Environmental
Chemistry
Chapter
Summaries
Chapters
1 and 2
Definitions: ecology, atmosphere,
biosphere, geosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, environmental chemistry,
ecosystem, pollutant, contaminant, hazardous, aquatic chemistry, atmospheric
chemistry, hydrology, limnology, oceanography, eutrophication, dissolved
oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, dispersion aerosols, condensation aerosols.
At the level discussed in
lecture, be able to answer questions about the origin of the universe,
the formation of the solar system and synthesis of the elements.
Cycles of matter: understand
the general outline for cycles of matter, exogenic and endogenic cycles.
Know the carbon cycle, the nitrogen cycle and the phosphorous cycle.
Chapter
3
Be familiar with the basic
principles of aquatic chemistry, including the following definitions:
strong acid, strong base, weak acid, weak base, pH, alkalinity and acidity.
You should be able to use a distribution of species diagram, and be able
to calculate an value for a species if given a pH and the equation. You
should be able to calculate solubility for sparingly soluble carbonate
salts, given the pH and appropriate equation. You should be able to identify
all the unknown species in an aqueous, complex equilibrium. By analyzing
a complex equilibrium problem, you should be able to recognize species
that can be ignored. You should then be able to calculate the concentration
of the species of interest using equilibrium equations that will be provided.
Chapter
4
Be familiar with basic electrochemistry
and how electrochemical reactions are treated in natural systems. Be familiar
with the Nernst equation, as written for natural systems, and be able
to calculate pE values for systems from chemical concentration data. Likewise,
you should be able to calculate concentrations from measured pE values.
Be able to read pE-pH diagrams, and identify the most stable chemical
form of an element, given pE and pH.
Chapter
5
Be able to calculate solubilities
using Ksp and intrinsic solubilities given information on ionic strength
and activity coefficients. Be able to calculate the solubility of gasses
in water using Henry's Law. Be able to calculate the solubility of gases
in water for temperatures that are not standard using the Clausius-Claperion
Equation. Know the definitions for colloidal particles, Tyndall effect,
hydrophilic colloids, hydrophobic colloids, association colloids and micelles.
Understand hydration layer and surface charge on colloids, and zero point
charge.
Chapter
6
Be familiar with the basic
classes of aquatic microorganisms: bacteria, fungi, protozoa and algae.
Know the definition of each and the definition of a virus. Know the definitions
of prokaryotes and eukaryotes, producers and reducers, chemotrophs, phototrophs,
autotrophs and heterotrophs. Be able to use the names and nomenclature
terminology discussed with regard to organic compounds. Know the mechanism
(stepwise degradation process) for saturated and aromatic organic compounds.
Know the reactions for aerobic and anaerobic degradation of biomass. Know
the chemical reactions for nitrogen fixation, nitrification, nitrate reduction
and denitrification. Know the chemical reactions for the microbial transformations
of sulfur and phosphorous.
Chapter
7
Be familiar with basic all
the classes of water pollutants, and know the properties of the individual
water pollutants discussed in class. Understand oxygen depletion from
natural waters by biomass and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). Be able
to predict the relative ease with which organic water pollutants can be
degraded. Be able to classify specific water pollutants if given a chemical
structure or formula, and be able to discuss how this pollutant would
be degraded.
Chapter
8
Know the various methods that
are used to treat waste water, and understand Primary treatment, grit
removal, primary sedimentation, secondary treatment, trickling filter
and the activated sludge process. Know the chemical reactions for biomass
removal in an activated sludge process. Know where heavy metal, biomass,
nitrates, phosphates, iron, manganese, calcium and magnesium are removed
in an activated sludge water treatment process. Be familiar with ion exchange
and reverse osmosis as used in water treatment. Be familiar and be able
to answer questions about chlorine dioxide, chlorine and ozone when used
to disinfect treated water.
Chapter
9
Be familiar with the physical
properties and chemical composition of the atmosphere. Be able to calculate
the pressure at any given height using the scale height equation (9.2.1).
Know the major regions of the atmosphere, their primary composition, where
the dividing line occurs between these regions--any why there are separate
regions. Be familiar with solar flux, and understand the Earth's energy
budget. Understand the reasons for local weather and long-term climate,
and global weather. Know what causes inversions and microclimates.
Chapter
10
Be familiar with the important
classes of atmospheric particles (Table 10.1). Understand the physical
behavior or atmospheric particles, and be able to use Stokes's law. Be
familiar with the physical and chemical processes of particle formation.
Understand how physical size affects the health properties of particles,
and how the chemical composition of particles affects their toxicity.
Chapter
11
Be familiar with the basic
sources, sinks and transfers that occur in the sulfur cycle (Figure 11.1).
Know the reactions that lead to oxidation of CO to CO2 in the
atmosphere (Equations 11.3.1 - 11.3.5). Know the reactions of sulfur dioxide
conversion to sulfate (both gas phase and aqueous, reactions 11.5.1 -
11.5.6). Know the major sulfur dioxide removal technologies (Table 11.1),
know the advantages and disadvantages of each, and the chemical reactions
for lime slurry scrubbing and limestone scrubbing. Know the three oxides
of nitrogen normally encountered in the atmosphere (N2O, NO
and NO2) and be able to write the products for reactions 11.6.1
through 11.6.13--if given the reactants. Know the reactions of nitric
acid in the atmosphere (equations 11.6.22 - 11.6.25)
Chapter
12
Be able to use the
names and nomenclature terminology discussed with regard to organic compounds
that we discussed in class when covering Chapter 6. Study section 12.7
extensively. Know the structures for the following molecules: CFC-11,
CFC-12, TCE, hexachlorobenxene, Halon-1211, Halon-1301, polychlorinated
dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs).
Know the reactions of CFCs in the atmosphere with light to from chlorine
oxides, and the reactions of chlorine oxides and nitrogen oxides with
stratospheric ozone (reactions 12.7.5 - 12.7.13).
Chapter
13
Know the photochemical
reactions of atmospheric methane (reactions 13.3.1 - 13.3.6) and understand
abstraction and addition reactions of free radicals. Know the molecular
structure for peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN). Be familiar with the chemical
reactions of photochemical smog (equations 13.5.1 through 13.5.24) and
be able to complete the reaction if given the reactants. Know the effects
of photochemical smog.
Chapter
14
Know the basis for
the concerns expressed in this chapter (global warming, acid rain, ozone
layer destruction and photochemical smog). Know the chemical reactions
mentioned with each of these concerns (you learned them in the previous
chapters).
Chapter
15
Know the rock cycle,
and understand the difference between metamorphic, sedimentary and igneous
rocks. Know the definitions for: lithosphere, crust, geosphere, mineral,
rock, secondary mineral, evaporites and sublimates. Know the major mineral
groups o f the earth's crust and be able to give an example from each
mineral group Table 15.1 in Manahan). Understand what sediments are, the
weathering process and clays. Know what soil is, and be able to sketch
a soil profile showing soil horizons. Understan d, and be able to answer
questions about the role of organic substances in soil (Table 15.2 in
Manahan). Be familiar with the distribution of water underground, and
know the terms that describe groundwater movements.
Chapter
16
Be aware that soil
and agricultural practices are strongly tied to the environment. Understand
the soil solution and the role that ion-exchange plays in providing nutrients
for growing plants. Know the macronutrients in soil (nitrogen, phosphorus
and po tassium) and be familiar with the nitrogen sinks and pathways in
soil. Know what the essential plant micronutrients are and the effect
micronutrients have on crop production. Know what fertilizers are, why
they are used, and the issues relating to their application. Understand
the issues with wastes and pollutants in soil and be familiar with the
chemical and biodegradation of pollutants in soil. Understand the issues
relating to soil loss and soil degradation.
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