Lecture

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Prepared by Dr. NGUYEN Ngoc Vinh

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2. Science, Matter, Energy and Systems

1. What is Science?
2. What Is Matter and What Happens When It Undergoes
Change?
3. What Is Energy and What Happens When It Undergoes
Change?
4. What Are Systems and How Do They Respond To Change?

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 2.1. What Do Scientists Do?

The effects of deforestation on the loss of water and soil

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nutrient.

What Do Scientists Do?

Ø Scientists discover how nature works by assuming

cause and effect patterns
Ø To understand the patterns, scientists:
– Make careful observations
– Develop hypotheses
– Take measurements
– Experiment and create models
– Use knowledge learned to describe and predict
what happens in nature

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 Science is a search for order in nature

1. Identify a problem
2. Find out what is known about the problem
3. Ask a question to be investigated
4. Collect data to answer the question
5. Propose a hypothesize to explain the data
6. Make testable predictions
7. Keep testing and making observations
8. Accept or reject the hypothesis

Scientists are curious, skeptical,

and demand evidence

Ø Scientists are skeptical of new data

Ø During the peer review process, what do scientists publish?
– Methods they used
– Results of their experiments
– Reasoning behind their hypotheses

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 Critical thinking is important in science

Ø What are the four steps in scientific critical thinking?

– Be skeptical about what you read or hear
– Look at the evidence and evaluate it
– Be open to many viewpoints and evaluate each
– Identify and evaluate your personal assumptions – be
sure to distinguish facts from opinions
Creativity is important in science
Ø Imagination, creativity, and intuition are vital tools in science
Ø “There is no completely logical way to a new scientific idea”
– Albert Einstein
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Developing Scientific Theories

Ø The goal of scientists is to

develop theories and laws based
on facts and data that explain
how the physical world works
Ø A scientific theory
– Has been widely tested
– Is supported by extensive
evidence
– Is accepted as being a useful
explanation of some
phenomenon by most
scientists in a particular field
or related fields of study
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 Developing Scientific laws

Ø A scientific law
– Is a well-tested and widely accepted description of events
or actions of nature that are repeatable in the same way
– Cannot be broken except by discovering new data that
lead to changes in the laws

Comparing scientific theory & scientific law

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 Comparing scientific theory & scientific law

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The Results of Science Can Be Reliable,

Unreliable, or Tentative

Ø Tentative science
– Not widely tested or accepted
Ø Reliable science
– Data, hypotheses, models, theories, and laws widely
accepted by the field’s experts
Ø Unreliable science
– Has not been rigorously peer reviewed or has been
discarded as a result of this peer review

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 Science Has Some Limitations

Ø Scientists cannot prove or disprove anything absolutely

– There are inherent uncertainties in measurements,
observations, and models
– Scientists use words such as “overwhelming evidence”
to clarify probability or certainty
Ø Being human, scientists are not free from bias, but peer
review helps to reduce personal bias

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2.2. What Is Matter and What Happens

When It Undergoes Change?

What is matter?
Concept 2.2. Matter consists of elements and compounds
which are in turn made up of atom, ions and molecules

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 2.2. What Is Matter and What Happens
When It Undergoes Change?

Ø Matter is organized into atoms, ions and molecules, which

together make up elements and compounds
Ø Matter cannot be created or destroyed during physical or
chemical changes (law of conservation of matter)

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Matter Consists of Elements

and Compounds
Ø Matter
– Has mass and takes up space
– Three physical states: solid, liquid, or gas
– Two chemical forms: elements or compounds
Ø Elements (all the same atoms)
– Unique properties
– Cannot be chemically broken down into simpler forms
– Represented by a one- or two-letter symbol (C=carbon,
Au=gold)
Ø Compounds (combinations of more than one type of atom)
– Two or more different elements bond together in fixed
proportions.
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 Classification of matter

Ø Chemistry is the study of the composition of “matter” its

composition, properties and the changes it undergoes
Ø Matter – anything with mass and occupies space
Ø Chemistry has a definite affect on everyday life – taste of
foods, grades of gasoline, etc.
Ø Living and nonliving things are made of matter

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Chemical Elements: Mercury and Gold

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 Chemical elements important to the
study of environmental science

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An Atom is the Basic Building

Block of Matter
The smallest building block of matter that an element can have
that will still retain its chemical properties
– Each atom has three subatomic
Model of a carbon-12 atom
particles
• Protons with a positive
electric charge
• Electrons with a negative
electric charge
• Neutrons with no electric
charge
– Each atom has a small central
nucleus that contains its
protons and neutrons 20

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 Atomic Number, Atomic Mass,
and Isotopes

Ø Atomic number – the

number of protons in an
atom’s nucleus
Ø Mass number – the total
number of neutrons and
protons in an atom’s
nucleus
Ø Isotopes of an element
have the same atomic
number, but a different
mass number (the same
number of protons but a
different number of
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neutrons)
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Molecules and Ions Are Building

Blocks of Matter

Ø Ions
– A group of atoms with
one or more net
positive or negative
charges
Ø Molecules
– Two or more atoms of
either the same or
different elements held
together by chemical
bonds (forces)
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 Acidity

Ø The concentration (amount) of hydrogen ions (H+) and

hydroxide ions (OH−) in a substance
– Measured with a scale known as pH
– A neutral solution has a pH of 7
– An acidic solution has a pH below 7 and a basic solution has
a pH above 7

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Ions important to the study

of environmental science

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 Ions important to the study
of environmental science

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Chemical Formulas

Ø A shorthand expression of the number of each type of atom or

ion in a compound
– Written using symbols for each element in the compound
(molecule) as listed in the periodic table
– Subscripts following letters in a chemical formula indicate
the number of atoms (H2O)

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 Compounds important to the study of
environmental science

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Organic Compounds Are the

Chemicals of Life

Organic compounds have at least two carbon atoms and

various other elements.
– Hydrocarbons: contain carbon and hydrogen atoms
– Chlorinated hydrocarbons: contain carbon, hydrogen and
chlorine atoms (DDT - C14H9Cl5).
– Simple carbohydrates: contain carbon, hydrogen and
oxygen (glucose – C6H12O6).

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 Organic Compounds Are the
Chemicals of Life

Ø Polymers: simple organic compounds (monomers)

chemically bonded together. Three major types of organic
polymers are essential to life such as:
– Complex carbohydrate: two or more monomers of
simple sugars such as glucose
– Proteins: formed by amino acids (that are monomers)
– Nucleic acids: such as DNA and RNA that are formed by
nucleotides (that are monomers)
Ø Lipids (fats, waxes): an essential macromolecule not made
of monomers

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Matter Comes To Life Through Cells,

Genes, and Chromosomes

Ø Cells
– The smallest units of life in all living organisms
– All organisms have one or more cells
Ø Genes
– Composed of nucleotide sequences in DNA
– Segments of DNA that code for genetic traits
Ø Chromosome
– DNA molecule made up of thousands of genes

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 The relationships among Cells, Nuclei,
Chromosomes, DNA, and Genes
A human body contains trillions
of cells, each with an identical set
of genes.

Each human cell (except for red

blood cells) contains a nucleus.

Each cell nucleus has an identical set

of chromosomes, which are found in
pairs.

A specific pair of chromosomes

contains one chromosome from each
parent.

Each chromosome contains a long

DNA molecule in the form of a coiled
double helix.

Genes are segments of DNA on

chromosomes that contain
instructions to make proteins – the
building blocks of life. 31

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Matter Undergoes Physical,

Chemical and Nuclear Changes

How can matter change?

Concept 2.3. When matter undergoes physical or chemical
change, no atoms are created or destroyed?

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 Matter Undergoes Physical,
Chemical and Nuclear Changes

Ø Physical changes, such as changes in size or shape/state (ice

to water) do not involve changes in chemical composition
Ø Chemical change and chemical reactions involve changes in
chemical composition of the substances involved
– Chemists use a chemical equation to show how the
chemicals involved are arranged in a chemical reaction

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Matter Undergoes Physical,

Chemical and Nuclear Changes

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 Matter Undergoes Physical,
Chemical and Nuclear Changes

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A Chemical Equation: Coal → CO2

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 What Are the Three Nuclear Changes
That Matter Can Undergo?

Ø Natural radioactive decay

- Radioisotopes: unstable
Ø Nuclear fission
Ø Nuclear fusion

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What Are the Three Nuclear Changes

That Matter Can Undergo?

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 What Are the Three Nuclear Changes
That Matter Can Undergo?

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We cannot create or destroy atoms

Law of conservation of matter

– Physical or chemical changes can take place in chemical
reactions, but no atoms are created or destroyed in the
process

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 2.3 What is energy and what happens
when it undergoes change?

Ø Concept 2-4A. When energy is convert from one form to

another in a physical or chemical change, no energy is created
or destroyed (first law of thermaldynamics).
Ø Concept 2-4B. Whenever energy is changed from one form to
another, we end up with lower – quality or less – usable energy
than we started with (second law of thermaldynamics).

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Energy Comes in Many Forms:

Kinetic Energy - Potential Energy
Energy is the ability to do work and
transfer heat
Ø Kinetic energy: is associated
with motion (wind, flowing
water) and includes:
– Heat or thermal energy: results
in temperature changes of the
objects involved
– Electromagnetic energy: energy
travels as waves due to changes
in electric/magnetic fields
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 Energy Comes in Many Forms:
Kinetic Energy - Potential Energy

Ø Potential energy is stored

and potentially available
for use
– Example: water stored
behind a dam
Ø Potential energy can be
changed to kinetic energy
– Example: releasing
water from behind a
dam

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Energy Comes in Many Forms:

Kinetic Energy - Potential Energy

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 Some Types of Energy Are More
Useful Than Others

Ø High-quality, or concentrated energy, has a high capacity to do

useful work
- Intense, concentrated, or high in temperature
- Useful in carying out work
- Example: high-voltage electrical energy
Ø Low-quality, or dispersed energy, has little capacity to do useful
work
- Diffused, dispersed, or low in temperature
- Difficult to gather and use for productive purposes
- Example: heat stored in the oceans
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Energy Changes Are Governed

By Two Scientific Laws

Ø First law of thermodynamics (law of conservation of energy)

– We cannot get more energy out of a physical or chemical
change than we put in
Ø Second law of thermodynamics
– When energy is changed from one form to another, it
always goes from a more useful to a less useful form

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 Energy Changes Are Governed
By Two Scientific Laws

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Energy efficiency

Ø In cars – 6% of gasoline combustion =

kinetic energy → 94% = heat

Ø Incandescent light – 5% light, 95% heat

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 Second law of the thermodynamics

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2.4 What Are Systems and How Do

They Respond To Change?

Ø Concept 2-5A. System have inputs, flows and outputs of

matter and energy, and their behavior can be affected by
feedback
Ø Concept 2-5B. Life, human systems and the earth’s life
supports systems must conform to the law of conservation of
matter and the two laws of thermodynamics.

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 2.4 What Are Systems and How Do
They Respond To Change?
Ø Sets of components that function/interact in a regular way:
Inputs from the environment, throughputs or flows, outputs
of both matter and energy
Ø Feedback loops can affect system behavior

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There Are Non-Living and Living Systems

Ø Non-living systems
– Do not change their size or how they function in response
to environmental changes
Ø Living systems
– Do respond to environmental changes by changing their
size, components, and behavior

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 Systems Respond to Change
Through Feedback Loops

Ø Feedback
– Any process that increases (positive feedback) or
decreases (negative feedback) a change to a system
Ø Feedback loops
– Occur when the output of matter or energy is fed back into
the system as an input that leads to changes in that system

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A Positive/Negative Feedback Loop

Ø Positive feedback
loop causes a system
to change further in
the same direction
Ø Negative (or
corrective) feedback
loop causes a system
to change in the
opposite direction
from which is it
moving
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 Key concepts

Ø Concept 2-1. Scientist collect data and develop theories,

models, and laws about how nature works.
Ø Concept 2-2. Matter consists of elements and compounds
which are in turn made up of atom, ions and molecules.

Ø Concept 2-3. When matter undergoes physical or chemical

change, no atoms are created or destroyed?
Ø Concept 2-4A. When energy is convert from one form to
another in a physical or chemical change, no energy is
created or destroyed (first law of thermaldynamics).

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Key concepts

Ø Concept 2-4B. Whenever energy is changed from one

form to another, we end up with lower – quality or less
usable energy than we started with (second law of
thermaldynamics).
Ø Concept 2-5A. Systems have inputs, flows, and outputs of
matter and energy, and their behavior can be affected by
feedback.
Ø Concept 2-5B. Life, human systems, and the earth’s life-
support systems must conform to the law of
conservation of matter and the two laws of
thermodynamics.
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 Thank you for your attention

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