Environmental Chemistry G.9

• SPONCH


  • Sulfur
  • Phosphorus
  • Oxygen
  • Nitrogen
  • Carbon
  • Hydrogen
• Macronutrients


  • Needed in large amounts, over 100mg/day
• Micronutrients


  • Needed in trace/small amounts, less than 100ng/day
• SPONCH


  Important elements that make up organic compounds
• Organic compound


  Contains carbon and hydrogen
• Organic compounds

  • CH4 (methane)
• Carbohydrates


  • Sugars (fast energy)
  • Starches (complex, lasting energy)
• Proteins


  Contains ONCH, used for growth, enzymes, fighting disease, provide energy
• Lipids


  Contain CH, provide energy, very energy dense (9 calories per gram)
• Nucleic acids

  Contain PONC, not a source of energy, used for DNA and genetic material
• Inorganic compounds


  Do not contain hydrogen, used by the body to create enzymes and minerals
• Acids


  Taste sour, have a pH less than 7
• Bases


  Taste bitter, feel soapy, have a pH greater than 7
• pH


  A scale for measuring how acidic or basic something is, 7 is neutral, lower numbers are more acidic, higher numbers are more basic
• As pH decreases by 1

  Acidity increases by 10 times
• As pH increases by 1

  Basicity increases by 10 times
• Water (H2O) is neutral with a pH of 7
• Acids + Bases


  Produce a neutral solution
• Burning fossil fuels releases CO2, NO, SO2 which make water acidic and corrosive
• Fossil fuels are made from dead plants/organisms, burned to power vehicles
• Acidic water is corrosive and damaging to the environment
• High turbidity


  Less drinkable
• Biological indicators


  • Organisms that live in the water used to help determine water quality
• Microbiological indicators of water

  1. Examine small samples

  2. Determine the number and type of harmful microscopic organisms
• Microbiological indicators of water are examined
• Consuming bad water


  Can cause symptoms like vomiting, diarrhoea
• Aquatic invertebrates

  • Spineless organisms used for monitoring water quality
  • Different invertebrates can tolerate different living conditions
• Aquatic invertebrates sensitive to water quality


  • Mayfly
  • Water penny
  • Stonefly
  • Caddisfly
• Aquatic invertebrates moderately sensitive to water quality


  • Damselfly
  • Dragonfly larva
  • Crayfish
  • Scud
  • Sowbug
• Aquatic invertebrates least sensitive to water quality


  • Bloodworms
  • Leeches
  • Blackfly larvae
  • Midge larvae
  • Cranefly larvae
• PPM


  Parts per million - one unit of substance found in one million units of water
• PPb


  Parts per billion - one drop of food coloring in a pool
• To calculate the amount of chemical, multiply by 1,000,000 the amount of water
• Dissolved Oxygen


  Most organisms need 6ppm in order to survive, essential for health of aquatic life
• Warmer temperature


  Less dissolved oxygen
• Colder temperature


  More dissolved oxygen
• More turbulence


  More oxygen
• More plants


  More oxygen - plants release oxygen through photosynthesis
• More aquatic organisms


  Less oxygen
• Nutrients


  Good, but too much can cause problems