Chemistry of the Environment

Water
Chemical Tests for the Presence of Water

Type of
Test Positive result
test

Anhydrous Cobalt (II)

Chemical It turns from blue to pink
Chloride

Anhydrous Copper (II)

Chemical It turns from white to blue
Sulfate

Test Melting and Boiling M.P at 0℃ and B.P at

Physical
Point 100℃

Distilled Water is used in practical chemistry rather than tap Water

because it has fewer chemical impurities.

Water from Natural Sources

Water is an essential source in the natural world. However, with the changing

world and massive urbanisation. Our water may contain substances such
as:

1. Dissolved Oxygen (this is important for aquatic life)

2. Metal Compounds (Provide essential minerals for life - however, some
are toxic)
3. Plastics (harm aquatic life)

4. Sewage (contains harmful microbes which cause diseases)

 5. Harmful microbes
6. Nitrates from fertilisers
7. Phosphate from fertilisers and detergents (leads to deoxygenation of

water and damage to aquatic life (Eutrophication)

Treatment of Domestic Water Supply

1. Water is pumped into screens to remove solid, insoluble impurities.
2. A sedimentation process makes small clay pieces stick together and are
then removed.

3. The water then undergoes !ltration through layers of sand and gravel to
remove larger, insoluble debris.

4. Carbon is also added into !ltered water to remove taste and odour.
5. The chlorination process adds chlorine gas bubbled into the water to kill

bacteria and other microbes; the acidic e"ect on the water is reversed by

adding an alkali, sodium hydroxide.

Step one and !ve, chlorine is added before going to domestic areas.

Fertilisers
Fertilisers: Substances added to the soil and taken up by plants to increase
crop yield.

Substances contain inside fertilisers are Ammonium Salts and Nitrates.

N.P.K - Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium Fertilisers are found inside
fertilisers, essential to improve plant growth.

Functions of Elements
1. Nitrogen - Makes chlorophyll and protein. Promotes healthy leaves

2. Phosphorus - Promotes healthy roots

3. Potassium - Promotes growth and healthy fruits and #owers

Reaction with any alkali substance (except ammonia) displaces ammonia from

its compound, for example:

Calcium hydroxide + Ammonium chloride → Calcium chloride + Ammonia

+ Water

Air Quality and Climate

The pie chart below presents the components present in clean air:

Primary: Nitrogen (78%), Oxygen (21%)

Secondary: Noble gases (mainly Argon) and Carbon Dioxide (1%)
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Theory

States of Matter

Atoms, Elements and

Compounds
Air Pollutants and their Adverse E"ects
Stoichiometry

Electrochemistry
Pollutant Source Negative impact

Chemical Energetics
Incomplete combustion of Binds with haemoglobin,
Carbon
Chemical Reactions carbon-containing fuels (ex. constricting oxygen supply
monoxide
Internal combustion in cells; leads to fatigue/
Acids, Bases(CO)
and Salts
engines) death
The Periodic Table
Carbon
Metals Complete Combustion of Increased global warming
Dioxide
Carbon Containing Fuels leads to climate change.
Chemistry of
(COthe
2)
Environment
Water Decomposition of
Methane Increased global warming
Fertilisers vegetation and waste gases
(CH4) leads to climate change.
Air Quality and Climate from digestion in animals
Catalytic Converters
Sulfur Combustion of fossil fuels
Organic Chemistry
Dioxide which contain sulfur It causes acid rain.
(SO2) compounds

Causes respiratory
Nitrogen High temperatures that
problems and
Oxides trigger a reaction between
photochemical smog;
(NO2) N2 and O2 (from air)
contributes to acid rain
 Lead Damages brain and nerve
Combustion of leaded fuels
Compounds cells in young children

Impact of Greenhouse Gases

1. Short wavelength radiation from the Sun reaches the Earth's surface

2. Some thermal energy is absorbed and heats oceans/lands

3. Earth radiates some thermal energy as more prolonged wavelength
radiation

4. Greenhouse gases absorb some of the infrared radiation and re-emit in

all directions
5. Some infrared radiation comes back to Earth's surface, and this reduces

the heat loss to space and leads to global warming

Strategies to Reduce the E"ect of Environmental Issues

1. Climate Change: planting trees, reducing livestock farming, decreasing the
use of fossil fuels, increasing the use of hydrogen and renewable energy,
e.g. wind, solar

2. Acid Rain: use of catalytic converters in vehicles, reducing emissions of

sulfur dioxide by using low-sulfur fuels and #ue gas desulfurisation with
calcium oxide

Photosynthesis
 Photosynthesis: the reaction between carbon dioxide and water to produce
glucose and oxygen in the presence of chlorophyll and using energy from light.

Word Equation: Carbon Dioxide + Water → Glucose + Oxygen

Balanced Chemical Equation:

6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2

Catalytic Converters
1. Present in car exhausts; contains transition metal catalysts of platinum and
rhodium

2. Aids redox reactions to neutralize toxic pollutants formed as a result of

incomplete fuel combustion: (a) Carbon Monoxide, (b) Nitrogen Oxides, (c)
Unburned hydrocarbons

3. Reaction equations:

(a) 2CO+ O2 → 2CO2

(b) 2NO+ 2CO→ N2+ 2CO2

(c) C8H18 + 12½O2 → 8CO2 + 9H2O

Metals Organic Chemis

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