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Honors Chemistry Semester 1 Project - Google Drive

Names: Junsung Park, Jocelyn Hung, Chris Pang Period: 5

Honors Chemistry Semester 1 Project

PART 1: Explore the following environmental threats to life on Earth
Using the internet, library reference books or your textbook you will explore the environmental threats above, outlining what problems they pose, the main idea/definition of each threat, giving some explanations of some but not all variations that exist within each threat category (include pic of each threat) 1. Climate Change Climate change is the change in global climate patterns, largely due to the growth of carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Climate change is warming up our planet because of heat trapping gases emitted from factories and vehicles. It is causing a growing crisis for many dimensions, some of which include: economy, health and safety, food production, and security. Many diverse ecosystems such as rainforests and tundras may face dramatic changes due to the warming and drying climate. Climate change also brings shifting weather patterns, which may trigger unpredictable precipitation patterns, rising sea levels, an increased risk for intense floods and droughts, and all these factors affect food production. Furthermore, as climate change increases the temperature, it also increases the risks of heat-related illnesses. It increases the chance of these disease, because warmer temperatures allow disease carrying organisms to live, whereas in the cold they would die. One example of climate change is the raising of water. Because burning fossil fuels release greenhouse gases, it causes the temperatures to rise as green house gases trap heat. Water absorbs 80% of the upcoming heat and water expands as it absorbs the heat. This causes water levels to rise. Furthermore, temperature rise causes the glaciers and ice caps melt, which also raises water levels. Source: http://ocean.nationalgeographic.com/ocean/critical-issues-sea-level-rise/ Image:

Source: http://www.unep.org/climatechange/Introduction.aspx

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2. Water pollution Water pollution is the contamination of water by various substances. 70% of the Earths surface is covered by water, and it is without a doubt an extremely important resource for people and the environment. Water pollution affects drinking water, rivers, lakes, and oceans, which in turn harms human health and the natural environment. For example, industrial waste, which contains toxic compounds are usually accumulated next to bodies of water, and this may damage the health of aquatic animals and those who eat them. One common type of water pollution is called microbiological water pollution, where microorganisms live in the water and spread illnesses to underwater animals and humans. Water pollution is a huge problem because we, as human beings depend on water to survive. Around 65% of our body is made of water, which demonstrates how crucial water is. A variation of water pollution is water acidification. The oceans over many years have become slightly acidic due to the fact that the atmosphere has more carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide reacts with water to form carbonic acid. This process is H2O + CO2 H2CO3. Because the reaction causes carbonic acid, it is making water more acidic. This increase in acidity causes marine organisms such as coral and sea urchins to die, as the increased acidity causes their calcium carbonate shells not to form properly. Image:

Source: http://www.water-pollution.org.uk/ 3. Toxins in food and soil All living organisms depend on other organisms to survive. In many cases, toxins can be transferred to humans through the food web. Tiny phytoplankton cells, which are a type of microscopic algae (producers), have the ability of creating toxins. Although the amount of toxins created by one tiny phytoplankton cell is miniscule, it can accumulate quickly through a process called bioaccumulation. Bioaccumulation is one variation of toxins in the soil. It is a process in which compounds accumulate or build up in an organism at a rate faster than they can be broken down. Many organisms, such as krill, mussels, and fish, are not directly affected by the toxins, but help transport the toxins farther down the food web. Often times, humans are affected

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Honors Chemistry Semester 1 Project - Google Drive

by toxins through the contaminated shellfish. Toxins can absorb directly into crops through soil, and thus affects the quality of the food we eat. Image:

Source:http://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/Contexts/Toxins/Science-Ideas-and-Concepts/Toxins-a nd-food-webs 4. Depleting ozone layer The ozone layer depletion is when the ozone layer is deteriorated because of pollution containing chlorine and bromine. The primary culprit for the depletion of the ozone layer is chlorofluorocarbons which is mostly found in aerosols. When the chlorofluorocarbons reach the ozone layer, it reacts with ultraviolet rays and decomposes into chlorine and various substances. The chlorine reacts with oxygen gas, and damages the ozone layer. This causes abnormal amounts of ultraviolet B to enter, which can cause skin cancer in humans. Furthermore, the increase of ultraviolet B also hinders the reproductive cycles of phytoplankton like algae. This is a huge concern because phytoplankton is in the bottom of the food chain, and the reduction of phytoplankton will also reduce populations of animals higher up in the food chain. Source: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/substances/toxsubstance.asp?toxid=47 Image:

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Source: http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/ozone-depletion-overvie w/

5. Air pollution Air pollution is any harmful substance that humans release into the atmosphere that impairs organisms and the environment. One of the main culprit of air pollution is carbon dioxide. Even though we exhale carbon dioxide it is also released from burning fossil fuels, and vehicles. The chemicals in the atmosphere causes discomfort, disease or death to humans. It also damages other living organisms such as food crops, or damage the natural environment or built environment. It especially causes stratospheric ozone depletion because of the amount of air pollution. An example of air pollution is the amount of sulfur trioxide in the air. Sulfur trioxide is formed from sulfur dioxide reacting oxygen in the air. Sulfur dioxide is produced by various industrial reactions such as burning coal as coal contains small amounts of sulfur. Sulfur trioxide is a huge pollutant as it rapidly reacts with water and forms sulfuric acid. The formation of sulfuric acid causes acid rain. Source: http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/pollution-overview/ Image:

Source: http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/pollution-overview/?rptre gcta=reg_free_np&rptregcampaign=20131016_rw_membership_n1p_intl_se_w#

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Part 2: Research reactions that contribute to these environmental threats:

Give at least 1 example of a reaction that contribute to each of the above environmental threats. For each reaction you will: A. Classify the reaction. B. Balance the reaction (if not already balanced) and include all states. C. Identify it as a oxidation reduction reaction or not: If oxidation/reduction you will identify species oxidized and species reduced, & # of e- transferred. D. Write the net ionic equation for each reaction. E. Give qualitative observations of reactants and products Climate Change 6 O2 + C6H12O6 ---> 6 H2O + 6 CO2 + energy A. Combustion B. 6 O2 (g) + C6H12O6 (s) ---> 6 H2O (l) + 6 CO2 (g) + energy C. Yes, it is a redox reaction Species oxidized: O2 (g) Species reduced: C in C6H12O6 (s) # of e- transferred: 24 e- transferred D. 6 O2 (g) + C6H12O6 (s) ---> 6 H2O (l) + 6 CO2 (g) + energy E. Reactants: a colorless gas, a white solid Products: a clear transparent liquid, a colorless gas Source: http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/climate/GCclimate2e.html Water pollution CO2 + H2O ---> H2CO3 A. Synthesis not a redox reaction B. CO2 (g) + H2O (l) ---> H2CO3 (aq) C. Not a redox reaction Species oxidized: N/A Species reduced: N/A # of e- transferred: N/A D. CO2 (g) + H2O (l) ---> H2CO3 (aq) E. Reactants: a colorless gas, a clear transparent liquid Products: a yellowish liquid Source:http://www.chemistry.wustl.edu/~edudev/LabTutorials/Water/FreshWater/acidrain.html

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Depleting Ozone Layer Reaction: Most like synthesis Equation: Cl(g) + O3(g) -> CIO(g) + O2(g) Yes, it is a redox reaction Oxidized: O2(g) Reduced: Cl(g) #e- transferred: 2 e- transferred. Net Ionic equation: Cl(g) + O3(g) -> CIO(g) + O2(g) No ions as they are gasses This is a repeated cycle that is continuous because it keeps destroying ozone molecules and turns them into oxygen. http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Physical_Chemistry/Kinetics/Case_Studies/Depletion_of_the_Ozon e_Layer Air Pollution

2SO2 + O2 2SO3 + heat A. Synthesis B. 2SO2 (g) + O2 (g) 2SO3 (g) + heat
C. Yes, it is a redox reaction. Species oxidized: S in SO2 Species reduced: O2 (g) # of e- transferred: 4 e- transferred

D. 2SO2 (g) + O2 (g) 2SO3 (g) + heat

E. Reactants: a colorless gas with a strong pungent odor, a colorless gas Products: a colorless gas

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Part 3: Investigate proposed solutions to solve these environmental threats

Climate Change: One solution to climate change is burning hydrogen instead of fossil fuels. Hydrogen is one of the most simplest and plentiful elements in the world. However, it is not found in nature by itself, usually pairing itself with oxygen to form water, or to various carbons. Hydrogen has a great deal of energy, and produces water as a by-product: 2H2 + 02 2H2O. NASA has used liquid hydrogen since the 70s to propel space shuttles. The main method of obtaining hydrogen is by a process called Steam Methane Reformation. High temperatures and pressures break hydrocarbons (gas) into hydrogen and carbon oxide. This is a problem because 95% of Americas hydrogen comes from this process that uses natural gases. This process is shown CH4 + H2O --> CO + 3 H2. Another method of obtaining hydrogen is through electrolysis. However, electrolysis has its flaws as well because it requires a ton of energy to split water, and 70% of the world's electricity comes from fossil fuels. Electrolysis of water is shown by this reaction : 2H20 2H2 + O2. Source: http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/tech/hydrogen

Depleting Ozone Layer: Ozone depletion is caused by chlorofluorocarbons (CFC). CFC is made up of chlorine, fluorine and carbon which makes it extremely stable. The stability allows CFC to reach upto the stratosphere where it acts as a catalyst; breaking down ozone and combining it with oxygen. This process is shown here: Cl(g) + O3(g) -> CIO(g) + O2(g) CIO(g) + O(g) -> Cl(g) + O2 (g) ; shows the ozone disappearing. One solution to depleting ozone layer is to reduce the amount of CFC being produced. Air conditioners contains a chemical Freon that has CFC. Finding another chemical without CFC or using less air conditioning will reduce the amount of CFC produced. Hairspray, cans, fridges and foam plastic also contains CFC. Reducing the production or usage of these items will only benefit the ozone from deteriorating.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/05/100505-science-environment-ozone-hole-25- years/ http://loveasanastronaut.tripod.com/id4.html

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