Chapters 1 and 2 - Chemistry of the environment

Haber process

Process for converting atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, which can be converted to nitrates

scientific method

concept that ideas about how the universe functions should \n be able to be tested to see if the universe actually operates in this way

steps of the scientific method

1. define the problem
2. form a hypothesis
3. perform experiments
4. accept or reject hypothesis
5. report results
6. formulate theory or law

theory

a hypothesis that has been tested and verified enough times that the scientific community feels comfortable with \n its veracity

law

term reserved for concepts that have existed for a long time and are accepted as proven fact

matter

* anything that has mass and occupies space
* made up of atoms

molecule

* An atom or any combination of atoms that is capable of existing for some amount of time in the presence of other molecules
* can be large and contain many atoms of different types, \n small with few atoms, or can contain only one type of atom
* An atom or group of atoms which are bonded together

pure substance

matter containing only one type of molecule

element

matter composed of only one type of atom

compound

matter made up of molecules containing the atoms of more than one element

homogeneous mixture

substances in the mixture are evenly distributed throughout \n the mixture

heterogeneous mixture

substances in the mixture are not evenly distributed throughout the mixture

Antoine Lavoisier

* Frenchman considered father of modern chemistry
* performed combustion experiments
* developed law of conservation of matter

law of conservation of matter/mass

matter can be neither created nor destroyed; it can only be converted from one form to another

consequences of law of conservation of matter on the environment

* Everything we use has to come from somewhere
* everything we use must end up somewhere

entropy

a measure of disorder or randomness

work

the result of using a force to move a sample of matter over some distance

energy

the ability to do work or raise the temperature of a sample of matter

kinetic energy

energy that matter has because of its **motion**

potential energy

* stored energy that can be released to do work or produce heat
* energy due to **position**

heat energy

energy that flows from one body to another when there is a \n temperature difference between the two

thermodynamics

study of heat transfers and related forms of energy

first law of thermodynamics

* Energy can be neither created nor destroyed; it can only be converted from one form to another
* the universe's energy is constant

second law of thermodynamics

The entropy of the universe moves toward a maximum