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History of Environmental Engineering
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History of Environmental Engineering

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Questions and Answers

What are isotopes?

  • Compounds composed of different kinds of atoms
  • Forms of an element that differ in atomic mass (correct)
  • Single atoms with no electrical charge
  • Atoms that gain electrons to form ions

    • Which statement correctly describes a compound?

  • Substances composed of different kinds of atoms (correct)
  • Elements that are negatively charged
  • A single type of atom
  • A group of the same type of molecules

    • What defines anions?

  • Atoms with no net electrical charge
  • Positively charged ions that lose electrons
  • Atoms that do not gain or lose electrons
  • Negatively charged ions that gain electrons (correct)

    • Which of the following compounds is NOT classified as an organic compound?

    <p>Sodium Chloride</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of nucleotides in living organisms?

    <p>To carry information and energy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What structure serves as the basis for proteins?

    <p>Amino acids</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of organism is made up of a single cell?

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

    What is pH a measure of?

    <p>The strength of acids and bases</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What primarily causes water vapor to condense into liquid form?

    <p>Cooling of the vapor on tiny particles</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What forms when clouds move over mountain ranges and cool?

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

    What is runoff primarily caused by?

    <p>Overland flow from precipitation or snowmelt</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What process allows precipitation to become groundwater?

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

    Which condition must be met for matter to be classified as a plasma?

    <p>It must be ionized and electrically charged.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the Conservation of Matter in environmental systems?

    <p>It explains that all matter can be recycled and waste goes somewhere.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is the carbon cycle significant in environmental science?

    <p>It regulates climate through biological carbon release and accumulation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following elements are responsible for more than 96% of the mass of living organisms?

    <p>Oxygen, Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following steps completes the carbon cycle?

    <p>Carbon dioxide is released during respiration and combustion.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the water table represent?

    <p>The level at which water is retained in a groundwater well</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement accurately describes the structure of an atom?

    <p>Protons and neutrons are in the nucleus, while electrons orbit outside.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to chemical elements when they are used by living organisms?

    <p>They are reused and can contain atoms from prehistoric organisms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which organisms are responsible for taking in carbon dioxide in the carbon cycle?

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

    What defines an element?

    <p>It cannot be broken down into simpler forms by ordinary chemical reactions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What correctly describes the particles within an atom?

    <p>Protons and neutrons have approximately the same mass.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How is atomic mass defined?

    <p>It is the sum of protons and neutrons in an atom.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was one of the primary roles of environmental engineers in ancient civilizations?

    <p>Providing clean water and managing waste</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What major concern emerged in the late 19th century regarding civil engineering?

    <p>Waterborne diseases and public health</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which term was created in the mid-1700s to distinguish certain engineers?

    <p>Civil engineering</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is defined as the scientific study of relationships between organisms and their environment?

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

    What became a primary concern for civil engineers due to unsanitary conditions in cities?

    <p>Disease prevention through waste management</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do carbon-based compounds represent in the context of life?

    <p>Foundations of living organisms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a significant consequence of industrialization regarding public health?

    <p>Spread of waterborne diseases</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to energy during successive energy transfers according to the second law of thermodynamics?

    <p>Less energy is available to do work.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these roles did civil engineers adopt during the formative years of the United States?

    <p>Public health engineers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a consequence of energy being dissipated as heat in living organisms?

    <p>Death occurs if cellular energy supplies are depleted.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What process do extremophiles use to obtain energy in sunless environments?

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

    Why is solar energy crucial for most organisms on Earth's surface?

    <p>It provides warmth and supports photosynthesis.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do temperature extremes affect biochemical processes in organisms?

    <p>Extremely high temperatures can break down biomolecules.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do Earth's water and atmosphere play concerning solar energy?

    <p>They moderate, maintain, and distribute the sun's heat.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do organisms maintain their structural and metabolic organization?

    <p>Through constant energy supply and maintenance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common feature of organisms that survive in extreme environments?

    <p>They can utilize inorganic chemicals for energy.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Environmental Engineering Overview

    • Environmental engineers aim to improve recycling, waste disposal, public health, and pollution control.
    • Historical role since ancient civilizations involved providing clean water and managing waste as people settled in organized communities.
    • Engineers of antiquity constructed wells, aqueducts, city walls, and moats.

    Evolution of Civil Engineering

    • The term "civil engineering" emerged in the mid-1700s to distinguish between military and civilian engineering.
    • Public health concerns arose during industrialization due to unsanitary urban conditions, prompting engineers to ensure clean water supply.
    • By the late 19th century, civil engineers developed roles as public health and sanitary engineers focused on eliminating waterborne diseases.

    Ecological Concepts

    • Ecology studies relationships between organisms and their environment, assessing nutrient and energy functions within ecosystems.
    • Matter, defined as anything with mass and space, exists in four states: solid, liquid, gas, and plasma.
    • Water exemplifies matter's states and showcases the concept of conservation: matter is recycled and never created or destroyed.

    Conservation of Matter

    • Environmental systems are interconnected; waste does not vanish but is redirected elsewhere.
    • Molecules can contain atoms from ancient organisms, illustrating the recycling of matter through time.

    Elements and Atoms

    • There are 122 elements, with four (Oxygen, Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen) constituting over 96% of living organisms' mass.
    • Atoms, the smallest unit of elements, consist of protons, neutrons, and electrons, with protons defining the atomic number and neutrons contributing to atomic mass.

    Ions and Compounds

    • Ions are charged atoms formed when electrons are gained or lost; anions carry a negative charge and cations a positive charge.
    • Acids release hydrogen ions in water, while bases bond with them, affecting pH levels.
    • Organic compounds, essential to life, include four main categories: lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, and nucleic acids.

    Energy and Thermodynamics

    • Energy conversion occurs within ecosystems, with each transformation degrading energy quality (Second Law of Thermodynamics).
    • Organisms require a continuous energy supply to maintain structural and metabolic processes, as energy dissipates as heat.

    Energy source for Life

    • Extremophiles, organisms thriving in harsh environments, utilize chemosynthesis to derive energy from inorganic chemical bonds.
    • The sun is vital for life by providing warmth and solar energy, which supports nearly all organisms through photosynthesis.

    Water Cycle Processes

    • Condensation happens when water vapor cools, forming clouds that precipitate as rain, snow, or hail.
    • Runoff occurs when excess precipitation flows over land, contributing to rivers and lakes.
    • Percolation describes the downward movement of water through soil to form groundwater, which can be accessed via wells.

    Carbon Cycle Dynamics

    • The carbon cycle begins with photosynthetic organisms absorbing carbon dioxide to create carbohydrates, returning carbon dioxide during respiration.
    • This cycle significantly influences climate regulation and ecological balance.

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    Description

    Explore the evolution of environmental engineering from ancient civilizations to modern times. This quiz discusses the critical role of environmental engineers in managing water supply, waste disposal, and health. Test your knowledge on the mission and impact of this vital profession.

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