Flashcards · 5070 · Topic 10

Chemistry of the environment flashcards

13 cards on Topic 10, subtopics 10.1 to 10.3. Pick a subtopic or study them all.

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Two chemical tests for water: Anhydrous copper(II) sulfate turns from white to blue. Anhydrous cobalt(II) chloride turns from blue to pink.
Physical test for pure water: It melts at exactly 0 °C and boils at exactly 100 °C.
Stages of water treatment, in order: 1. Sedimentation and filtration — remove solids. 2. Carbon — removes tastes and odours. 3. Chlorination — kills bacteria.

NPK fertilisers: the three elements: Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
Role of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in plants: Nitrogen: protein synthesis, leaf growth. Phosphorus: root growth. Potassium: flowering, fruit, disease resistance.
Two types of compound used as nitrogen fertilisers: Ammonium salts and nitrates.

Composition of clean, dry air: About 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen. The rest is mainly argon, with a little carbon dioxide.
Carbon monoxide: source and effect: Incomplete combustion of carbon-containing fuels. Toxic — it reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen.
Sulfur dioxide: source and effect: Burning fossil fuels that contain sulfur impurities. Causes acid rain.
Two greenhouse gases and their sources: Carbon dioxide: complete combustion of fuels, respiration. Methane: livestock, decomposition of vegetation, rice paddies.
What does a catalytic converter in a car remove?: Oxides of nitrogen (and carbon monoxide), cutting acid rain.
Catalytic converter equation removing CO and NO together: 2CO + 2NO → 2CO₂ + N₂
Symbol equation for photosynthesis: 6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂