HAWASSA CITY ADMINISTRATION EDUCATION

DEPARTMENT GRADE 8TH CHEMISTRY COMPETENCY

LESSON

UNIT 4
ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY
UNIT OUTCOME

After completing this section you will able to:

 Know the composition of air,

 Understand air pollution ,causes of air pollution effects of
pollutants,
 Understand global warming , the courses and effects of global
warming
 Describe the hardness and softness of water
 Understand water pollution and water pollutants
 Understand water purification of water
 Describe the composition of soil and identify acidic, alkaline or
neutral so

4.1 AIR

AIR ;-is a mixture of different gases

4.1.2 composition of air

air is homogenous mixture of different gases the average composition of unpolluted air by
volume is:

Nitrogen - 78%, oxygen -21% , argon -1% , carbon 0.04%

Air pollution

The composition of air is varies form place to place and from day to day . one of the causes for this
variation is an air pollution.

pollution:- is defined as contamination of air water or soil with undesirable material called lpollutants.

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same common air pollutants are:

 sulphur dioxide, (SO2) is a color less poison gas with a very irritating smell,
 carbon monoxide,(CO)
 nitrogen oxide most common oxides of nitrogen involve in air are NO and NO2
 particulates and pollen

Effects of air pollutant

Air pollutants produces different effects on the environment. pollutants can harm to the lives
of plants and animas directly or indirectly.
Example see table 3.1 effects of some air pollutants,

Air pollutant Source Effect

Acid rain lowering of PH of
SO2 Combustion fossil fuels river and lake, respiratory
diseases
Incomplete combustion of Fuels Absorption into blood to
CO largely in motor vehicles replace oxygen leading
asphyxia
NO and NO2 Combustion car engines Lung and hears diseases
Pollen Plants Allergic diseases
Particulates In complete combustion of fuels & Lungs and blood diseases
various industrial process

4.2GLOBAL WARMMING

Global warming :- is an increase in the average temperature of earth planet. Our planet earth
gets heat from sun radiation, some used by earth other radiation is reflected back to space.
the green house gases such as carbon dioxide and water vapor absorbs reflected radiation by
the earth known as green house effect green house effect essential for raising the temperature
of the earth to a level where life able to live.

 Effect s of global warming

- climate change - drought -melting of polar icebergs - untimely weather
- rising sea level, etc
 The causes of global warming
- the combustion of coal and oil in power station and factories,
- deforestation (cutting of trees)

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 4.4 WATER (H2O)

HARDNESS AND SOFTNESSS OF WATER

The Hardness and softness of water is related to the ability of water to form lather with soap. Natural
water is classify in to hard water and soft water.

Hard water:- is the water that does not readily form a lather with small soap. Hard water is causes by the
presence of dissolved magnesium ion(Mg2+) and calcium ion(Ca2+) . Hard water form insoluble
scum when magnesium ion(Mg2+) and calcium ion(Ca2+) react with soap, it form lather after this
reactions is completed. Hardness of water can be classify as temporary and permanent hardness

TEMPORARY HARDNESS:- the presence of calcium hydrogen carbonate, CaHCO3, and /or

magnesium hydrogen carbonate, MgHCO3.

Example- Sea water most, ground water , etc

PERMANENT HARDNESS:- presence of dissolved calcium chloride (CaCl2), magnesium chloride,

MgCl2 and /or calcium sulphate, CaSO4 & magnesium sulphate, MgSO4

Soft water: - is a water that can make a lather with a soap easily it does not have
dissolved of calcium and magnesium ions.

Softening of water

Softening of water is a process of removing hardness of it. that is removal of

calcium and magnesium ions from water that cause hardness.

Temporary hardness of water is removed by boiling. when it heated carbon

dioxide ,CO2 is given off and soluble Ca (HCO3)2 converted in to in soluble solid
CaCo3.

Ca(HCO3)2 (aq) heat CaCO3(s) +CO2(g) +H2O(l)

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During boiling of temporary hard water in soluble solid CaCO3 is settles to the
bottom of boiling material or interior surface of boiler called lime scale .

In order to remove the permanent hardness , the calcium or magnesium ion must
be removed by precipitation (formation of insoluble substance) using washing
soda or

sodium carbonate Na2CO3

- when sodium carbonate , Na2CO3 dissolved in water it splits apart into

sodium and carbonate ion (CO3)2-
- The carbonate ion react with Ca2+ or Mg2+ ion in hard water to form
insoluble calcium carbonate or magnesium carbonate.
Ca2+ + CO3 2- CaCO3 (in soluble solid)

Water pollution

Water purification:-is removal of contaminants from untreated water.

is the removal of contaminants from untreated water.

water treatment:- is make water fit for adesired use these used as drinking
water industrial process medical and many other.

Substances that are removed during the process of drinking water treatment are:

suspended solids ,viruses ,sulphur , bacteria ,fungi ,algae ,minerals

and onther chemical pollutants .
The treatments technique used in water purification are : physical
,chemical and biological treatment

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a/ physical treatments:- involve processes that no chemical or biological
changes. The most common method of physical treatments are:

- screening (removal of large pieces of solid waste) and filtration (removal

of suspended or small solid and particles)

b/ chemical treatment :- is addition of chemical to water to improve it quality .

most common method of treating water are

I / chlorination:-

is addition of chlorine to kill bacteria and other harmful micro organisms

II / addition of aluminum sulphate (Al2(SO4)3 addition of,):-

is used to removed dissolved harmful substances and also. to improve the

clarity of water

C/ biological treatment :- is a method that uses microorganism mostly

bacteria to remove decompose waste substance in water. bacteria change the
waste into CO2

 the steps of drinking water treatment are:

screening ---sedimentation -----filtration----chlorination

 In waste water treatment biological treatments is applied

4.4 SOIL
3.10.1 The solid liquid and gas components of soil

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soil is a thin layer of natural material covering the surface of the earth, top
layer in which plants grow, it provide water and minerals for growth of
plants.

 solid component of soil :- consists of minerals and organic matter of

humus it make up 50%volume
 the liquid component of soil:- consists of water and dissolved minerals it
make up 25% by volume
 the gas component:- consists of air relatively 78%N2, 21% O2, 0.05%CO2
nearly the same with composition of atmospheric air but CO2 is
slightly higher.

Acidic and alkaline soil

Soil can be acidic alkaline or neutral it depends on the minerals contained and
other factors . acidity or alkalinity of substance is measured in terms of PH

- A soil with PH value under 7 (<7), where H+ (hydrogen ion) more than
OH- (hydroxide ion) is ACIDIC.
- A soil with PH value over 7(>7) where H+ (hydrogen ion) less than OH-
(hydroxide ion) basic or alkaline
Each kind of plant grow in a soil of specific pH range. thus pH of a soil is an
important factor in determine its suitability for growing different crops.

example: pH range of soil suitable for growth of some crops

 For potato soil with pH range 5.5 -6.6 is suitable

 For oats soil with pH range 5.5- 70 is suitable
 For beans soil with pH range 6.0-75 is suitable
The soil acidity can be reduced by spreading limestone ,CaCO3, quck lime (CaO)or slaked lime

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 plant nutrients and improvement of soil

- Plant nutrients are the elements required by plants for growth and stay
healthy

- Plants do not need all nutrients in the same amount for their growth.

MAJOR PLANT NUTRIENTS

- Major plant nutrients are the elements required by plants in large amounts.

From minerals:- nitrogen phosphorous, magnesium, calcium , potassium,

sulphure

From air or water:- hydrogen , oxygen and carbon

4.6 Fuels

Fuel: is any substance that is capable of burning to produce heat energy and
light .

coal natural gas and crude oil

there are variety of solid, liquid and gaseous that are served as sources of energy.

Some example are Wood, charcoal, kerosene, bottled gas ,mineral coal, etc

Coal , natural gas and crude oil are major sources of energy they are
collectively called fossil fuels.

coal:- is formed form old remaining plants decay in absence of air. It is

mixture of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, also contain small amount of
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nitrogen sulphur and phosphorus compounds. coal is solid black have four
type, such as

- peat coal (50% of carbon content), - lignite coal(65-70%of carbon) , -

bituminous coal (75-90%of car ban) and Anthracite coal best forms of all coal
it contain 90-95% of carbon

use of coal

coal uses for the following purpose :

- domestic and industrial fuel

- it produce ,coke ,coal gas , coal tar and ammonia liquor when heated.
Coke:- is used in manufacturing of iron
Ammonia liquor:- is used to produce fertilizer
Coal gas :- used as fuel
powdered (or pulverized) coal is used a heat source in power station for
efficient combustion and easy move

Flue gas desulphurization (FGD) : is a set of technology used to remove Sulphur dioxide, SO2 from
exhaust flue gases of fossil fuel power

NATURAL GAS
Natural gas is mainly methane it contains small amount of ethane,
propane and butane . found in nature under ground deposition

Natural gas used as fuels for domestic and industrial purposes.

Crude oil (rock oil)

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 Crude oil known as petroleum or rock oil is mainly a mixture of a complex
hydrocarbons, it separated into different products by fractional distillation
based on their boiling point some petroleum or crude oil products are bottled
gas , gasoline ( petrol) ,kerosene ,fuel oils lubricating oils, bitumen, etc.

petroleum (rock oil) is a thick oily liquid ,mixture of hydrocarbons which distillated
in to : kerosene, naphtha, lubricating oils, asphalt,

kerosene is used for cooking food ,naphtha is uses for motor fuel

 lubricating oils useful in machines

 asphalt is used for making road

Exercise

1. What chemical process applied for refining petroleum?

2. Which one of petrol or diesel oil liquefies at lower temperature?
3. What are the main constituent of natural gas
4. When natural gas is burned ,what are the two main substances to be formed ?
i. ------------------- ii. --------------------
5. Industrial uses of coal is

UNIT 4- ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY

WORK SHEET EXERCISE 4.1

I. Say true if statement is correct and say false if the statement is not correct
1. Global warming is caused by the increased amount of carbon dioxide in
atmospheric air
2. Composition of atmospheric air is the same in all place
3. Permanent hardness of water removed by boiling.
4. Soft water form an insoluble solid called scum when soap dissolved in it.
5. Stalactites and stalagmites are formed in caves due to deposition of carbonates
when temporary hard water evaporation
II. . Choose the best answer from the given alternatives
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 6. Which one of the following is not soft water
a. Rain water b. “Ambo “ c. distilled water d. tape water
7. One of the following is not liquid fuel
a. Kerosene b. diesel oil c. produce gas d. petrol
8. Air is
a. An element b. a compound c. homogenous mixture d. heterogeneous mixture
9. Which one of the following is effects of global warming
a. Climate change b. rising of sea level c. melting of polar caps d. all of the above
10. The air pollutant that leads to asphyxia when absorbed in to blood is :
a. CO b. SO2 c.CO2 d. N

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