Sure, you're worried about the exam right now. But learning is always the key, especially when the topic is one that's related to both your personal health and to that of our planet. Besides, the environmental question on the exam is always the biggest surprise, so review everything from this table!
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Environmental Chemistry In a Nutshell |
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Pollutant |
Principal Source |
Form of Pollution |
Impact on Health/Environment |
Chemistry |
|
SO2 |
metal ores, heating oil |
acidic precipitation(rain, snow) |
worsens lung disease, kills fish, trees,
corrodes statues |
forms sulfuric acid (H2SO4) |
|
NO2 |
gasoline engines |
acidic precipitation and smog |
same as above |
forms nitric acid (H2NO3)
and leads to PANS(smog chemicals) |
|
CO |
gasoline engines, furnaces |
air pollution |
headaches, nausea |
binds to hemoglobin in blood |
|
CO2 |
burning gas, gasoline, coal,
deforestation |
global warming |
affects agriculture, causes flooding |
absorbs IR; prevents it from escaping
from atmosphere |
|
CH4 |
bovine flatulence |
global warming |
same as above |
same as above |
|
CFC's (freons) |
refrigerators, air conditioners |
ozone depletion |
skin cancer |
Cl attacks ozone and is then recycled,
esp in colder areas. |
|
radioactive waste |
nuclear power plants |
soil, water and air pollution |
cancer |
radiation attacks DNA |
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Pb, Cd, Hg, As |
industrial waste, batteries, treated wood |
soil, water pollution |
attacks brain or cancer-causing(arsenic) |
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