1.

Climate Change Main Idea/Definition of the threat: Climate change, also known as global warming, is caused by greenhouse gas emissions from human activity. According to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), global surface temperatures between the start and end of the 20th century has already increased by around 0.74C and are known to rapidly increase into the 21st century. Problems they pose: Climate change causes many problems. Some of which are a change in rain patterns, a rise in sea levels as well as melting of snow and ice in the early spring. However, if temperatures continue to rise, more changes will arise, it will massively impact people, animals and ecosystems. Wildlifes will be at risk and there will also be an increased risk of drought, fire and floods. On top of that, hot temperatures will dry up crops and heat related illnesses and diseases will also appear. Explanations of variations that exist within the threat: Carbon dioxide is an effect of burning fossil fuels such as coal and oil. As more people are burning fossil fuels, the carbon dioxide released to the atmosphere also increases. Methane has the largest impact on climate as it happens in freshwater wetlands, for example rice paddies. As the use of rice paddy lands grows, the amount of methane it produces also grows. Nitrous oxide is the aftermath of nitrification and denitrification. The increase of the production of nitrous oxide is from the growing use of nitrogen fertilizers on agricultural fields. Carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide are all explanations of variations that exist within climate change.

Example of a reaction that contributes to this threat: Carbon Dioxide A. Classify reaction - Combustion B. Balance the reaction (if not already balanced) and include all states 0 0 +1 -2 +1 -2 +4 -2 6 O (g) + C H O (aq) 6 H O (l) + 6 CO (g) + energy.
2 6 12 6 2 2

C. Redox: oxidized/reduced Oxidized: C

6

Reduced: 6O Number of e- transferred: 24e2

D. Net Ionic Equation 6C(aq) + 12H(aq) + 6O(aq) 6H2O(l) + 6C(g) E. Observations Oxygen reacts with glucose to produce water and carbon dioxide, as this organic matter burns, heat and light in the form of chemical energy is released. Solution: In order to reduce the CO2 in the atmosphere more trees and plants should be planted. The plants and trees will go through the process of photosynthesis where they take in CO2 and produce O2. 2. Water pollution Main Idea/Definition of the threat: The contamination of bodies of water such as lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers and groundwater, most often by human activities, is known as water pollution. This occurs when pollutants like particles, chemicals are directly or indirectly discharged into water without any treatment to get rid of them. Water pollution is also known as a change or modification in the physical, chemical and biological properties of water that brings a harmful effect on living things. Problems they pose: The problems water pollution poses are terrible. One is the death of aquatic animals as their habitat will be polluted and as a result, their living environment becomes unsuitable. As a result of this, the food chain becomes disrupted as well. In time, humans get affected by it as well. People will not be able to eat seafood as toxin levels are more concentrated per level in the food trophic structure. Humans can also contract diseases from drinking contaminated drinking waters. Explanations of variations that exist within the threat: Point sources, non-point sources and groundwater pollution are all different types of variations that exist within water pollution. Point source water pollution is when pollutants enter from a single point, for example, from a pipe. This can happen when sewage treatment plants discharge pollutants. Pollutants that do not come from a single point is called non-point source pollution. Another one is ground water pollution, this is when pesticides and chemicals from soils are washed deep into the ground by rainwater causing underground water pollution. Example of a reaction that contributes to this threat: A. Classify reaction - Synthesis B. Balance the reaction (if not already balanced) and include all states H2O(g) + SO2(g) H2SO3 (g ) 2H SO (aq) + O2 (g) 2H SO (aq)
2 3 2 4

C. Redox: oxidized/reduced Oxidized: S of SO3 Reduced: O2

Number of e- transferred: 2eD. Net Ionic H2O(l) + SO2(aq) ---> H2SO3 (aq) 20 22SO3(aq) + O2(g) ---> 2SO4(aq) E. Observations Water gas and sulfur dioxide gas combine to yield a colorless gas in the air. This gas then reacts with even more oxygen to yield sulfuric acid which can precipitate, polluting the waters. Solution: By using filters that contain iron oxide, the arsenic in the water chemically binds to it and it filters the water.

3. Toxins in food and soil Main Idea: Environmental toxins, chemical pesticides, heavy metals, and other pollutants can be absorbed by plants through the soil.

Problems they pose: Because all these toxins and chemicals in the soil are absorbed into the plant, the crops that are harvested for food contain harmful chemicals, which we consume. The effects of consuming pesticides can be extreme. Side effects may include nausea, headaches, cancer, reproductive harm, and endocrine disruption.

Explanations of Variations within this threat: Pesticides are used to eliminate pests that may damage crops, and herbicides are used to eliminate weeds that may be damaging the plants by growing over them or around them taking all the nutrients from the soil. There are several nutrients that plants need, such as carbon, oxygen and hydrogen which are always accessible, other nutrients that the plants need are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium which can run out.

4. Depleting ozone layer Main Idea: The ozone is a part of the stratosphere that absorbs ultraviolet rays that the sun emits, however through recent years the ozone layer is depleting due to several natural and unnatural chemicals, such as methane and nitrous oxide. These chemicals are called ozone depleting substances Problems they pose: The depletion of the ozone layer will let ultraviolet rays into the atmosphere.

Variations that exist within this threat: Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) is one of the most used substances that contributes to the destruction of the ozone layer. Dry-cleaning agents and hospital sterilants are only some of the things that uses CFCs. Halons, which are used in fire extinguishers and automobile conditioners, is also another substance that is harmful to the ozone layer. Example of a reaction that contributes to this threat: Chemical Reaction A. Classify reaction B. Balance the reaction (if not already balanced) and include all states Cl (g) + O3 ClO (g) + O2 (g) ClO (g) + O (g) Cl (g) + O7 (g) C. Redox: Cl (g) + O3 ClO (g) + O2 (g) Oxidized: Cl (g) Reduced: O (g) Number of e- transferred: 2 ClO (g) + O (g) Cl (g) + O7 (g) Oxidized: O in ClO Reduced: Cl in ClO D. Net Ionic Equation O3 + O 2O2

E. Observations Gas forms and breaks the ozone layer. Solutions: A proposed solution to limit the depletion of ozone layer is only to reduce the amount of CFCs used. With this, the amount of chlorine and bromine released into the stratosphere will be decreased. 5. Air pollution Main Idea: Air pollution is when there is a mixture of chemicals and natural materials in the air that eventually causes damages in humans, animal and living organisms as well as structures (eg. buildings). They are usually caused by burning of fossil fuels which releases carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide usually through power plants and car exhaust fumes. Sulfur dioxide can also be released naturally by volcanoes. Problems They Pose: Air pollution is most notably known for causing harm to living things, acidifying bodies of water, and deteriorating structures. In humans they can cause health issues or even decrease life expectancy. In bodies of water, the act of acidifying kills marine life.

Variations: Some variations that exist in air pollution are carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide. Carbon monoxide is caused by the fuel combustion from vehicles and engines. The cause of this is that it reduces the amount of oxygen going into the bodys organs and tissues.

Sulfur dioxide is caused from electric utilities and industrial processes as well as natural incidents like volcanoes. Chemical Reaction: A. Classify reaction - Combustion B. Balance the reaction (if not already balanced) and include all states 2SO2 (g) + O2 (g) 2SO3 (g) C. Redox: Oxidized: S (g) Reduced: O2 (g) Number of e- transferred: 4 D. Net Ionic Equation 2SO2 (g) + O2 (g) 2SO3 (g) E. Observations Gas reacts to form sulfur trioxide. Solutions: A proposed solution to retrieve oxygen gas and sulfur dioxide would be to decompose sulfur trioxide.