17 - Chemistry of our environment

Grade 9A

Contents
17.1 Air quality
(Abbas, Abdullah, Dhyana)

17.2 Carbon dioxide, methane and

17.2 climate change

(Umar, Tanaay, Sidrah)

17.3 Water
(Kaksh, Parshva)

17.1 - Air Quality

Air pollution
Human activity has contributed significantly to atmospheric pollution and increased
levels of oxides of nitrogen, sulfur dioxide, methane, carbon monoxide and carbon
dioxide. Carbon dioxide occurs naturally in the air but,when present in larger
quantities,it is classed as a pollutant because it is partly responsible for global
warming and the associated climate change.

17.1 - Air Quality

Composition of Air
The atmosphere is a layer which surrounds the Earth and is approximately 480 km
thick. It is a mixture of air and water vapour. Water vapour levels range from 0.2%
(in high Mountain regions) - 4% (in tropical rainforests). Samples of air are
compared by removing water vapour from each of them and producing clean dry air.
Clean dry air consists of 78% Nitrogen and 21% of Oxygen.
This leaves only 1% for other gases from which 0.9% of it is Argon. Carbon
dioxide , noble gases such as Krypton, Helium, Neon, Methane, Oxides of Nitrogen
and Sulfur Dioxide are the other gases that are a part of clean dry air.
Oxygen is essential for respiration which is why life on earth is dependent on it.
Oxygen can be extracted from the air for uses such as to treat people with
respiratory problems and for industrial welding.

17.1 Air Quality

Pollution -
Like coal and crude oil usually contain Sulfur. The fuel is burnt which is when
Sulfur combines with oxygen to form Sulfur dioxide.
Sulfur dioxide can lead to breathing difficulties due to it irritating the lining
of the respiratory tract. Sulfur dioxide and Nitrogen oxide are known to form acid
rain by reacting with oxygen and water vapour. Increased acidity levels can cause
harm to aquatic life and many plants. Building materials can also be damaged and
over time can also lead to corrosion due to acid rain.
Sulfur Dioxide's main source is electricity generated by either coal or oil and
burning fossil fuels.

To help prevent the harmful effects of sulfur dioxide, example removal of sulfur
dioxide form combustion gases can be done in chimneys. These gases react with water
to form an acidic solution that can later be neutralised by the reaction with
calcium oxide(desulfurization). To prevent the formation of sulfur dioxide most
sulfur containing compounds can be removed before combustion.

Catalytic converter
A catalytic converter uses a rare transition metal catalyst to convert very harmful
exhaust gases into less harmful gases:
2CO(g) + 2NO (g) → 2CO2(g) + N2 (g)
It uses a ceramic honeycomb support to increase the surface area.
It decreases the release of NOx gases from being released into the atmosphere.

17.1 Air Quality

Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is formed when a Hydrocarbon fuel is burned in the presence of a
limited supply of oxygen. Carbon Monoxide irreversibly binds with haemoglobin in
red blood cells which prevents them from carrying enough oxygen in the body. Carbon
monoxide can also be produced when air inlets get blocked in a gas central heating
system. To reduce the release of carbon monoxide heating systems should regularly
be checked, and any inlets cleaned.

17.1 Particulates
Particulates
Particulates are formed as a result of incomplete combustion of fuel. Particulates
are linked to increased respiratory disease and can also cause cancer. Diesel
vehicles are an important source of particulates. To help reduce particulate
release, these vehicles are fitted with particulate traps which remove particles
from the exhaust gas

17.2 CO2, NH3 and climate change

Greenhouse gases: Carbon dioxide and methane
Carbon dioxide and methane are pollutants. We will primarily learn about how carbon
dioxide and methane cause global warming. They absorb thermal energy reflected from
the surface of the Earth and stops it from escaping into the atmosphere
Complete combustion of fossil fuels causes release of CO2
methane + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water
CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + H2O
Methane is released by cattle farming and excess of waste being dumped at
landfills.

17.2 CO2, CH4 and Climate Change

Global Warming:
Global Warming
CO2 and CH4 appear naturally in Earth’s atmosphere and they play an important role
in maintaining a constant temperature. For things to function properly, it needs to
be in balance; not too high, not too low. An imbalance could cause it to become too
hot, or too cold. This may cause extreme conditions, on either side. Too hot could
cause glaciers to melt, increasing the sea levels and too cold may cause another
ice age, killing most lives.

17.2 - Greenhouse effect

The greenhouse effect is the process through which heat is trapped near Earth's
surface by substances known as 'greenhouse gases.' Imagine these gases as a cozy
blanket enveloping our planet, helping to maintain a warmer temperature than it
would have otherwise.

17.2- Reducing the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere and renewable sources
Trees and Forests - Plants remove carbon dioxide from the air naturally, and trees
are especially good at storing CO2 removed from the atmosphere by photosynthesis.
Renewable sources - Renewable resources are those resources that continue to exist
despite being consumed or can replenish themselves over a period of time even as
they are used. They include the sun, wind, water, geothermal, an
17.3 Water
Tests for water:
Test 1: Check for the presence of water
Water can be confused with many other colourless liquids like ethanol and
cyclohexane. Thus, we can check for the presence of water in the two ways:
Method 1: Cobalt chloride test
Cobalt(II) chloride is a salt which can be turned into sheets of blue colour.
In its sheet form, cobalt(II) chloride (CoCl2) does not contain water (it is called
anhydrous).
When water comes in contact with with unhydrated cobalt(II) chloride sheets, it
becomes hydrated. The sheets of blue colour change to pink in presence of water.
The colour change is: colourless H2O + blue unhydrated CoCl2 → pink hydrated CoCl2
We can write a balanced chemical equation for this reaction: CoCl2 + 6H2O →
CoCl2·6H2O
The “·” symbol in CoCl2·6H2O means the salt is hydrated with water.

Method 2: Copper sulfate test

Copper(II) sulfate is a white solid when it is anhydrous. (i.e. it has no water

included in it)
When water comes into contact with anhydrous copper(II) sulfate (CuSO4), it
becomes hydrated. It changes colour from white → blue.
The colour change is: colourless H2O + white unhydrated CuSO4 → blue hydrated
CuSO4
We can write a balanced chemical equation for this reaction: CuSO2 + 5H2O →
CuSO4·5H2O
The “·” symbol in CuSO4·5H2O means the salt is hydrated with water.
Method 1: Cobalt(II) chloride test for water
17.3 Water by Kaksh, Parshva, Sidhra

Test 2: Check the purity of water

This method can be used to check the purity of any substance, not only water.
A pure substance has sharp melting points and sharp boiling points.
The purity of water can be tested by recording its melting point and boiling point.
This is because pure water has fixed melting point of 0oC and boiling point of
100oC.
Method 2: Copper(II) sulfate test for water
17.3 Water by Kaksh, Parshva, Sidhra

17.3 Water by Kaksh, Parshva, Sidhra

Distilled water
What is distilled water?
Regular tap water is a mixture of natural minerals (dissolved salts) & substances
added due to human activity. Distilled water does not contain impurities and is H2O
in its pure form.

What is the importance of distilled water in chemistry?

Experiments that require water as a solvent should use distilled water and not tap
water. This is because:
substances dissolved in tap water may interfere with experiments giving unwanted
side reactions.
salts in tap water would interfere with the results of standard analysis e.g. for
metal ions

How is distilled water produced?

Distillation removes impurities and uses the key idea that different substances
have different substances have different boiling points.
17.3 Water
Substances in natural water
Water from natural sources contain many dissolved substances. Some substances are
beneficial substances and some are potentially harmful substances.

Beneficial substances
Dissolved oxygen: It is one of the most important substances dissolved in water.
Oxygen is needed to support animal and plant life. The level of oxygen determines
the number and variety of organisms that can be supported.

There are two ways oxygen are enter water:

1) photosynthesis by aquatic plants
2) diffusion of oxygen from the air into water
Oxygen is removed from water by respiration by aquatic plants and animals.
The oxygen level in water depends on whether the water is freshwater or saltwater.

17.3 Water
2. Metallic compounds:

As water passes over different types of rocks, small quantities of the rocks
dissolve into the water. These metallic compounds that dissolve in water are called
minerals, e.g. calcium and magnesium salts.

There is a large range of metals that are needed in very small (trace) amounts to
support good health:
Group I metals - sodium and potassium
Group II metals - calcium and magnesium
Transition metals ions - iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, chromium

Uses of these metallic compounds

Calcium - It is needed to support the health of bones and teeth.

Iron - It is need for the production of haemoglobin (to use in red blood
cells).

However, it is important to note that not all metallic compounds are beneficial
substances, some can be potentially harmful substances.

17.3 Water
Harmful substances

Some metallic substances

Not all metallic substances dissolved in water are beneficial substances. Two main
harmful metallic substances are lead and mercury.

Heavy metals such as lead and mercury can contaminate water by entering from
mining, metal smelting, waste disposal, corrosion and metal processing plants.

Problems caused by these substances

Lead - It can causes liver and kidney damage

Mercury - It causes damage to the nervous system

17.3 Water
2. Sewage

Sewage is wastewater produced by human activity. It is transported by pipes for

filtration to remove harmful materials and to be returned to the sea.

However, leaks of sewage can contaminate drinking water during natural disasters
like earthquakes.
When this happens, harmful microbes from the sewage to enter the water to cause
diseases like dysentery, cholera, typhoid and polio.

3. Nitrates and phosphates

NPK fertilisers are used to increase crop yields by adding nitrogen (N), phosphorus
(P) and potassium (K) to the soil. They are made from water-soluble compounds
(salts) that are easily absorbed from the plants roots.
However, if there is heavy rainfall when the fertiliser is added to the soil, the
fertiliser get washed over from the soil and goes into the waterways, rather than
being absorbed by the plants. This process is called run-off.

When fertilisers enter streams and rivers, they cause a rapid algae growth (algal
bloom). These algae cover the surface of the river and block sunlight from entering
the river. This causes a drop in oxygen levels in the stream also; thus; leading to
the death of aquatic plants and animals. This process is called eutrophication.

Phosphates can also enter through biological washing powder as widely-available

washing powders contain
pentasodium triphosphate
(Na5P3O10).

17.3 Water
4. Plastics

Plastics are polymers used in daily life. There are insoluble and can be easily
filtered out. But:

Poor disposal and lack of biodegradability causes it to contaminate waterways.

They rapidly accumulate in seas and oceans cause:

Large sea creatures and birds to be caught in fishing nets
Ingestion of plastic and microplastics by marine animals block their digestive
system causing death.

Chemists are working to design biodegradable polymers to tackle this issue.

17.3 Water
Purification of domestic water

Before water reaches your tap, it goes through various purification methods.

The first step in purification is to remove large insoluble objects such as rocks,
plastic bags and branches, in a process known as screening.
The next step in the process is to filter the water to remove smaller insoluble
particles.
Water may contain dissolved organic compounds that can cause the water to have an
unwanted odour which can be removed by using an activated carbon filter.
The final step is disinfection. Disinfection is needed to kill harmful waterborne
microbes such as bacteria that can cause disease. Sometimes, chlorine is also added
at a concentration of 2-3 mg/dm³ for disinfection.