Environmental Chemistry: Assessment Statement

Test
This test will cover Option E in the IB Chemistry guidelines, except for a
few areas of soil that still confuse even Mrs. Nagel. The following
outline sums them up!

DEFINITIONS!
1. Acid Deposition – Any combination of dry/airborne acidic
particles, or precipitation, that falls to earth.
Acidic here means rain pH<5.65.
Natural rain is slightly acidic because of presence of CO2, which
combines with H20:
CO2 + H2O -> H2CO3

2. DO – Dissolved oxygen in water.

It’s an important sign of microorganic life in water, as well as an
indicator of purity and ability to sustain life.

3. BOD – Biochemical Oxygen Demand.

Measure of quantity of oxygen consumed by microorganisms
during decomposition of organic matter.
High BOD = Low DO

4. Eutrophication – Cycle of consumption of free

phosphates/nitrates in water, leading to plant growth and death,
leading to release of more phosphates/nitrates by decomposing
bacteria.
Is only bad when it cycles too rapidly, leading to overpopulation
of plant growth, low DO, and choked lake.

5. Aerobic decay – O2 used to break down organic matter.

Results in:
C -> CO2
N -> NO3-
S -> SO4-2
P -> PO4-3

6. Anaerobic decay – Organic matter decomposed oxygen-free!

Results in:
C -> CH4 (methane)
 N -> NH3 and amines
S -> H2S
P -> PH3 (phosphine)

7. Distillation – Process by which water is heated in coiled pipes, forced

to evaporate, and continues heating; all in order to prepare salt water
for drinking.
8. Reverse osmosis – Process by which, using high pressure, water is
forced through a semi-permeable membrane in order to remove
unwanted material so that the water is drinkable.

9. Humus – Mixture of simple and complex organic chemicals of

plant, animal, or microbial origin. Basically, nonliving organic matter.

10. Salinization – Accumulation of salts in soil—caused by excess

irrigation and poor drainage
Can lead to toxic buildups of salt, or dehydration.

11. Nutrient depletion – Over-intense absorption of nutrients—caused

by constant farming of the same old plants
Can lead to total nutrient depletionuseless soil

12. Soil pollution – Presence of harmful materials in soil—caused by

industrial waste, oil, and pesticides
Can reduce biodiversity and ruin soil

13. SOM – Soil Organic Matter.

Organic constituents (plant or animal tissues/partially
decomposed products/soil biomass) of soil
Composed of organic matter broken into a mixture of smaller
molecules
SOM can be found by titration with dichromate solutions.

14. Mineralization – Breaking down of organic matter to get

nitrogen/phosphates into the roots of plants.

It ALWAYS comes back to N and P.

Importance:
Biological – Creates reservoir of nutrients (N, S, and P)
Physical – Soil clusters collect in stable form to reduce
erosion and hold water
Chemical – Increases CEC (below); acts as pH buffer;
chelation
 CHELATION – Formation of complex ions from metals;
removes metals from use in soil. Can be good or bad
depending on the metals.

15. CEC – Cation Exchange Capacity.

Extent to which negative charges in humus and clay can be
traded with nutrient cations at roots of plants. (ie. Amount of
cations a soil can hold)
Indication of soil’s fertility
Enhances ability of soil to be a pH buffer
Removes toxins.

FORMULAS!

Sulfuric acid comes from: Combustion.

S + O2  SO2 + H2O  H2SO3

Or SO2 + ½O2  SO3 + H2O  H2SO4

Nitric Acid comes from: Internal combustion.

N2 + O2  2NO

Or N2 + 2O2  2NO2
NO2 + H2O  HNO3 + HNO

Precipitation of Calcium by Sulfate ions:

Ca+2 (aq) + SO4-2 (aq)  CaSO4 (s)

METHODS/EXPLANATIONS!

Acid Deposition: Sources

N – Internal Combustion Engines
Bacterial decomposition
Electrical storms

S – Volcanoes
Combustion of fossil fuels
Ore-smelting
Acid Deposition: Removal/Reduction
N and S – Improved Engine Design
Catalytic converters
Liming (neutralizes acidity)

S – Coal-washing
Stack scrubbers
Reduce amount burned

N – Alternative engine fuels

ALSO INVOLVED IN ACID DEPOSITION: AMMONIA

NH4+ (aq) + 2O2 (g)  2H+ (aq) + NO3- (aq) + H2O (l)

Ammonia comes from rhizobia bacteria in soil, legumes,

etc.
It can neutralize acids from rain to reduce their effect.
Yay!

SOIL pH: GOOD PH MEANS 6-7.5. Anything

else is bad.

THREE FACTORS AFFECTING DO in water:

1. Thermal pollution/Temperature
High temp = Low DO

2. Eutrophication
Too much anaerobic decay/overpopulation of
organisms = Low DO

3. Presence of Organic Waste

Too much waste = Low DO
 In general, High BOD (caused by presence of aerobic,
respirating organisms) means LOW DO.

Finally, sewage treatment.

• Important because it allows water to be
recycled by removing unwanted waste.
• Primary treatment: Simple filters remove
large waste.
• Secondary: trickle filters or aerobic bacteria
remove water that is bubbled with oxygen,
allowing natural decomposition of waste.
• Water is disinfected with Cl or Ozone.
• Tertiary treatment: Removes N and P from
water. More expensive, but necessary.
Precipitation is used to remove metals.

C’est tout (that’s it) for the guide tonight!

Refer to pages 132, 135-138, 142, and 143 for more

information.
Good luck!