Environmental Science Quiz
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Questions and Answers

What pH level is typically considered normal for rain and snow?

  • 4.0
  • 5.6 (correct)
  • 7.0
  • 6.5
  • What is the term used for the sudden increase in acidity when ice melts in the spring?

  • Acid Rain
  • Spring Acid Shock (correct)
  • Winter Acid Build-up
  • Acid Snow
  • Which acid is produced from sulfur dioxide reacting in the atmosphere?

  • Phosphoric Acid
  • Nitric Acid
  • Carbonic Acid
  • Sulfurous Acid (correct)
  • What role does a catalytic converter play in reducing emissions?

    <p>Facilitates complete combustion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a method used in primary wastewater treatment?

    <p>Physical separation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of carbohydrates in nutrition?

    <p>Serve as an energy source for metabolism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following minerals is essential for the formation of red blood cells?

    <p>Iron</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of using scrubbers in reducing pollution?

    <p>To absorb sulfur particles from gases</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the function of tertiary treatment in wastewater management?

    <p>removal of nutrients like phosphates</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do plants play in the absorption of minerals necessary for human health?

    <p>They extract minerals from the soil and convert them into organic compounds.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following describes the composition of sewage?

    <p>Dissolved and undissolved materials</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which nutrient is directly involved in muscle contraction and nerve signal regulation?

    <p>Potassium</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are trace elements, and how do they differ from macrominerals?

    <p>Trace elements are needed in smaller quantities compared to macrominerals.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which organic compound is primarily responsible for building structural molecules in the body?

    <p>Proteins</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of sulphur in the human body?

    <p>It is used in some amino acids.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens when minerals are absorbed by organisms from a substrate?

    <p>They are used to create organic compounds like proteins and vitamins.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary role of carbohydrates in nutrition?

    <p>Energy source for metabolism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is considered a macromineral?

    <p>Calcium</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of proteins in the body?

    <p>To serve as structural molecules and assist in chemical reactions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which mineral is essential for enzyme function and regulating nerve function?

    <p>Magnesium</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the source of the minerals needed by humans?

    <p>Plants that extract and concentrate minerals from the soil</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements about vitamins is true?

    <p>Vitamins can be organic compounds required in small quantities in the diet.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one important role of iron in the body?

    <p>Carries oxygen in red blood cells</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following nutrients is primarily known for storing unused chemical energy?

    <p>Lipids</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of bacteria and other microorganisms in waste management?

    <p>They break down organic waste and recycle it as food energy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key feature of sanitary landfills?

    <p>They use a clay liner to prevent leachate contamination.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which gases are produced during the combustion of hydrocarbons?

    <p>Carbon dioxide and water vapor.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes sour gas from sweet gas?

    <p>Sour gas contains hydrogen sulfide (H2S).</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a primary function of secure landfills?

    <p>They are designed to prevent external pollution from hazardous waste.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which elements are most common in organic molecules essential to life?

    <p>Carbon (C), oxygen (O), and hydrogen (H).</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What byproducts are generated from the industrial process of natural gas extraction?

    <p>Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the process of degrading organic waste resemble natural decomposers?

    <p>It involves bacteria and microorganisms breaking down waste.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does ppm stand for in environmental chemistry?

    <p>Parts per Million</p> Signup and view all the answers

    If 0.02 grams of salt is dissolved in 1000 grams of solution, what is its concentration in ppm?

    <p>20 ppm</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the correct formula to calculate the concentration in ppm of a substance in a solution?

    <p>Concentration = (Amount of Solute / Total Volume) x 1,000,000</p> Signup and view all the answers

    If 50 liters of concentrated sulfuric acid is spilled into a lake with 30,000 liters of water, what is the concentration of sulfuric acid in the lake?

    <p>1663 ppm</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When a student adds 70 mL of urine to a pool to create a total volume of 1000 L, what is the concentration of urine in ppm?

    <p>70 ppm</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was found in a water analysis of a swimming pool where 20 mL of sample contained 0.5 mL of free chlorine?

    <p>25,000 ppm</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one major risk associated with mixing different pesticides in water systems?

    <p>Long-term environmental effects</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect do most modern pesticides have on the environment after one growing season?

    <p>They are broken down by bacteria</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What defines heavy metals?

    <p>They have a density of 5 g/cm3 or more.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following factors does NOT affect biodegradation in the environment?

    <p>Type of plant species</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which process involves the breakdown of compounds by sunlight?

    <p>Photolysis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of phytoremediation?

    <p>To reduce harmful chemical concentrations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is biodegradation slower in winter?

    <p>Lower temperatures and moisture.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to photodegradable plastic after three months of sunlight exposure?

    <p>It turns into a fine powder.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following heavy metals is NOT commonly associated with corrosion?

    <p>Gold</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of organisms are critical for biodegradation of pollutants?

    <p>Micro-organisms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Environmental Chemistry

    • This unit examines the relationship between chemistry and biology, as well as the environment.
    • Food consists of chemicals, which are broken down into molecules by the digestive system.
    • These molecules, or nutrients, are used for energy, growth, body-building, and cell repair.
    • Nutrients can be organic or inorganic.
    • Organic compounds, like carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids, play various roles in nutrition, with different dietary sources.
    • Key elements for health include macrominerals and trace elements, needed for various bodily functions, including strong bones and teeth.
    • Plants obtain nutrients from the soil via their root systems, these are then used in various compounds for the rest of the plant and the organisms that consume it.

    Nutrients

    • Nutrients are essential for life
    • Can be organic or inorganic
    • Broken down during digestion, absorbed into blood
    • Used for energy, growth, body building, cell repair
    • Main organic compounds include carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids
    • Dietary sources for carbohydrates include rice, grains, potatoes, and fruits.
    • Dietary sources for protein include meat, eggs, dairy, legumes, and nuts.
    • Lipids are stored in vegetable oils, nut oils, and legumes.
    • Other organic molecules, like Nucleic Acids, are important for building DNA, which is essential for life.

    Elements for Healthy Bodies

    • Essential for body functions
    • Include macrominerals and trace elements
    • Found in various compounds, including enzymes, and vitamins
    • All living organisms require 16 naturally occurring elements
    • Plants need 18, Humans need 22.

    Fertilizers

    • Used to enhance plant growth
    • Mimic nitrogen cycle, adding nitrates, ammonia, and urea
    • Increase nitrogen in the environment
    • Pros: increased plant growth, high yield crops
    • Cons: expensive, increased chance of disease, environmental impact (harmful algal blooms).

    Harmful Algal Blooms

    • Rapid growth of algae
    • Depletes oxygen in water
    • Blocks sunlight for other aquatic organisms
    • Blocks sunlight for other aquatic organisms
    • Disrupts the aquatic ecosystem.

    Pesticides

    • Three types: herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides.
    • Designed to kill plants, insects, and fungi, respectively
    • Ingestion and absorption affect the environment
    • Impact on bioaccumulation and biomagnification
    • Some pesticides have long term effects due to their persistent presence in the environment.
    • Most modern pesticides break down after one growing season.

    Water Cycle

    • Illustrates the movement of water between different parts of the environment (including living organisms).
    • Water moves from a lake via evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.
    • Processes can be affected by plants  

    Acid Rain

    • Acid rain is formed when atmospheric water absorbs sulfur dioxide or nitrogen dioxide
    • Affects the acidity of water in aquatic ecosystems
    • Can harm plants and animals
    • Process also known as "spring acid shock" when affected water warms.
    • Solutions to this include: scrubbers, catalytic converters

    Wastewater Treatment

    • Goal: take used water and return it to the environment with minimal pollutants
    • Stages: Primary, Secondary, Tertiary Treatment
    • Remove large solids, decompose organic matter, and remove phosphates and nitrates, respectively.

    Pollution

    • Any alteration to the environment that harms living things
    • Two main categories: point sources (small, defined areas) and non-point sources (wide areas difficult to pinpoint).
    • Dilution versus concentration of pollutants is important to monitor, as well as various types of pollution within air, water, and soil.

    Transport of Pollutants

    • Air and water currents, along with prevailing winds, can disperse pollutants.
    • Pollution can be deposited into soil or water, disrupting ecosystems, especially if the harmful substances are chemically related to one another

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    Description

    This quiz covers key concepts in environmental science, including the properties of acidity in precipitation, the function of emissions-reducing technologies, and the role of nutrients in human health. Test your knowledge on wastewater treatment, the significance of minerals, and the impact of pollutants on the environment.

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