Environmental Chemistry and Nitrogen Cycle

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Questions and Answers

Which substances are considered essential chemicals for life processes?

Sulphur dioxide (SO2)

Carbon dioxide (CO2) (correct)

Ash

Nitrogen gas (N2)

What is the primary source of chemical emissions from human activities?

Burning of fossil fuels (correct)

Natural erosion

Forest fires

Volcanic eruptions

How do plants obtain nitrogen compounds necessary for their growth?

By absorbing atmospheric nitrogen (N2)

By chemical processes in the leaves

Through nitrogen fixation by special bacteria (correct)

From human-made fertilizers only

What can excessive use of fertilizers in agriculture lead to?

Runoff that causes harmful algal blooms Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the environmental risks associated with improperly disposed solid waste?

Pollutant release from incineration Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of pesticides can cause environmental damage?

Misapplication of pesticides Signup and view all the answers

What role do microorganisms in the soil play in the nitrogen cycle?

They break down complex nitrogen compounds to return nitrogen to the atmosphere. Signup and view all the answers

What type of wastewater contains both dissolved and undissolved substances?

Sewage Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of sewage treatment plants?

To remove harmful substances from wastewater Signup and view all the answers

What pH value represents a neutral solution?

7 Signup and view all the answers

What is produced when an acid reacts with a base during neutralization?

Water and salt Signup and view all the answers

What can increase the acidity of rainwater, leading to acid rain?

Industrial emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides Signup and view all the answers

Which macronutrient is essential in large amounts for living organisms?

Calcium Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary component of carbohydrates?

Carbon Signup and view all the answers

What is a common source of lipids in the human diet?

Meat and dairy products Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following descriptions is true about proteins?

They consist of amino acids linked by peptide bonds Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Chemicals in the Environment

Essential chemicals support life, including CO2, H2O, O2, and glucose.
Other chemicals, like sulphur dioxide and ash, can be detrimental.
Chemicals can originate from natural sources (volcanic eruptions, forest fires) or human activities (burning fossil fuels).

The Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrogen is crucial for plant growth and reproduction.
Plants cannot utilize atmospheric nitrogen (N2).
Nitrogen fixation converts atmospheric nitrogen into usable compounds by bacteria.
Plants absorb these fixed nitrogen compounds.
Animals consume plants, forming complex nitrogen compounds (proteins).
Microorganisms break down these compounds, returning nitrogen to the atmosphere.

Human Activities

Human activities can significantly alter environmental substances, leading to pollution.
Pollution is defined as any environmental change that harms living organisms.

Fertilizers

Fertilizers enhance plant growth, but excessive use can be harmful.
Runoff introduces excess nutrients to water bodies, causing harmful algal blooms.

Pesticides

Pesticides (herbicides, insecticides, fungicides) eliminate pests but can harm the environment.
Misapplication can lead to environmental damage, like with DDT (takes years to degrade).

Solid Waste

Improper waste disposal introduces harmful chemicals.
Some waste is incinerated or recycled/composted.
Remaining waste is often disposed of in landfills, which need proper management.

Wastewater

Sewage/wastewater requires proper treatment.
Septic tanks use bacteria to decompose waste.
Sewage treatment plants remove harmful substances before releasing treated water.

Industrial Processes

Many industrial practices rely on fossil fuels.
Burning fossil fuels produces carbon dioxide and water, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.

Acids & Bases

pH measures the concentration of hydrogen ions in solutions.
pH scale ranges from 0 (acidic) to 14 (basic).
Acids turn litmus paper red, bases turn it blue.
Neutral solutions (like distilled water) have a pH of 7.
pH can be measured using pH meters or indicators.
Neutralization occurs when an acid reacts with a base to produce water and salt (pH around 7).

Acid Rain

Rainwater is naturally slightly acidic (carbonic acid from dissolved CO2).
Industrial emissions increase atmospheric acid levels, forming acid rain.
Acid rain can damage infrastructure and harm living organisms (pH values as low as 3).

Common Substances Essential to Living Things

Living organisms require various organic and inorganic compounds.
Macronutrients (carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, potassium, magnesium, calcium) are needed in large amounts.
Micronutrients (selenium) are needed in trace amounts.
Excess nutrients can interfere with the absorption of other nutrients.

How Organisms Take In Substances

Plants absorb water and nutrients through diffusion, osmosis, and active transport.
Diffusion moves particles from high to low concentration without energy.
Osmosis is the diffusion of water.
Active transport uses energy to move particles against their concentration gradient.
Animals ingest food, which breaks down chemically and physically to be absorbed into the bloodstream for distribution to the body's cells.

Substrates

A substrate is a surface where organisms live or obtain food.
Different substrates can vary in nutrient richness, impacting organisms thriving there.

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Description

Explore the essential chemicals that support life and their environmental impact. This quiz covers vital concepts like the nitrogen cycle, how pollutants affect ecosystems, and the role of fertilizers in agriculture. Test your knowledge on the balance between beneficial and harmful chemicals in our environment.