Science: Environmental Chemistry

Carbohydrates

Made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, they store energy for short periods of time

Lipids

Made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, they store energy for long periods of time, and they provide insulation

Proteins

Composed of amino acids, they are structurally and functionally diverse. Their functions include:

\-Structure

\-Enzymes

\-Transport

\-Defence

\-Movement

\-Energy Storage

Nucleic Acids

Contain hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorus, they pass genetic data from one generation to the next.

Macrominerals

Any of the minerals that people require daily in amounts over 100 mg

Trace Elements

Any of the minerals that people require daily in amounts under 100 mg

Fertilizer

A substance that provides nutrients to help crops grow better

Nitrogen

Responsible for plant color and growth

Phosphorus

Responsible for producing flowers and fruits

Potassium

Responsible for encouraging root growth

Pesticide

A chemical intended to kill insects and other organisms that damage crops.

Insecticide

Substance that kills insects

Herbicide

Substance used to destroy plants, especially weeds

Fungicide

Substance that kills fungi or inhibits their growth

DDT

A powerful insecticide that is also poisonous to humans and animals. It was banned after it was found out it caused eagle eggshells to turn soft, thus leading to a decline in the eagle population

Bioaccumulation

An increased concentration of a chemical within an organism over time

Acid

A substance that increases the hydrogen ion concentration of a solution. It has less than 7 pH, causes irritation and tastes sour

Base

A compound that produces hydroxide ions in solution. It has more than 7 pH, causes irritation, tastes bitter, and is slippery

Acid Precipitation (Acid Rain)

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

Liming

The technique of adding calcium carbonate to natural water bodies to neutralize them

Catalytic Converter

A device in a motor vehicle that reduces the amount of pollutants in emissions

Scrubber

A device that removes pollutants or changes them chemically before they leave factory smokestacks

Sorbent

A substance that absorbs oxides

Concentration

Mass(mol) over Volume(L)

ppm (parts per million)

Mass(mg) over Volume(L)

Acute Toxins

Are immediately toxic and associated with high mortality

Chronic Toxins

Cause damage after repeated or long duration exposure

LD50

The amount of a chemical that kills 50% of the animals in a test population

Animal Testing

The use of non-human animals for experimental purposes, most commonly rats

Chemical Monitoring

Tracking the quality of air, water, and soil, and checking for the presence of pollutants

Biological Monitoring

Tracking changes in the populations of organisms

Physical Monitoring

Tracking changes in the landscape over time

Environmental Monitoring

Tracking changes in temperature, climate and weather

Non-persistant pollutant

Environment will naturally get rid of the pollutant

Persistant pollutant

Environment cannot naturally remove the pollutant

Point-source pollutant

There is an identifiable source of the pollution

Non-point-source pollutant

The major contributor of the pollution is unclear

Eutriphication

A process in which nutrients, such as nitrates or phosphates, become plentiful in a body of water. This results in increased growth of organisms such as algae and bacteria. The algae and bacteria over consume the oxygen that is dissolved in the water, leading to a body of water that does not support life

Biological Indicators/ Indicator Species

Organisms that are more sensitive environmental change than others. They can provide indications about the overall health of an ecosystem or about one specific aspect of the ecosystem

Threats to Biodiversity

* Habitat destruction
* Introduced species
* Overexploitation
* Disruption to interaction networks
* Disruption to substrates ( A surface on which another organism lives)

Endemic Species

A species that is only found in a particular area

Endangered Species

A species at risk of becoming extinct

Threatened Species

A species at risk of becoming endangered

Extirpated Species

Species that have disappeared in a specific area

Special Concerned

Species that are not threatened yet, but have some indication they may become threatened

Mass Extinction

An event that causes a widespread decline in biodiversity on Earth

HIPPO

* Habitat destruction
* Introduction of exotic species
* Pollution
* Population explosion
* Overconsumption

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s)

Chemicals that were once used in aerosol cans, coolant systems, and styrofoam. It was banned in 1989 because it caused a breakdown in the ozone layer

Sewage treatment

* Primary phase
* Secondary phase
* Tertiary phase

Primary phase

Physically removes solids with grates and grit chambers

Secondary phase

Allows bacteria to decompose organic matter using aeration tanks and sludge setting tanks

Tertiary Phase

Disinfects the sewage and returns the water to the watershed using chlorine or UV light

Sanitary landfill

In a sanitary landfill, trash is crushed and covered with a layer of soil to prevent smell, scavengers, sanitary and the spread of disease, and wind from blowing the garbage around

Secure landfill

A secure landfill is a landfill with a lined bottom to catch any leachate.

Never Punch Kris (NPK)

Elements in fertilizer:

* Nitrate
* Phosphorus
* Potassium