Environmental Science and Sustainability Chapter 3 PDF

CHAPTER 3 Matter and Energy: What Are the Building Blocks of Sustainability? Copyright © 2023 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. Chapter 3 Outline 3.1 What Is Matter Anyway? 3.3 Can Matter Change? 3.4 What Is Energy? 3.5 What Happens to Energy When We Have Used It? Chapter Objectives: This chapter...

CHAPTER 3 Matter and Energy: What Are the Building Blocks of Sustainability? Copyright © 2023 W. W. Norton & Company, Inc. Chapter 3 Outline 3.1 What Is Matter Anyway? 3.3 Can Matter Change? 3.4 What Is Energy? 3.5 What Happens to Energy When We Have Used It? Chapter Objectives: This chapter will help you… explain what matter, elements, and atoms are and how they relate to each other. discuss the states of matter and how chemical reactions can change molecules. define what energy is and differentiate between different forms of energy. describe the first and second laws of thermodynamics and recognize why these are important for energy efficiency. understand what a trophic level is and how it relates to the concept of energy flow. 3.1 What Is Matter Anyway? Matter is defined as anything that takes up space, has mass, and usually can exist as solids, liquids, or gases. The amount of matter in a particular object is its mass. Elements and Atoms The ancient Greeks believed all living things on our planet were made up of four basic “elements”: earth, air, fire, and water. Today, the term element describes a substance that cannot be broken down into another substance, such as gold and calcium. An atom is the smallest unit of an element that still has all the characteristics of that element. The Law of Conservation of Mass The Law of Conservation of Mass Matter cannot be created or destroyed, and that the mass of the constituent parts in a chemical reaction remains unchanged even as the atoms involved in the reaction are rearranged. For example, when wood (cellulose) reacts with oxygen in a fire, it produces an equal number of atoms in different forms (carbon dioxide gas, water vapor, and charcoal ash). Acids and Bases Acids and bases are described by how they react with water. Acids are compounds that yield positively charged hydrogen ions (H+) when dissolved in water. Bases are compounds that produce negatively charged hydroxide ions (OH–), or the compounds cause a reduction of hydrogen ions (H+) when dissolved in water. The pH scale (0–14) expresses the strength of acid and base solutions, with a pH below 7 being acidic and above 7 being basic.  Take-Home Message Matter is anything that takes up space and has mass. It is made of elements: substances that cannot be broken down into other substances. Atoms are the smallest subunits of elements. o Protons, neutrons, and electrons are particles within each atom that determine properties such as atomic mass and electric charge. 3.3 Can Matter Change? (1 of 2) Matter can go through a phase change, which is a change of matter from one state (solid, liquid, or gas) to another without changing its chemical composition-ice, water, vapor! Gases can undergo pressure changes due to the rapidly bouncing and colliding molecules’ continuous physical force against a container (such as car tires or blimps).  Take-Home Message Differences in the organization of atoms and molecules under various conditions of heat and pressure determine the particular states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas. Phase changes between these states leave the molecules themselves unchanged. But various kinds of chemical reactions can break molecules apart and form new molecular arrangements. 3.4 What Is Energy? Energy exists in the universe in the form of heat, light, and motion. Energy is defined as the capacity to do work. Work is the act of applying force to an object over some distance. The energy possessed by something in motion is called kinetic energy. The energy stored in something that has yet to be released is called potential energy.  Take-Home Message Energy is the capacity to do work. There is energy in motion, called kinetic energy, but energy can also be stored as potential energy. Forms of energy include mechanical, chemical, electrical, radiant, nuclear, and thermal. 3.5 What Happens to Energy When We Have Used It? Energy, like matter, is a constant in the universe—the First Law of Thermodynamics is that energy can not be created or destroyed. The Second Law of Thermodynamics states that, with each transfer of energy, some energy is degraded and dissipates in the form of heat, resulting in the tendency of any isolated system to become disordered. That is, the system’s entropy (a measure of disorder) increases. Energy conversions are never 100% efficient due to entropy. How Does Energy Affect Life? Ecologists categorize living things by their trophic levels, which is their place in the food chain. Plants, algae, and some bacteria transform sunlight into chemical energy through photosynthesis and are called primary producers. Primary consumers are organisms that directly consume these producers for their energy. Only 10% of the energy from consumed organic matter transfers to the next trophic level, resulting in significant energy loss.  Take-Home Message The first law of thermodynamics tells us that energy cannot be created or destroyed but can change from one form to another. The second law of thermodynamics tells us that no conversion of one form of energy to another is 100% efficient. With each energy transformation, a certain amount of energy is dissipated as heat. Question 1 Some organisms, such as plants, algae, and cyanobacteria, produce their own food by absorbing the sun's radiation. These organisms are referred to as ________________________. A. tertiary consumers B. secondary consumers C. primary consumers D. primary producers Question 1: Answer Some organisms, such as plants, algae, and cyanobacteria, produce their own food by absorbing the sun's radiation. These organisms are referred to as ________________________. A. tertiary consumers B. secondary consumers C. primary consumers D. primary producers (Correct) Question 2 The energy content and biomass of ________ is lowest in any terrestrial food web. A. small carnivores such as spiders and lizards B. producers such as roses C. top carnivores such as lions D. primary consumers such as rabbits Question 2: Answer The energy content and biomass of ________ is lowest in any terrestrial food web. A. small carnivores such as spiders and lizards B. producers such as roses C. top carnivores such as lions (Correct) D. primary consumers such as rabbits Question 3 The amount of energy transferred to the next trophic level on a food chain is ______. A. 1% B. 5% C. 10% D. 50% E. 100% Question 3: Answer The amount of energy transferred to the next trophic level on a food chain is ______. A. 1% B. 5% C. 10% (Correct) D. 50% E. 100% Useful Links and Resources Link to loss of carbon sequestration by tropical forests: https://phys.org/news/2022-03-high-resolution-satellite-datasets- gross-tropical.html Link to periodic table with videos: http://www.periodicvideos.com/ Link to MBA Polymers: https://mbapolymers.com/company/history/