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Enviro > Background Review > Flashcards

Background Review Flashcards

(101 cards)

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1
Q

Isotopes

A

Atoms of the same elements with different numbers of neutrons

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2
Q

Atoms of the same elements with different numbers of neutrons

A

Isotopes

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3
Q

What do environmental scientists use isotopes for

A

To evaluate environmental conditions such as air pollution

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4
Q

What can help tell whether pollution comes from a forest fire or combustion of fossil fuels

A

different isotopes (found in wood/fossil carbon found in coal)

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5
Q

Radioactive decay

A

The spontaneous release of material from the nucleus from unstable isotopes

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6
Q

The spontaneous release of material from the nucleus from unstable isotopes

A

Radioactive decay

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7
Q

What is the heat from radioactive decay used for by nuclear power plants

A

To produce steam that turns turbines to generate electricity

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8
Q

What does knowing the half-life of an element allow scientists to determine?

A

The length of time that a radioactive element may be dangerous

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9
Q

Cohesion

A

Water molecules sticking together

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10
Q

Water molecules sticking together

A

Cohesion

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11
Q

Adhesion

A

Water molecules sticking to other substances

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12
Q

Water molecules sticking to other substances

A

Adhesion

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13
Q

Surface tension

A

Results from the cohesion of water molecules at the surface of a body of water and creates a skin on the water’s surface

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14
Q

Results from the cohesion of water molecules at the surface of a body of water and creates a skin on the water’s surface

A

Surface tension

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15
Q

Capillary action & example

A

When adhesion of water moleculed to a surface is stronger than cohesion

-absorption of water by a paper towel
-transport of underground water
-water-conducting vessels in tree trunks

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16
Q

At what temperature does water boil (C)

A

100°C

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17
Q

At what temperature does water freeze (C)

A

0°C

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18
Q

______________ between water molecules means it takes a great deal of energy to change the temperature of water

A

Hydrogen bonding

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19
Q

Why does water in organisms protect them from wide temperature swings

A

Due to hydrogen bonding between water molecules which means it takes a great deal of energy to change the temperature of water

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20
Q

Neutral pH #

A

7

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21
Q

Basic pH #

A

8-14

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22
Q

Acidic pH #

A

0-6

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23
Q

What has a pH of 1

A

Stomach fluid

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24
Q

What has a pH of 2-3

A

Cold beverage

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25
What has a pH of 4
Lakes affected by acid rain
26
What has a pH of 5-6
Normal rainwater
27
What has a pH of 7
Pure water
28
What has a pH of 8-9
Seawater
29
What has a pH of 11-12
Highest pH known to support life
30
What has a pH of 12-13
Household bleach
31
What has a pH of 13-14
Sodium hydroxide
32
Ocean acidification
As atmospheric concentration of CO2 have increased, more atmospheric CO2 has dissolved into oceans and the oceans have become more acidic
33
As atmospheric concentration of CO2 have increased, more atmospheric CO2 has dissolved into oceans and the oceans have become more acidic
Ocean acidification
34
Law of conservation of matter
Matter cannot be created or destroyed, it cannot change form
35
Matter cannot be created or destroyed, it cannot change form
Law of conservation of matter
36
How does the law of conservation of matter explain why we cannot easily dispose of hazardous material
The hazardous material turns up elsewhere in the environment where they may harm humans and other organisms
37
Inorganic compounds
Compounds that either do not contain carbon or contain carbon bonded to elements other than hydrogen
38
Is water an organic or inorganic compound
Inorganic
39
Is carbon dioxide an organic or inorganic compound
Inorganic
40
Organic compounds
Compounds that have carbon-carbon and carbon-hydrogen bonds
41
Carbohydrates
Compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms
42
Compounds that have carbon-carbon and carbon-hydrogen bonds
Organic compounds
43
Compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms
Carbohydrates
44
Glucose written in elements
C6H12O6
45
What is glucose used for and by who
Used by plants and animals for quick energy
46
What do plants store energy as
Starch
47
What is starch
Long chains of glucose molecules
48
Proteins (What are they made up of & their purpose)
Made up of long chains of amino acids -structural support, energy storage, internal transport, defense against foreign substances -enzymes -antibodies
49
Nucleic acids
Organic compounds found in all living cells. Long chains make DNA and RNA
50
Organic compounds found in all living cells. Long chains make DNA and RNA
Nucleic acids
51
DNA
genetic material organisms pass to their offspring
52
RNA
translates the code stored in DNA, which allows protein synthesis
53
translates the code stored in DNA, which allows protein synthesis
RNA
54
Lipids
Smaller molecules that dont mix with water Form a major part of the membrane that surrounds cells
55
Smaller molecules that dont mix with water Form a major part of the membrane that surrounds cells
Lipids
56
Joule
Basic unit of energy
57
Basic unit of energy
Joule
58
Energy vs power
Energy is the ability to do work/transfer heat while power is the rate at which work is done
59
Electromagnetic radiation
Energy emitted by the sun
60
Energy emitted by the sun
Electromagnetic radiation
61
What is electromagnetic radiation carried by
Photons
62
Photons
Massless particles of energy that travel at the speed of light and can move through the vacuum of space. Amount of energy it contains depends on its wavelength Long wavelength = low energy Sort wavelength = high energy
63
Massless particles of energy that travel at the speed of light and can move through the vacuum of space. Amount of energy it contains depends on its wavelength
Photons
64
Kinetic energy
Energy of motion
65
Energy of motion
Kinetic energy
66
Potential energy
Energy stored and not yet released
67
Energy stored and not yet released
Potential energy
68
Chemical energy
Energy stored in chemical bonds
69
Energy stored in chemical bonds
Chemical energy
70
All matter has ______
Energy
71
Temperature
Measure of average kinetic energy of a substance
72
Measure of average kinetic energy of a substance
Temperature
73
First law of thermodynamics
Energy is neither created nor destroyed but it can change from one form to another
74
Energy is neither created nor destroyed but it can change from one form to another
First law of thermodynamics
75
Second law of thermodynamics
When energy is transferred, the quantity of energy remains the same, but its ability to do work diminishes When one form of energy is transformed into another, some of that energy is converted into a less usable form of energy, such as heat
76
When energy is transferred, the quantity of energy remains the same, but its ability to do work diminishes
Second law of thermodynamics
77
Energy efficiency
Ratio of the amount of energy in the desired form to the total amount of energy that is introduced into the ecosystem
78
Ratio of the amount of energy in the desired form to the total amount of energy that is introduced into the ecosystem
Energy efficiency
79
Calculate the energy efficiency Coal to electricity power plant 35% Transmission 90% Compact fluorescent bulb 20%
0.35 x 0.90 x 0.20 = 0.06 6% efficient
80
Energy quality
The ease with which an energy source can be used
81
The ease with which an energy source can be used
Energy quality
82
Entropy
Randomness in a system (all systems move towards randomness rather than order unless new energy from outside the system is added to create order)
83
Randomness in a system
Entropy
84
Open system
Exchanges of matter or energy occur across system boundaries
85
Exchanges of matter or energy occur across system boundaries
Open system
86
Closed system
Matter and energy exchanges do not occur across system boundaries
87
Matter and energy exchanges do not occur across system boundaries
Closed system
88
Inputs
Additions to a given system
89
Additions to a given system
Inputs
90
Outputs
Losses from the system
91
Losses from the system
Outputs
92
System analysis
Determine inputs, outputs, and changes in a system under various conditions
93
Determine inputs, outputs, and changes in a system under various conditions
System analysis
94
Steady state
Inputs = outputs so that the system isnt changing over time
95
Inputs = outputs so that the system isnt changing over time
Steady state
96
Feedbacks
Adjustments in input rates caused by changes to a system
97
Adjustments in input rates caused by changes to a system
Feedbacks
98
Negative feedback loop
System responds to change by returning to its original state, or by decreasing the rate at which the change is occurring Resists changes
99
System responds to change by returning to its original state, or by decreasing the rate at which the change is occurring
Negative feedback loop
100
Positive feedback loop
A change in a system is amplified
101
A change in a system is amplified
Positive feedback loop

Enviro (8 decks)

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