Origin of the Elements

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Chemistry of The Environment 6th Edition John C.
Kotz Paul M. Treichel Gabriela C. Weaver
CHAPTER 20-1 The Chemistry of the Environment
Lecture written by George Rhodes
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Chapter Goal

• Begin to gain an understanding of how man impacts
  his environment with various chemical conversion
  processes
• With this awareness, become a better citizen and
  possibly engage in a career to become part of the
  solution

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Water Consumption

• Americans drink about 400 ml water/day
• Turbidity suspended solids, are removed by
  filtration or flocculation
• Hard water contains the cations of Ca and Mg,
  ppts in pipes, soap scum
• Coliform bacteria chlorinated, oxidized,
  radiated, but it is estimated that we consume 1
  Kg E.Coli/yr from treated water, whereas wine
  contains no bacteria
• Therefore, E. Coli poop and wine health
• So is it better to drink wine and talk stupid
  than to drink water and be full of poop?

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Atmospheric Composition

• Name Chemical Formula Percent Volume
• Nitrogen N2 78.08
• Oxygen O2 20.95
• Water H2O 0 to 4
• Argon Ar 0.93
• Carbon Dioxide CO2 0.0360
• Neon Ne 0.0018
• Helium He 0.0005
• Methane CH4 0.00017
• Hydrogen H2 0.00005
• Nitrous Oxide N2O 0.00003
• Ozone O3 0.000004

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CO2 and Global Warming or Anthropogenic Global
Warming (AGW) theory

• What do we know about our climate?
• If you are interested, please read the article at
  http//www.coyoteblog.com/coyote_blog/2007/07/the-
  60-second-c.html
• Independent of your position, burning every mole
  of fossil fuel is a bad idea. Conservation makes
  sense as does conversion to other fuel sources

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Particulates

• .1mm to 1 µm
• Volcano's, wind blown dust, sea spray, plant
  pollen, soot (diesel engines and coal fired power
  plants), sulfur oxides
• Photochemicals ozone from nitrogen oxides
• Small particles can enter our lungs impairing the
  ability to properly breathe, look at mortality
  table on p-1007.

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Visibility

• Particles with a diameter near the wavelength of
  visible light 0.3 to 0.8 µm (300 to 800 nm) can
  interfere with the transmission of light.
• Additionally, particulates provide active
  reaction surfaces for chemical reactions and
  condensation, thus affecting weather

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Haze

• High particulate concentrations produce haze,
  especially in the Winter
• These are often associated w/sulfate salts and
  aerosols originating in Eastern Europe from the
  burning of coal.
• The EPA has implemented rules to force a return
  to natural conditions within the next 60 years

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The DDT Story

• This halogenated hydrocarbon was responsible for
  reducing the number of deaths from malaria by
  5,000,000,
• It was mutated by the targeted insects to a
  compound that interfered with calcium deposition
  in eggshells and almost made numerous raptors
  extinct. DDT was banned in 1972 and the species
  are again flourishing
• It has been reintroduced in Africa on a limited
  basis

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Green Chemistry

• Cheaper, cleaner, smarter chemistry that is
  environmentally friendly
• Not without controversy, and it is a balancing
  act
• We all have an obligation to be responsible

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You and the Environment

• Are you doing your part to minimize impact?
• Do you turn off unnecessary lights?
• Do you drive only when necessary
• Where do you set your thermostat in the
  summer/winter?
• Do you recycle
• Have you changed incandescents to CFLs?

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MPG
WALKING AND WINEA recent study found the
average American walks about 900 miles per
year.Another study found Americans drink, on
average, 22 gallons of WINE a year.That means,
on average, Americans get about 41 miles to the
gallon.Kind of makes you proud to be an
American.