Topic 4: Mixtures and Water Resources

Question 1

What do we call water that has unhealthy substances in it?

Answer 1

Polluted water

Question 2

True or False:
Polluted water is clean.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

What are pollutants?

Answer 3

Substances that do not belong in the water and that are harmful to us and the environment.

Question 4

What are the 3 main categories of pollutants found in water?

Answer 4

Soluble pollutants
Insoluble pollutants
Living organisms

Question 5

What are insoluble pollutants?
Give an example.

Answer 5

Things/substances that do not dissolve in water and makes it dirty.

Oil, garbage, toilet waste (sewage)

Question 6

What are soluble pollutants?
Give an example.

Answer 6

Substances that dissolve into the water and makes it dirty.

Soaps, fertilisers, toxins (insecticides and acids)

Question 7

Why are living organisms regarded as a pollutant?
Give an example of a living organism.

Answer 7

It can make humans and animals sick.

Bacteria

Question 8

Give one word for dirty water or chemicals that end up in rivers, lakes or the soil.

Answer 8

Effluent

Question 9

What category of pollutant will you be able to see with the naked eye?

Answer 9

Insoluble pollutants

Question 10

What is most often the reason for pollutants ending up in water?

Answer 10

People and their activities

Question 11

How do think insoluble pollutants end up in water?

Answer 11

Human activity like littering and oil leaks.

Question 12

How do you think bacteria which can cause disease (like diarrhea and cholera) end up in water?

Answer 12

Human activity like people excreting in rivers or improper waste management.

Question 13

How do you think oil ends up in the water, especially in the ocean?

Answer 13

When tankers transporting oil breaks and leaks oil into the water.

Question 14

What do all 3 categories of pollutants have in common?

Answer 14

They are all bad for the ecosystem and they are all caused by humans.

Question 15

Sewage runs into a river.
What is the pollutant and what category does it belong to?

Answer 15

The pollutant is the sewage.

The category is insoluble pollutants.

Question 16

There is a river with grass and weeds growing on the side. There is also a plastic bag floating in the river and a car tire lying on the river bank.
What is the pollutant and what category does it belong to?

Answer 16

The pollutant is the plastic bag and the car tire.

The category is insoluble pollutants.

Question 17

The beach has sand white as snow and as the waves break onto the shore, there is a think layer of black sludge it brings with it.
What is the pollutant and what category does it belong to?

Answer 17

The pollutant is the black sludge which is oil.

The category is insoluble pollutants.

Question 18

There is a river with a small waterfall. As the water splashes at the base of the waterfall, a lingering foam forms. Further down the river, there are a few dead fish floating in the water.
What is the pollutant and what category does it belong to?

Answer 18

The pollutant is probably a toxic chemical like soap.

The category is soluble pollutants.

Question 19

Wetlands act like a natural effective _________.

Answer 19

water treatment systems

Question 20

Water is purified in natural environments, called ______.

Answer 20

wetlands.

Question 21

An area is a wetland if it has 3 things.
Name them.

Answer 21

Swampy soil
Water-loving plants
A high water table

Question 22

What does it mean if the soil is swampy?

Answer 22

It means that the soil is full of water.

Question 23

What does it mean if the water table in an area is high?

Answer 23

It means that the water in the soil is close to the surface.

Question 24

What will happen if it rains in an area where the water table is very high?

Answer 24

The rain water will not drain away and will remain on the surface.

Question 25

How is a wetland formed?

Answer 25

When the water table in an area is very high and water on the surface cannot drain away.

Question 26

Name 3 examples of a wetland.

Answer 26

Swamps Flood plains Marshes Dams and pans Sprouts and springs River estuaries Riverbanks

Question 27

Why are wetlands so important?

Answer 27

1. They work like giant sponges. 2. They help slow floods. 3. They purify water naturally.

Question 28

True or False: Wetlands are always wet throughout the year.

Answer 28

False

Question 29

Name 3 types of wetlands,

Answer 29

A temporary wetland. A seasonal wetland. A permanent wetland.

Question 30

Wetlands are special places. Three unique characteristics make wetlands important. What are they?

Answer 30

1. They work like giant sponges. 2. They help slow floods. 3. They purify water naturally.

Question 31

How long is a temporary wetland wet for?

Answer 31

For between 1 and 4 months of the year.

Question 32

When would you classify a wetland as a seasonal wetland?

Answer 32

When it is wet during the rainy season.

Question 33

How long would a seasonal wetland be wet for?

Answer 33

This depends on the length of the rainy season, but between 5 and 11 months of the year.

Question 34

A permanent wetland is wet ___________.

Answer 34

throughout the year.

Question 35

How do wetlands act like giant sponges?

Answer 35

They absorb and store water.

Question 36

How does wetlands that act like giant sponges play an important role in the environment?

Answer 36

During a drought, the stored water helps to keep rivers and streams flowing. This ensures that plants and animals have enough water to survive.

Question 37

How do wetlands help slow floods?

Answer 37

They store and disperse large amounts of water which slows a flood and prevents damage to the environment and properties.

Question 38

How do wetlands purify water naturally?

Answer 38

As water passes through the wetland, the plants and soil trap dirty substances. This makes the water healthier and cleaner.

Question 39

Wetlands are also important because they provide a __________ to different plant and animal species. Wetlands are important because of their __________.

Answer 39

habitat biodiversity

Question 40

In South Africa, the most famous wetlands are the ____________ wetlands in __________.

Answer 40

St Lucia KwaZulu-Natal

Question 41

What does a habitat provide plant and animal species?

Answer 41

Food, water, shelter and safety.

Question 42

What is biodiversity?

Answer 42

The variety of plant and animal life in a specific area.

Question 43

Why is clean water so important?

Answer 43

It ensures the health of humans, animals and plants.

Question 44

There is a bird covered in oil at the beach. Answer the following questions: 1. How do you think the oil ended up in the water in which the bird lives? 2. Is oil a soluble or insoluble water pollutant? 3. How will the oil harm this bird and other sea creatures?

Answer 44

1. A leak from an oil tanker transporting the oil. 2. insoluble pollutant 3. It will be hard for the bird to perform the tasks it needs to stay alive, like eating, breathing and moving.

Question 45

List dangers that threaten wetlands.

Answer 45

Pollution Climate change Invasive (alien) plant and animal species Deforestation