Week 7 Assignment This homework assignment helps you to be able to: • Integrate

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Week 7 Assignment This homework assignment helps you to be able to: • Integrate knowledge of molecular interactions such as bonding and reactivity to understand biogeochemical cycles • Use knowledge of chemical interactions in nature to explain the consequences of human-made disruptions on biogeochemical cycles. • Describe how we can use chemical and physical principles to monitor and predict chemical migration, interactions, and reactions • Apply knowledge of chemical equilibrium, thermodynamics versus kinetics, functional groups, polarity, and chemical interactions and reactions to evaluate various situations • Apply chemical principles such as solubility and reaction potential to what occurs in our environment • Use the scientific method and quantitative reasoning to clearly articulate what occurs in our environment Answer each of the following questions concisely. Please do not cut and paste from any source. You are to use your own words to explain each of these questions. Be sure to clearly show all steps required in any calculations, including units used. Concise answers are highly encouraged. (1) Name two ways in which we have disrupted the natural carbon cycle. (5 points possible) a. Explain the type of disruption (dose makes the poison, changes in chemical equilibrium, and/or presence of non-biodegradable chemicals.) (10 points possible) b. Provide a general chemical reaction to explain the overall nature of each disruption, and provide at least one environmental consequence of one of the disruptions you have chosen to discuss. (15 points possible) (2) The general public often expects solutions to our environmental issues that have zero risk. Explain in less than 200 words whether this is possible, supporting your answer with a thoughtful discussion of what risk is and how to calculate risk. (10 points possible) (3) Name two different chemicals we have discussed or read about that we have added to the carbon cycle at levels that did not exist naturally. (10 points possible) a. Which functional group class does each chemical belong to? Explain. (10 points possible) b. How do the respective types of bonding and functional group classes of these molecules affect their reactivity? (10 points possible) c. What are the health and environmental effects of the two chemicals you choose to report on? Make sure to obtain your information from reliable sources such as your textbook and reference relevant sources. (10 points possible) d. Take one of the chemicals you choose to discuss and explain the properties of that chemical (such as water solubility, vapor pressure, etc.) that determines its migration in our environment. Search for the octanol/water solubility constant, provide that value and explain in a single sentence what this information tells us about that compound. (10 points possible) e. Name one green chemistry principle that could have the greatest potential to minimize the future impact of each of the two chemicals you discussed, explaining how each green chemistry principle can be applied specifically to each chemical. (10 points possible)

Explanation / Answer

Qs. Integrate knowledge of molecular interactions such as bonding and reactivity to understand biogeochemical cycles.

When two or more atoms are bonded together in a particular ratio, then a compound is formed. H20, carbon di-oxide, salts like NaCl, CaCO3, nitrogenous compounds all are examples of such compounds. Let us take the example of nitrogen cycle. Nitrogen from atmosphere combines in a fixed proportion with hydrogen with the help of nitrogen fixing bacteria to form ammonia (NH3). Other bacteria convert break the bond between nitrogen and hydrogen. And catalyze binding of reactive nitrogen spp. with oxygen to form nitrites and nitrates. Nitrogen is absorbed by plant roots in the form of nitrates and nitrites. Nitrate compounds have reactive groups, which combine with enzymes present in eukaryotes to form amino acids. Plants are consumed by other organisms. On death of plants and animals, decomposers convert amino acids back to ammonia and return it to soil.

So, bonding patterns constantly alter reactivity of nitrogenous compounds in nitrogen cycle.

Similarly different bonding patterns are responsible to alter activities in all bio-geochemical cycles.

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