes, that are made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen; does not dissolve in water

proteins

Nutrients the body uses to build and maintain its cells and tissues; composed of a chain of amino acids

vitamin

organic molecule that helps enzymes function in the body

macromineral

A mineral needed in the diet in amounts of 100 or more milligrams each day in order to maintain health; calcium, potassium, sodium

trace element

a mineral that the body requires in the amount of less than 100 mg/day in order to maintain health; zinc, copper, selenium

enzyme

A type of protein that regulates chemical reactions in a living thing

herbicide

a substance for killing plants, especially weeds

insecticide

substance that kills insects

fungicide

substance that kills fungi or inhibits their growth

acid

a chemical that produces an acidic substance, having a pH value of less than 7

acidic

pH less than 7

base

a chemical that produces a basic substance, having a pH value of more than 7

basic

pH greater than 7

indicator

A compound that changes color in the presence of an acid or a base

litmus

a substance used to detect the presence of an acid or a base. Acid: blue litmus turns red. Base: red litmus turns

blue.

pH paper

a piece of paper that has one or more chemical indicators on it and that changes colors depending on the amount of H+ ions in a solution

pH scale

measurement system used to indicate the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) in solution; ranges from 0 to 14

acid precipitation

Conversion of sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides to acids that return to Earth as rain, snow, or fog

liming

the process of adding calcium carbonate to the environment; increases nutrient content of soil

acid-base neutralization

The combining of an acid and a base to produce salt and water

catalytic converter

a device that encourages complete oxidation during combustion

catalyst

substance that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction

oxidation

a chemical reaction in which oxygen combines with other elements to form new substances; loss of electrons

scrubber

a device that uses a sorbent to reduce oxide emissions

acute toxicity

the ability of a chemical to cause harm to an organism with only one exposure; hydrogen cyanide is an example

chronic toxicity

the ability of a chemical to cause harm to an organism only after the chemical accumulates to a specific level after many exposures over time; asbestos is an example

LD50

lethal dose (of a toxin) for 50% of the test population

pollutant

any material, or form of energy, that will cause harm to a living organism

pollution

an alteration of the environment producing a condition harmful to living things

toxicity

the ability of a chemical to cause harm to an organism

biological indicators

species that can be used to monitor the health of an environment or ecosystem.

point source

a specific location where pollution originates

non-point source

a source of pollution in which pollutants are diffuse and originate from no specific location

non-persistent waste

wastes that can be broken down into simple nonpolluting compounds by naturally occurring chemical reactions or bacterial action

persistent waste

wastes that accumulate in the environment and break down very slowly, if at all

NIMBY

Not In My Backyard attitude. People don't want things like landfills to be put where they live.

CFCs

Chlorinated Fluorocarbons are chemicals that break down the ozone layer

Ozone

A form of oxygen that has three oxygen atoms in each molecule instead of the usual two; ozone layer absorbs most of the ultraviolet radiation reaching the earth from the sun.

surface water pollution

raw sewage and excess fertilizer flow into lakes and streams

ground water pollution

Anything dumped/sprayed on the surface or buried in the ground has the potential to pollute ground water

biodegradable

capable of being readily decomposed into harmless substances by microorganisms

bioremediation

The use of living organisms to detoxify and restore polluted and degraded ecosystems

hazardous waste

Any material that can be harmful to human health or the environment if it is not properly disposed of

solvent

A liquid substance capable of dissolving other substances

bioreactor

an apparatus in which a biological reaction or process is carried out, especially on an industrial scale.