Environmental Chemistry Topic 1

Environmental Chemistry “ Chemicals make up the underlying fabric of the world. They are part of the process in all natural cycles and changes”.

EARTH

Could we survive without chemicals?

What chemicals do our bodies need in order to remain healthy?

Healthy food (nutrients) Clean air Clean water

We need nutrients for: Energy Energy Growth Growth Body building Body building Cell repair Cell repair

Nutrients we need: Carbo h ydrates Carbo h ydrates Proteins Proteins Lipids (fats) Lipids (fats) Vitamins Vitamins Minerals Minerals Fill in table in your notes with page 179 Fill in table in your notes with page 179

Can you match these? Carbohydratesa. Organic elements (made by plants or animals) that help enzymes run the chemical reactions in your body. Ex. A, B, C, D, E, K…….. Proteinsb. Provide energy for growth, repair, everything we do. Lipids (fats)c.Building blocks of all our structures and cells Vitaminsd.Store energy for later use Mineralse. Inorganic elements that come from the soil or water, are absorbed by plants, eaten by animals, and perform many functions in our bodies.

Organic/Inorganic? Organic nutrients contain carbon (carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins) Organic nutrients contain carbon (carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins) Plants can make these, animals have to eat them.

Inorganic (minerals) Absorbed from soil and water by plants and animals get them by eating plants

What do we use minerals for? Check out page 180 in your textbook!

Have you heard of all of these elements? Where are they on the periodic table? Are they nonmetals or metals?

Macrominerals: we need 100mg/day or more (Vit. C, Calcium) Macrominerals: we need 100mg/day or more (Vit. C, Calcium) Trace elements: we need less than 100 mg/day Trace elements: we need less than 100 mg/day

Amazingly, we often need only tiny amounts of minerals and vitamins. But without them we can get serious diseases.

Where do the nutrients we need come from?

Roots extract minerals from the soil for us t every year! t every year! Gotta love the surface area of those root hairs! Gotta love the surface area of those root hairs!

So how do we make sure we have lots of healthy plants for all of us earthlings to eat so we can get all the organic and inorganic nutrients we need? So how do we make sure we have lots of healthy plants for all of us earthlings to eat so we can get all the organic and inorganic nutrients we need?

Fertilizers! Nitrogen Nitrogen Phosphorus Phosphorus Potassium Potassium

Nitrogen: healthy stems and leaves Nitrogen: healthy stems and leaves Phosphorus: germinate seeds, strong roots Phosphorus: germinate seeds, strong roots Potassium: healthy flowers and fruits Potassium: healthy flowers and fruits

Nitrogen fixing bacteria Plants can’t use N 2 directly from the atmosphere Plants can’t use N 2 directly from the atmosphere Bacteria in soil and plant nodules “fix” N 2 from the atmosphere into nitrates that dissolve in water so the plants can use the nitrogen. Bacteria in soil and plant nodules “fix” N 2 from the atmosphere into nitrates that dissolve in water so the plants can use the nitrogen.

How has crop production changed since fertilizers were introduced? How has crop production changed since fertilizers were introduced?

Doubled since 1950!

But there are some disadvantages $$$$ $$$$ Excess nitrogen pollutes our water Excess nitrogen pollutes our water /envh10_vid_nitrates/ /envh10_vid_nitrates/ /envh10_vid_nitrates/ /envh10_vid_nitrates/

What are we ingesting along with our food, water, and the air we breathe? What are we ingesting along with our food, water, and the air we breathe?

What is pollution, and what can be done about it?