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Unit 3_Big Idea 1 (Student)

Environmental Chemistry

  • Environmental Chemistry studies how chemistry affects the environment and explores potential solutions to environmental issues through chemical principles.

Overview of Content

  • The content is structured into different units, including Biodiversity, Chemistry, and Environmental Chemistry, which helps to organize and connect the ideas.

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP)

  • The GPGP is a significant environmental issue, being the largest of five offshore plastic accumulation zones in the Pacific Ocean, located between Hawaii and California.

Analyzing Debris

  • The Ocean Cleanup initiative focuses on analyzing debris collected from the GPGP, employing research to better understand the types of materials causing pollution.

Understanding Chemicals in the Environment

Big Idea 1

  • Driving Question: What are the chemicals in the environment and how do they get there?

  • Chemicals can be classified into two categories: Organic (containing carbon) and Inorganic (lacking carbon).

Nutritional Chemistry

Organic Chemicals (Nutrients)

  • Essential organic chemicals include carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids, which serve various functions such as providing energy, building structures, and facilitating chemical reactions in living organisms.

Inorganic Chemicals (Nutrients)

  • Inorganic nutrients, including minerals such as calcium and phosphorus, are crucial for various body functions, including bone structure and cellular metabolism. For instance, calcium is vital for muscle contraction and nerve impulse transmission.

Elemental Composition of the Human Body

  • Water (62%), Protein (16%), Oxygen (65%), Carbon (18%), and other minerals make up the human body's chemical foundation.

Plant Nutrients and Fertilizers

  • Plants obtain essential nutrients from soil, and artificial fertilizers can boost plant production by providing necessary nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

Plastic Pollution

  • Discusses the origins of plastic pollution, particularly polyethylene, and its classification as a pollutant when it impacts the environment negatively.

  • Understanding what defines a chemical as contamination or pollution is essential, as they may be beneficial until they cause harm (e.g., plastic bottles).

The Movement of Chemicals

Stages of Chemical Transport

  1. Entry: Release of chemicals from a source.

  2. Distribution: Movement and dispersion in the environment.

Sources of Pollution

  • Point Source: Direct, identifiable sources of pollutants (e.g., industrial discharge).

  • Non-point Source: Scattered, less identifiable sources (e.g., agricultural runoff).

Factors Influencing Chemical Movement

  • Chemical properties, wind speed, and ocean currents determine where pollutants travel.

Plastics in Water

  • Plastics degrade into smaller fragments (microplastics and nanoplastics) due to UV and mechanical degradation, impacting marine ecosystems.

Responsibility and Solutions for GPGP

  • Engaging in debates concerning responsibility for the GPGP involves considering the actions of fishing countries and regions contributing to pollution. Using terms related to environmental chemistry will enhance the discussion about solutions for reducing marine pollution.

Conclusion

  • Understanding the chemistry behind environmental issues allows for better strategies to mitigate impacts, emphasizing the critical link between chemistry and environmental stewardship.