Chemical Sedimentology and Environmental Chemistry: A Textbook for Students and Researchers
Principles of Environmental Chemistry: A Guide for Students and Researchers
Environmental chemistry is the study of the chemical processes that influence the natural environment, including the atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, lithosphere and biosphere. It is an interdisciplinary field that involves the application of chemistry to understand and solve environmental problems, such as climate change, air and water pollution, soil contamination, hazardous waste disposal and biogeochemical cycling of chemicals.
Principles Of Environmental Chemistry books pdf file
This article provides an overview of the principles of environmental chemistry, based on some of the best books available on the topic. It covers the main topics and concepts that students and researchers need to know to master this field, such as:
The chemical composition and properties of the different environmental compartments
The sources, transformations and fate of natural and anthropogenic chemicals in the environment
The analytical methods and techniques for measuring and monitoring environmental chemicals
The environmental impact and risk assessment of chemicals on human health and ecosystems
The strategies and technologies for preventing and mitigating environmental pollution
The Chemistry of the Atmosphere
The atmosphere is the layer of gases that surrounds the Earth and protects it from harmful radiation from the Sun. It consists of several layers with different physical and chemical characteristics, such as temperature, pressure, density and composition. The most important layers for environmental chemistry are the troposphere and the stratosphere.
The troposphere is the lowest layer of the atmosphere, where most of the weather phenomena occur. It extends from the surface to about 10-15 km in altitude. The main components of the tropospheric air are nitrogen (78%), oxygen (21%), argon (0.9%) and carbon dioxide (0.04%). It also contains variable amounts of water vapor, ozone, methane, nitrous oxide and other trace gases. The troposphere is influenced by natural and human activities that emit various gases and particles into the air, such as volcanoes, wildfires, plants, animals, vehicles, industries and power plants. These emissions can undergo complex chemical reactions in the presence of sunlight and water vapor, leading to the formation of secondary pollutants, such as ozone, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds and particulate matter. These pollutants can have adverse effects on human health, climate and ecosystems.
The stratosphere is the second layer of the atmosphere, where most of the ozone layer is located. It extends from about 15 to 50 km in altitude. The main components of the stratospheric air are nitrogen (78%), oxygen (21%) and ozone (0.001%). Ozone is a molecule composed of three oxygen atoms that absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the Sun and protects life on Earth from its harmful effects. The stratosphere is influenced by natural and human activities that emit various gases into the air that can affect the ozone layer, such as volcanic eruptions, cosmic rays, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, methyl bromide and nitrous oxide. These emissions can react with ozone and break it down into oxygen atoms, leading to ozone depletion. This can have negative consequences for human health, climate and ecosystems.
The Chemistry of Freshwaters
Freshwaters are waters that have low salinity (
wetlands and groundwater. They are essential for life on Earth as they provide drinking water, irrigation water, hydroelectric power, transportation routes, recreation opportunities and habitats for many organisms.
The chemical composition and properties of freshwaters depend on various factors, such as geology, climate, hydrology, biota and human activities. The main components of freshwater are water molecules (H2O) and dissolved ions, such as calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), bicarbonate (HCO3-), sulfate (SO42-), chloride (Cl-) and nitrate (NO3-). The concentration of dissolved ions determines the hardness and alkalinity of freshwater. Freshwater also contains dissolved gases, such as oxygen (O2), carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen (N2), which affect the acidity (pH) and redox potential (Eh) of freshwater. The pH and Eh of freshwater influence the solubility and speciation of metals and other elements in freshwater. Freshwater also contains dissolved organic matter (DOM), which is derived from the decomposition of plants and animals. DOM can act as a source or sink of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, and can complex with metals and other elements in freshwater.
Freshwater is influenced by natural and human activities that introduce various chemicals into freshwater, such as nutrients, metals, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, hormones and pathogens. These chemicals can affect the quality of freshwater and pose risks to human health and ecosystems. Some of these chemicals can undergo biogeochemical transformations in freshwater, such as nitrification, denitrification, methylation and demethylation, which can alter their fate and toxicity in freshwater.
The Chemistry of the Oceans
The oceans are the largest reservoir of water on Earth, covering about 71% of the Earth's surface and containing about 97% of the Earth's water. They are also the largest reservoir of carbon on Earth, storing about 50 times more carbon than the atmosphere. The oceans play a vital role in regulating the global climate, biogeochemical cycles and biodiversity.
The chemical composition and properties of seawater depend on various factors, such as latitude, depth, salinity, temperature, pressure and biological activity. The main components of seawater are water molecules (H2O) and dissolved salts, mainly sodium chloride (NaCl). The salinity of seawater is the total amount of dissolved salts in seawater, expressed in grams per kilogram or parts per thousand. The average salinity of seawater is about 35 ppt, but it varies from 32 to 37 ppt depending on the location and season. Seawater also contains dissolved gases, such as oxygen (O2), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen (N2) and argon (Ar), which affect the acidity (pH) and redox potential (Eh) of seawater. The pH and Eh of seawater influence the solubility and speciation of metals and other elements in seawater. Seawater also contains dissolved organic matter (DOM), which is derived from the production and decomposition of marine organisms. DOM can act as a source or sink of nutrients
Conclusion
Environmental chemistry is a fascinating and important field that studies the chemical processes that affect the natural environment and human activities. It provides the knowledge and tools to understand and solve environmental problems, such as climate change, air and water pollution, soil contamination, hazardous waste disposal and biogeochemical cycling of chemicals.
This article has given an overview of the principles of environmental chemistry, based on some of the best books available on the topic. It has covered the main topics and concepts that students and researchers need to know to master this field, such as the chemistry of the atmosphere, freshwaters, oceans, soils and organic chemicals. It has also discussed the analytical methods and techniques for measuring and monitoring environmental chemicals, the environmental impact and risk assessment of chemicals on human health and ecosystems, and the strategies and technologies for preventing and mitigating environmental pollution.
If you are interested in learning more about environmental chemistry, you can download some of the books mentioned in this article as PDF files from the links provided below. You can also find more resources and information on environmental chemistry online or in your local library.
We hope you enjoyed reading this article and learned something new about environmental chemistry. Thank you for your attention.
Principles of Environmental Chemistry Books Gateway Royal Society of Chemistry
Principles of Environmental Chemistry - Google Books
Cambridge Environmental Chemistry Series
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