Environmental chemistry

Step I. Answer the questions

Ø What do you mean by environmental chemistry?

Ø Do you think it is modern branch of chemistry?

Ø Who knows what green chemistry is? Is there any difference between green chemistry and environmental chemistry?

Step II. Before reading the text learn some new word combinations

Ø wet chemistry -	a term used to refer to chemistry general done in the liquid phase.
Ø gravimetric method-	a quantitative determination of an analyte based on the mass of a solid, e.g. measurement of solids suspended in a water sample.
Ø titrimetric method-	a lab method that is used to determine the unknown concentration of an identified analyte. It is also known as volumetric method.
Ø electrochemical method -	a method of qualitative and quantitative analysis based on electrochemical phenomena occurring within a medium or at a phase boundary and related to changes in the structure, chemical composition, or concentration of the compound being analyzed.
Ø atomic spectrum -	Determination of elemental composition by its electromagnetic or mass spectrum.
Ø mass spectrometry -	analytical technique that produces spectrum of the masses of the atoms or molecules comprising a sample material

Text

Environmental chemistry

Environmental chemistry is the study of chemical processes occurring in the environment which are impacted by humankind's activities. These impacts may be felt on a local scale, through the presence of urban air pollutants or toxic substances arising from a chemical waste site, or on a global scale, through depletion of stratospheric ozone or global warming. It should not be confused with green chemistry, which seeks to reduce potential pollution at its source.

The field of environmental chemistry is both very broad and highly interdisciplinary. It includes atmospheric, aquatic and soil chemistry, as well as heavily relying on analytical chemistry and being related to environmental and other areas of science.

Environmental chemistry involves first understanding how the uncontaminated environment works, which chemicals in what concentrations are present naturally, and with what effects. Without this it would be impossible to accurately study the effects humans have on the environment through the release of chemicals.

Quantitative chemical analysis is a key part of environmental chemistry, since it provides the data that frame most environmental studies.

Common analytical techniques used for quantitative determinations in environmental chemistry include classical wet chemistry, such as gravimetric, titrimetric and electrochemical methods. More sophisticated approaches are used in the determination of trace metals and organic compounds. Metals are commonly measured by atomic spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Organic compounds are commonly measured also using mass spectrometric methods.

Other parameters often measured in environmental chemistry are radiochemicals. These are pollutants which emit radioactive materials, such as alpha and beta particles, posing danger to human health and the environment.

The field of environmental chemistry is rapidly expanding, and excellent employment opportunities exist in the academic, government, industrial and public policy sectors.

Topical vocabulary:

aquatic [ə'kwætɪk] - водяной; водный; alpha ['ælfə] – альфа; beta particle ['biːtəˌpɑːtɪkl] - бета-частица; contaminate [kən'tæmɪneɪt] - загрязнять; depletion [dɪ'pliːʃ(ə)n] – истощение, уменьшение; gravimetric [ˌgrævɪ'metrɪk] – гравиметрический, весовой; mass spectrometry - масс-спектрометрия; release [rıʹli:s] - освобождение, высвобождение; scale [skeɪl] – масштаб; titrimetric [͵tıtrıʹmetrık] титриметрический, объёмный (об анализе); urban ['ɜːb(ə)n] – городской.

Step III. Translate the following from English into Russian

occurring in the environment _________________________________

humankind’s activities ______________________________________

local scale _______________________________________________

global scale ______________________________________________

potential pollution _________________________________________

through release of chemicals _________________________________

quantitative chemical analysis ________________________________

posing danger to human health _______________________________

employment opportunities ___________________________________

Step IV. Find English equivalents for the following Russian word combinations:

вещества, загрязняющие городской воздух; токсичные вещества; химические отходы; истощение озонового слоя; глобальное потепление; другие области науки; более сложные методы; альфа- и бета-частицы.

Step V. Agree or disagree. If you disagree correct the statement.

1. Environmental chemistry studies any processes (physical, biological, etc.) occurring in the environment.

2. Environment chemistry can be confused with green chemistry because there is no difference between them.

3. Environmental chemistry is interdisciplinary.

4. It is possible to accurate study the effects humans have on the environment through the release of chemicals without understanding how the uncontaminated environment works, which chemicals in what concentrations are present naturally, and with what effects.

5. As quantitative chemical analysis provides the necessary information that frame environmental studies is an essential part of environmental chemistry.

6. For measuring metals atomic spectroscopy and mass spectrometry methods are used.

7. The field of environmental chemistry is expanding but slowly.

Step VI. Match two halves of the sentences.

1. Environmental chemistry is the study of chemical processes occurring in the environment which are …	a. … often measured in environmental chemistry.
2. Environmental chemistry shouldn’t be confused with green chemistry which …	b. …in the academic, government, industrial and public policy sectors.
3. Environmental chemistry is interdisciplinary, it includes …	c. …atmospheric, aquatic and soil chemistry.
4.Common analytical techniques used for …	d. … seeks to reduce potential pollution at source.
5. Radiochemicals are another parameters that…	e….by humankind’s activities.
6. There are excellent employment opportunities …	f….quantitative determinations in environmental chemistry include classical wet chemistry.

Step VII. Match the words with their synonyms.

1. environment	a. impact
2. humankind	b. mankind
3. scale	c. dangerous substances
4. area	d. method
5. effect	e. surroundings
6. common	f. scope
7. approach	g. general
8. pollutants	h. field

Step VIII. Match the words with their antonyms or the words with opposite meaning.

1. impossible	a. bad
2. uncontaminated	b. unusual
3. understanding	c. modern
4. common	d. inorganic
5. classical	e. possible
6. organic	f. misunderstanding
7. excellent	g. contaminated

Step IX. Discuss the following questions.

1. What does environmental chemistry study?

2. What disciplines is environmental chemistry closely related to?

3. What is necessary for studying of the effects humans have on the environment through release of chemicals?

4. What are the methods of environmental chemistry?

5. Why is the field of environmental chemistry rapidly expanding?

6. Are there any employment opportunities for environmental chemists?

Step X. Choose any topic you like and make a short presentation.

v Employment opportunities for environmental chemists relating to Dagestan.

v Main problems of environmental chemistry.

v Methods of environmental chemistry.

Fun Time

Environmental chemistry

1. Dissolved pollutant gasses can form:

a. Ozone

b. Acid rain

c. Alkali snow

d. Neutral hail

2. Which of these reactions in the atmosphere leads to acid rain?

a. Magnesium + oxygen → magnesium dioxide

b. Sulphur + oxygen →sulphur dioxide

c. Carbon dioxide + hydrogen →hydrogen carbonate

d. Sulphur dioxide + water → sulphuric acid

3. Which of these atmospheric pollutants is not released by car exhausts?

a. Carbon monoxide

b. Carbon dioxide

c. Magnesium oxide

d. Lead oxide

4. The greenhouse effect is thought to be the cause of:

a. Huge tomatoes

b. An increase in asthma sufferers

c. Skin cancer

d. An increase in global temperature

5. The balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen has been upset by:

a. Excessive burning of fossil fuels

b. Large scale deforestation

c. Burning fossil fuels and deforestation

d. Increasing human population

6. The ozone layer found high in the stratosphere

a. Protects against the suns harmful UV rays

b. Can react with atmospheric pollutants to form smog

c. Is toxic to plants

d. Is capable of disintegrating fabric and rubber

7. Fresh spring water can have problems with water quality.  One reason is because water can have harmful acid in it.  What it looks like is an indicator of water quality that is referred to as ….

a. clarity;

b. acuity

c. humidity

d. turbidity

8. This type of indicator is used to determine the level of plant nutrients in a sample of water.

a. invertebrates only

b. chemical indicators

c. biological organisms

d. micro-biological organisms