ENVIRONMENTAL
CHEMISTRY
CHEMISTRY ATMOSPHERE
ATMOSPHERE
• The atmosphere is the blanket of gases
which surrounds Earth.
• The atmosphere is comprised of layers
based on temperature. These layers
are the troposphere, stratosphere,
mesosphere and thermosphere.
CHEMISTRY ATMOSPHERE
Major Composition of Atmosphere
• Nitrogen accounts for 78% of the
atmosphere, oxygen 21%
and argon 0.9%.
• Gases like carbon dioxide, nitrous
oxides, methane, and ozone are trace
gases that account for about a tenth of
one percent of the atmosphere.
CHEMISTRY ATMOSPHERE
• The trophosphere is the lowest layer of
our atmosphere. Starting at ground
level, it extends upward to about 10
km (6.2 miles or about 33,000 feet)
above sea level.
• We humans live in the troposphere,
and nearly all weather occurs in this
lowest layer.
CHEMISTRY ATMOSPHERE
• The stratosphere extends from the top
of the troposphere to about 50 km (31
miles) above the ground.
• The infamous ozone layer is found
within the stratosphere.
CHEMISTRY ATMOSPHERE
• Above the stratosphere is the mesosphere.
• It extends upward to a height of about 85
km (53 miles) above our planet. Most
meteors burn up in the mesosphere.
CHEMISTRY ATMOSPHERE
• The layer of very rare air above the
mesosphere is called the thermosphere.
• High-energy X-rays and UV radiation from
the Sun are absorbed in the thermosphere,
raising its temperature to hundreds or at
times thousands of degrees.
CHEMISTRY ATMOSPHERE
• The carbon cycle includes the uptake of carbon
dioxide by plants through, its ingestion by
animals and its release to the atmosphere
through respiration and decay of organic
materials.
• Human activities like the burning of fossil fuels
contribute to the release of carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere.
CHEMISTRY ATMOSPHERE
• The nitrogen cycle involves the uptake of
nitrogen form the atmosphere by a process
called fixation which is carried out by microbes
or industrial processes.
• Decomposition of biological waste by microbes
can return nitrogen to the atmosphere.
• Nitrogen is mainly used by humans as a fertilizer
in farmlands, but its excessive usage can lead to
serious problems
CHEMISTRY ATMOSPHERE
• The oxygen cycle is the cycle that helps
move oxygen through the three main regions of
the Earth, the Atmosphere, the Biosphere, and
the Lithosphere.
CHEMISTRY ATMOSPHERE
• Air pollution is a mix of particles and
gases that can reach harmful
concentrations both outside and indoors.
Its effects can range from higher disease
risks to rising temperatures.
• Soot, smoke, mold, pollen, methane, and
carbon dioxide are a just few examples of
common pollutants.
Effects of Air Pollution in
Environment
Acid rain, or acid deposition
• It is a broad term that includes any
formof precipitation with acidic components,
such as sulfuric or nitric acid that fall to the
ground from the atmosphere in wet or dry
forms.
Effects of Air Pollution in
Environment
Ozone depletion
• It is a gradual thinning of Earth's ozone
layer in the upper atmosphere caused by the
release of chemical compounds containing
gaseous chlorine or bromine from industry
and other human activities
Effects of Air Pollution in
Environment
Greenhouse effect
• It is caused by the atmospheric accumulation
of gases such as carbon dioxide and methane,
which contain some of the heat emitted from
Earth's surface.
• The atmosphere allows most of the visible
light from the Sun to pass through and reach
Earth's surface.
Treatment Systems for Air
• Cyclonic separation is a method of
removing particulates from an air,
gas or liquid stream, without the
use of filters, through vortex
separation.
Treatment Systems for Air
• Wet Scrubbers are effective air
pollution control devices for removing
particles and/or gases from industrial
exhaust streams.
• Wet Scrubber operates by introducing
the dirty gas stream with a scrubbing
liquid – typically water. Particulate or
gases are collected in the scrubbing
liquid.
Treatment Systems for Air
• A baghouse also known as a fabric filter
dust collector is an air pollution control
device that removes particulates rom a gas
stream.
Chemistry of Water
• Water, a substance composed of the chemical
elements hydrogen and oxygen and existing in
gaseous, liquid, and solid states.
• It is one of the most important substances on
earth. All plants and animals must
have water to survive.
• It is one of the most plentiful and essential of
compounds.
• A tasteless and odourless liquid at room
temperature, it has the important ability to
dissolve many other substances.
Chemistry of Water
Distribution of water in Earth
• Only 3% of water on the surface is fresh;
the remaining 97% resides in the ocean. Of
freshwater, 69% resides in glaciers, 30%
underground, and less than 1% is located in
lakes, rivers, and swamps.
Chemistry of Water
Water pollution occurs when harmful substances
—often chemicals or microorganisms—
contaminate a stream, river, lake, ocean, aquifer,
or other body of water, degrading water quality
and rendering it toxic to humans or the
environment.
Treatment Systems for Water
Coagulation / Flocculation
• Coagulation is adding liquid aluminum
sulfate or alum and/or polymer to raw or
untreated water.
• The resulting mixture causes the dirt
particles in the water to coagulate or stick
together.
• Then, the groups of dirt particles attach
together, forming larger particles named
flocs that can easily be removed via
filtration or settling.
Treatment Systems for Water
Sedimentation
• When water and flocs undergo the treatment
process, they go into sedimentation basins.
• Here, water moves slowly, making the heavy
floc particles settle to the bottom.
• Floc that accumulates on the bottom is known
as sludge.
• This is carried on to drying lagoons.
• Direct Filtration does not include the
sedimentation step and the floc is just
removed by filtration.
Treatment Systems for Water
Filtration
• In filtration, water passes through a filter,
which is made to take away particles from
the water.
• Such filters are composed of gravel and
sand or sometimes crushed anthracite.
• Filtration gathers together impurities that
float on water and boosts the effectiveness
of disinfection.
• Filters are regularly cleaned by means of
backwashing.
Treatment Systems for Water
Disinfection
• Before water goes into the distribution
system, it is disinfected to get rid of
disease-causing bacteria, parasites and
viruses.
• Chlorine is also applied since it is very
effective.
Treatment Systems for Water
Sludge Drying pH Correction
• Solids that have been gathered and • To adjust pH levels, lime is
removed from water via sedimentation combined with filtered water.
and filtration are transferred to drying This, also, stabilizes naturally soft
lagoons. water so corrosion can be
Fluoridation minimized in the water
• Fluoridation treats water supplies of distribution system and
communities to adjust the concentration plumbing of customers.
of free fluoride ions to an optimal level so
that dental cavities can be reduce
Chemistry of Soil
Soil is a material composed of five ingredients —
minerals, soil organic matter, living organisms,
gas, and water. Soil minerals are divided into
three size classes — clay, silt, and sand.
Chemistry of Soil
Soil Horizons
Topsoil
Called the A horizon, the topsoil is usually the darkest layer
of the soil because it has the highest proportion of organic
material.
Subsoil
• The B horizon or subsoil is where soluble minerals and
clays accumulate.
• This layer is lighter brown and holds more water than the
topsoil because of the presence of iron and clay minerals.
• There is less organic material.
Chemistry of Soil
Soil Horizons
C horizon
• The C horizon is a layer of partially altered
bedrock.
• There is some evidence of weathering in this
layer, but pieces of the original rock are seen
and can be identified.
R horizons denote the layer of partially
weathered or unweathered bedrock at the base
of the soil profile.
Erosion
• Erosion, physical process in which
soil, rock, and other surface material
are removed from one location and
transported to another.
The Main Causes And Impacts Of Soil Erosion
• Deforestation
• Overgrazing
• Agrochemicals
• Construction and Recreational Activities.
Weathering
• Weathering is the breaking
down or dissolving of rocks and
minerals on Earths surface.
Weathering
• Mechanical weathering is the
process of breaking big rocks
into little ones.
Note: To be more specific plants
and animals are under biological
weathering
Weathering
• Chemical weathering is
when chemicals in rain and moving
water react with rocks and minerals to
change or weaken them in some way.
• Note: To be more specific plants and
animals are under biological
weathering
Phosphorus Cycle
• Phosphorus moves in a cycle through
rocks, water, soil and sediments and
organisms.
• Over time, rain and weathering cause
rocks to release phosphate ions and other
minerals.
• When the plant or animal dies, it decays,
and the organic phosphate is returned to
the soil.
Soil Pollution
• Soil pollution is defined as the presence
of toxic chemicals (pollutants or
contaminants) in soil, in high enough
concentrations to pose a risk to human
health and/or the ecosystem.
