environmental chemistry

EnvironmentEnvironmental Chemistryal Chemistry

Environmental Chemistry…Environmental Chemistry…in Hollywood…in Hollywood…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvpzcapmTUI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Jdk3riKKwov=5Jdk3riKKwo

What does this have to do with What does this have to do with me???me???

Hmmmm….Hmmmm….

Big Ideas for Unit CBig Ideas for Unit C

Investigate the role of beneficial and Investigate the role of beneficial and harmful substances in the environment.harmful substances in the environment.

Identify processes of measuring the Identify processes of measuring the quantity of substances in the quantity of substances in the environment.environment.

Identify processes for monitoring air and Identify processes for monitoring air and water quality.water quality.

Analyze the distribution of of potentially Analyze the distribution of of potentially harmful substances within an harmful substances within an environment.environment.

GO C1 Investigate and describe, in general terms, the role of different substances in the environment in supporting or harming humans and other living things.

1.1 Chemicals in the Environment

http://www.chem4kids.com/files/art/etcetera_envirochem1_240.jpg

Guided QuestionGuided QuestionHow do harmful substances enter and interfere with an ecosystem through

the water, carbon, and nitrogen cycles?

Environmental CyclesEnvironmental Cycles

Essential nutrients are naturally Essential nutrients are naturally recycled in our environment.recycled in our environment.

The Earth runs into pollution The Earth runs into pollution problems when harmful substances problems when harmful substances interfere with these cycles or enter interfere with these cycles or enter an ecosystem through these cycles.an ecosystem through these cycles.

Water cycleWater cycle

http://pmm.nasa.gov/education/sites/default/files/article_images/Water-Cycle-Art2A.png

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaDkph9yQBs

The Carbon CycleThe Carbon Cycle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mldBE9Ee3zY

http://www.ucar.edu/learn/images/carboncy.gif

Nitrogen CycleNitrogen Cycle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSzLQojOItg

Most organisms are unable to use nitrogen Most organisms are unable to use nitrogen (N(N22) unless it is joined to other elements. ) unless it is joined to other elements.

Nitrogen-Fixation Nitrogen-Fixation is the process of is the process of changing free nitrogen so that the atoms changing free nitrogen so that the atoms can combine with other elements to form can combine with other elements to form compounds that organisms can use (NHcompounds that organisms can use (NH33))

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria Nitrogen-fixing bacteria found in the found in the plant nodes or nodules of legumes such as plant nodes or nodules of legumes such as peas, beans, clover and alfalfa, convert peas, beans, clover and alfalfa, convert nitrogen from the air into nitrates. nitrogen from the air into nitrates.

LightningLightning, too, converts nitrogen gas into , too, converts nitrogen gas into nitrates.nitrates.

Human ActivitiesHuman Activities

Agricultural activities

A A fertilizer is a substance that enriches is a substance that enriches the soil so that plants will grow better.the soil so that plants will grow better.

Fertilizers contain three elements: Fertilizers contain three elements: nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium.

Too much fertilizer can damage Too much fertilizer can damage organisms (burn) in the soil and even organisms (burn) in the soil and even damage crops. If too much fertilizer damage crops. If too much fertilizer gets into ponds, streams, etc. it can gets into ponds, streams, etc. it can damage ecosystems.damage ecosystems.

Healthy coralHealthy coral

Dead Coral – Fertilizers??

The three numbers indicate the percentage of each element contained in the fertilizer

In this fertilizer there would be 16% Nitrogen, 0 % Phosphorus and 8% Potassium

Pesticides are are chemicals used to kill chemicals used to kill or control or control pests. .

A A pest pest is an organism is an organism that harms people, that harms people, crops, or structures. crops, or structures.

Some pesticides are Some pesticides are non-selective – they non-selective – they kill both pest and kill both pest and non-pest species. non-pest species.

Some pests Some pests become resistant become resistant to pesticides so to pesticides so new and stronger new and stronger pesticides must be pesticides must be developed.developed.

PesticidesPesticides

Pesticides are grouped according to Pesticides are grouped according to the pest that they control or kill.the pest that they control or kill. HerbicidesHerbicides kill or control kill or control weedsweeds Insecticides Insecticides kill or control kill or control insectsinsects Fungicides Fungicides kill kill fungifungi

DDTDDTDDT was a popular insecticide for mosquitoes until it was found to weaken the shells of bird’s eggs, causing rapid decline of bird populations

Solid wastes

Solid waste includes the solid garbage that Solid waste includes the solid garbage that is collected form households, industrial is collected form households, industrial plants, commercial buildings, institutions plants, commercial buildings, institutions etc.etc.

The safest way to dispose of solid waste is The safest way to dispose of solid waste is to reuse or recycle it to reuse or recycle it

Waste that can’t be reused or recycled is Waste that can’t be reused or recycled is placed in placed in landfill siteslandfill sites Sanitary landfills use Sanitary landfills use plastic liners plastic liners and and

compacted clay compacted clay to prevent water from to prevent water from moving through the solid waste and moving through the solid waste and bringing chemicals into the soil and bringing chemicals into the soil and ground waterground water

Wastewater

The major pollutants affect the water The major pollutants affect the water by depleting valuable oxygen in the by depleting valuable oxygen in the water and at the same time adding water and at the same time adding poisons to the water. poisons to the water.

When oxygen is present, bacteria will When oxygen is present, bacteria will decompose raw sewage. However, decompose raw sewage. However, where there is an overload of sewage, where there is an overload of sewage, so much oxygen is used up that fish so much oxygen is used up that fish and other aquatic life will die. and other aquatic life will die.

Waste HWaste H22O containing dissolved and O containing dissolved and undissolved materials is called undissolved materials is called sewagesewage and and must be treated. must be treated.

In cities sewage moves to a In cities sewage moves to a sewage treatment sewage treatment plantplant or a or a septic tankseptic tank in rural areas in rural areas

During heavy rainstorms, overflow wastewater During heavy rainstorms, overflow wastewater is sometimes carried directly to a body of water is sometimes carried directly to a body of water without treatment by without treatment by storm sewers.

SewageSewage

Septic tankSeptic tank

Bacteria break down organic materialsBacteria break down organic materials

Sewage treatment plantSewage treatment plant

Treats waste form homes, businesses Treats waste form homes, businesses etcetc

After treatment After treatment effluent is released is released

The treatment process involves The treatment process involves three stages:three stages:

PhysicalPhysical:: much of the larger material is much of the larger material is filtered out by screens.filtered out by screens.

BiologicalBiological:: organic sewage material is organic sewage material is decomposed by the action of bacteria.decomposed by the action of bacteria.

ChemicalChemical:: chemicals are added to remove chemicals are added to remove inorganic phosphates and nitrates.inorganic phosphates and nitrates.

Fuel combustionFuel combustion

Fossil fuels are non-renewable resources and Fossil fuels are non-renewable resources and are formed from dead plants and animals. are formed from dead plants and animals. When fossil fuels are burned, they produce When fossil fuels are burned, they produce COCO22 and water vapour. and water vapour.

Combustion of fuelsCombustion of fuels

Hydrocarbon + oxygen Hydrocarbon + oxygen carbon dioxide + water + carbon dioxide + water + ENERGYENERGY

(Any fuel)(Any fuel)

**Could be methane, propane, gasoline - doesn’t **Could be methane, propane, gasoline - doesn’t mattermatter

Industrial ProcessesIndustrial Processes

Natural gas is processed to separate its Natural gas is processed to separate its components for different uses. components for different uses.

When hydrogen sulfide is found in When hydrogen sulfide is found in natural gas it is referred to as natural gas it is referred to as sour sour gasgas..

HH22SS(g)(g) must be removed because it is must be removed because it is poisonous. This results in poisonous. This results in sweet gas.sweet gas.

With removal of HWith removal of H22SS(g)(g) , SO , SO22 and S are and S are released and need to be monitored.released and need to be monitored.