Ecosystems and Polymers Science Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering polymers, plastic classifications, sustainability principles, ecosystem interactions, energy transformations, and Earth systems based on the lecture notes.

Density

The amount of mass packed into a certain volume, determining whether materials float or sink.

Polymer

A material composed of long, chain-like molecules consisting of repeating chemical units.

Monomer

A small molecule, typically sourced from crude oil, carbon, and hydrogen compounds, that can link together with other molecules to form long polymer chains.

Polymerisation

A type of chemical reaction where monomers act as reactants and link together to produce a polymer as the product.

Cross-links

Chemical bonds that join two polymer chains together, preventing them from sliding past one another and making the plastic stronger and more rigid.

• Sauce pan handles

• kitchen benchtops bench tops

Plasticizers

Small molecules added to polymers that weaken the forces of attraction between chains so they can slide over one another, producing soft and elastic plastic.

• Garden hoses

• Rain boots

• Stress ball

Branching chains

A polymer chain arrangement where branches prevent chains from packing closely together, resulting in light and flexible materials such as plastic grocery bags.

• Plastic grocery bags

• Ziploc bags

• Cling wrap

Strong intermolecular forces (Polymers)

A polymer arrangement where chains are held tightly close together, yielding a strong, dense plastic with a high melting point, such as toothbrush bristles and polyester.

• Toothbrush brittles

• Polyester clothing

Thermosoftening plastics

Plastics held together by weak intermolecular forces that break when heated, allowing them to be repeatedly melted and remolded.

Thermosetting plastics

Plastics made of polymer chains joined by strong cross-links that harden permanently after being shaped once and require high temperatures and strong chemicals to break down.

Refuse (Sustainability)

Saying no to single-use plastics, unnecessary items, and free promotional goods that will quickly end up in landfills.

Rethink (Sustainability)

Questioning consumption habits and considering alternatives to plastic when designing or buying something.

Reduce (Sustainability)

Buying fewer items and choosing products with minimal, recyclable, or no plastic packaging to cut down on total plastic use.

Reuse (Sustainability)

Using plastic items multiple times rather than discarding them after a single use.

Repair (Sustainability)

Fixing broken plastic objects, mending clothes, or repairing electronics instead of throwing them away to purchase new ones.

Recycle (Sustainability)

Disposing of waste materials properly so they can be processed and melted down into raw materials for new products.

Ecosystem

A collection of living things (biotic) that interact with each other and with the non-living components (abiotic) of their physical environment.

Biotic factor

Any living component of an ecosystem, such as grass, bacteria, corals, mushrooms, and animals.

Abiotic factor

Any non-living physical or chemical component of an ecosystem, such as sunlight, water, minerals, dirt, currents, and plastic waste.

Phytoplankton

Microscopic algae that float near the water surface and serve as photosynthetic primary producers in ocean ecosystems.

Predator-prey relationship

An ecological feeding relationship where one organism hunts (the predator) and eats another organism (the prey), transferring matter and energy to stay alive.

Competition

An ecological relationship where organisms of the same or different species struggle against each other to obtain the same limited resources, such as food, shelter, space, or mates.

Symbiosis

A long-term relationship between two organisms of different species that live side by side, where at least one of the organisms benefits.

Mutualistic relationship

A symbiotic relationship in which both interacting species benefit from one another.

Oxpecker feeds on ticks which in turn feed on the ticks on buffalos, oxpecker gains a meal and buffalo has harmful ticks removed

Commensal relationship

A symbiotic relationship where one species benefits while the other species is unaffected.

Remora uses a fin from sharks to hitch a ride across the ocean, shark is unaffected

Parasitic relationship

A symbiotic relationship in which one species benefits while the host species is harmed.

Tapeworm live inside the intestines of dogs, depriving the hose of essential energy. benefits tapeworm but deprives the dog of energy and introduces health issues

Coral bleaching

The expulsion of photosynthetic algae from coral tissues caused by warm waters, acidity, or pollution, turning the coral white and depriving it of up to $95\%$ of its nutrients.

Bioaccumulation

The progressive buildup of a harmful or indigestible substance, such as microplastics, within the body or digestive tract of an organism over time.

Biodiversity

The variety of different living things and species present within a given area or ecosystem.

Resilient ecosystem

An ecosystem with high biodiversity that has the capacity to recover from disturbances such as severe storms, droughts, and fires.

Agricultural run-off

Excess fertilizers and nutrients washed from farmland into rivers and oceans, causing algal blooms that block sunlight and deplete oxygen.

Photosynthesis

A chemical reaction in producers converting light energy, carbon dioxide, and water into chemical energy stored in glucose, releasing oxygen gas as a byproduct.

1. Light energy splits water to form oxygen and hydrogen

2. The hydrogen combines with carbon dioxide to form glucose.

Carbon dioxide _ water —→ Glucose + oxygen

Cellular respiration

The cellular metabolic reaction in all living organisms that breaks down glucose in the presence of oxygen to release energy for life processes, producing carbon dioxide and water.

Respiration is often cellular because it takes place in cells. Used to grow, repair and reproduce. Reverse of photosynthesis

10% Energy Transfer Rule

The principle that only about $10\%$ of an organism's energy is passed to the consumer that eats it, while $90\%$ is utilized for survival, released as heat, used for cellular respiration or excreted as waste.

Transpiration

The process by which plants and trees absorb water through roots and release water vapor into the atmosphere through pores in their leaves.

Condensation

The process where rising water vapor cools and transforms back into tiny liquid water droplets or ice crystals, forming clouds and fog.

Infiltration

The initial soaking of rainwater or melted snow directly into the topsoil, and slowly seeps deeper down through soil and rock layers.

Precipitation

Whe ncloud droplets become too heavy to stay suspended in the air they fall back to Earth as rain, snow, sleet or hail

Run off

Water that cannot soak into the ground quickly enough flows over the land surface into creeks, rivers and eventually the ocean

Collection/storage

Water gathers in long term reservoirs like oceans, lakes, glaciers before the cycle restarts

Geosphere

The Earth system comprising Earth's metallic core, solid rock, molten rock, soil, and sediments.

Hydrosphere

The Earth system containing water in all its forms, including liquid water in oceans and rivers, ice, groundwater, and atmospheric water vapor.

Atmosphere

The Earth system composed of the mixture of gases surrounding the planet, including nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide.

Biosphere

The Earth system consisting of all living organisms across habitats like rainforests, deserts, mountains, and coral reefs.

Healthy river example

• Hydrosphere presents as flowing water

• Geosphere presents as small fragments of rock being transported by the river as sediment and dissolved minerals

• Atmosphere presented as dissolved gases

• Biosphere presents as algae, fish and microorganisms that use the river as a habitat

Albedo

The measure of radiation of all wavelengths reflected by a surface, scored from $0$ (absorbs all radiation) to $1$ (reflects all radiation).

Absorption: Earth absorbs high-energy visible radiation from the sun, heating up the air, land and water

Emissions: Because earth is cool it slowly releases this heat as low-energy infrared radiation (Longer wavelengths).

Terrestrial radiation

The emission of longer-wavelength, lower-energy infrared radiation into space by land and water surfaces after absorbing high-energy visible solar radiation.

Convection

A heat transfer process where warmer air or water expands, decreases in density, and rises, while cooler fluid moves in to take its place.

Conduction

The transfer of thermal energy between substances through direct physical contact from warmer areas to cooler areas without the bulk movement of matter.

Evaporation

Water absorbs energy to change from liquid to water vapour, trnasferring energy into the atmosphere

Over fishing

Reduces the population of the fish, taking away a food source killing out the ecosystem

Plastic pollution

Kills and chokes many of the organisms, such as turtles

High biodiversity

Large variety of organisms in an area

Low biodiversity

Small variety of organisms in an area

Microplastics

Can be eaten by smaller animals such as corals and crabs, affecting their growth

Step by step process of plastic bottles to polyester

1. Sorting: workers sort the plastic bottle by colour

2. Shredding and washing: sharp blade cuts bottles into small pieces

3. Separation and Density: Shredded plastics is placed into a drum of water, densest plastics are kept

4. Drying: A hot spinning oven dries the shredded plastic

5. Melting: The plastic is melted to become fluid

6. Extruding: Molten plastic is pushed through a sleeve to create long strings of polyester thread

Properties of plastic

1. PET: sinks

2. HDPE: floats

3. PV: sinks

4. LDPE: floats

5. PP: floats

6. PS: sinks

Plastic

Synthetic polymer, made up of thousands of small molecules (monomer) that are strung together to form chains monomer (reactant) —> polymer (product)

Monomer to polymer

Monomers are matched with the polymer that it is used to make

Vinyl chloride —> polyvinyl chloride

Ethene —> Polyethene

Propene —→ Polypropene

Styrene —→ Polystyrene

Potential properties of plastic + how it is affected

• Hard or soft

• Flexible or rigid

• Transparent or opaque

• Lightweight or dense

All depends on the way the polymer chins are arranged

Negative impacts of plastic on the environment

• Large amounts of waste

• Centuries to fully break down

• Pollutes ocean

• Harms wildlife

• Produces microplastics that contaminate the environment

Examples of hidden plastics

• Drink and food cans: lined with plastic

• Milk and juice cartons- made up of paper, aluminium foil and plastic

• Chewing gun: man-made rubber

• Microfibers: polyester

• Tea bags: sealed with plastic

Statistics

• 5 trillion plastic bags produced each year (Refuse)

• One million plastic bottles bought worldwide every minute (Re-use)

• 8.3 billion straw litter the world’s coastline (refuse)

• Over 270 animal species found entangled in plastic

Food necessity

-matter to grow and repair our bodies

-energy to power our bodily functions and activities

Molecules in the bodies of organisms store energy that allow us to move, grow and function.

Producers get this energy through photosynthesis. Consumers consume this stored energy and begin using it for energy, repair, movement etc

Carbon recycling

The process where carbon compounds are continously repurposed and moved throughout the environment, serving as the basis for all life on earth

How do humans and animals absorb carbon compounds daily?

• Air we breathe

• Sugars, fats and proteins we eat

• Carbon dioxide is released during decomposition, reflecting how the carbon cycle continously recycles matter to sustain life

Water cycle

The natural recycling system is called the water cycle. The global water cycle is driven by sunlight and gravity. Sun warms water on the surface of the earth, evaporates and rises into the atmosphere. Gravity pulls the water back down through precipitation

Example of the four global systems

• Absorbs light and heat energy from the sun

• Exchanges gases with the atmosphere for photosynthesis, respiration and transpiration

• Absorbs water from the hydrosphere

• Obtains nutrients and structural support from the soil in the geosphere 

• Interacts with the biosphere by using nutrients released by organisms in the soil and being eaten by insects.

Limestone

• Millions of years of compressed creatures whose hard remains fell to the ocean floor and became limestone. 

• Solid format 

Crude oil

• Microscopic plants AND animals that died and fell to the floor, took millions of years to form and is compressed.

• Liquid format