CH312: Environmental Chemistry

FSTE
School of Biological & Chemical Sciences

Final Examination

Semester 2 2015

Blended Mode (Face to Face/Online)

Duration of Exam: 3 hours + 10 minutes

Reading Time: 10 minutes
Writing Time: 3 hours

Instructions:
1. Answer FIVE questions in total (all three questions from Section A plus any two from
the three given in Section B).
2. Each question is worth 20 marks.
3. This exam is worth 50% of your overall mark. The minimum final exam pass mark is
40/100.
4. This is a close book exam and there are nine (9) pages altogether.
5. The use of scientific calculators is permitted during the exam.
6. A copy of the Periodic Table is also provided.
SECTION A

ANSWER ALL THREE QUESTIONS IN THIS SECTION.

QUESTION 1

(a) The figure below shows the 800,000 years climate record and atmospheric CO 2
profile extracted from the European Project in Ice Coring in Antarctica (EPICA) Dome
C ice core from Antarctica.

Comment on two important lessons learnt from this ice core record.

(3 marks)

(b) Hydroxyl radical (OH•) is the most common oxidant in the atmosphere, which
determines the residence time or atmospheric lifetimes of other pollutants in the
atmosphere.

i. Write the equation for the hydroxyl radical formation.

(2 marks)

2
 ii. Tropospheric ozone is the key ingredient influencing the oxidising capacity of
the atmosphere. Explain how tropospheric ozone is formed.
(2 marks)

iii. List two dominant sinks for the hydroxyl radical.

(1 mark)

(c) Air pollution is an increasing environmental concern since it affects human health.
List two air pollutants in the atmosphere and discuss how it impacts human health.
(3 marks)

(d) Acid rain is another environmental phenomenon which is very common in polluted
areas, whereby emissions of certain air pollutants into atmosphere reacts to form
acids which lower the pH of the rain.

i. Name two primary pollutants responsible for the formation of acid rain.
(1 mark)

ii. List two environmental impacts of acid rain.

(2 marks)

iii. Discuss two ways in which humans can control the problem of acid rain.

(3 marks)

(e) Soil humus is the most significant organic matter and is comprised of humic acid and
fulvic acid. Explain how humus influences soil properties.

(3 marks)

QUESTION 2
(a) Explain what the hydrological cycle is, the driving force behind it and its role in the
environment.
(3 marks)

(b) Under ‘stratification of water bodies’ you studied how layers form and the factors
that influence them.
i. Sketch a well-labelled diagram that demonstrates thermal stratification in a
water body.
(3 marks)

3
 ii. The compounds of N, C, S, Fe and Mn that are present at the epilimnion and
hypolimnion are in different forms depending on the prevailing environmental
conditions. Explain in what forms would S be found at the two regions of the
water body.
(2 marks)

(c) An organic-bound metal can be represented by ML in the following generalized

equation in a water body: ML + 2H+ M+2 + H2L
i. Explain the effect of low pH on the above reaction.
ii. What consequence would this have on the environment?
(2 marks)

(d) Calculate the concentration (in mg/L) of oxygen in surface lake water that is in
contact with the atmosphere given the partial pressure of water to be 0.0315
atmospheres and Henry’s constant as 773 atm L mol-1 at 25oC. Note that oxygen
comprises around 21% of the atmospheric gases.
(3 marks)

(e) Organic compounds in water bodies including waste water are not that easy to
determine directly but their concentration can be expressed in terms of the oxygen
used to oxidize them. This can be achieved by using biochemical oxygen demand
(BOD) or chemical oxygen demand (COD) methods.
Explain the two methods. Which one will always be higher and explain the reason
for this.
(3 marks)

(f) The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty that sets binding obligations for the
developed countries to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. One of the
mechanisms that it uses in its attempt to achieve this is the Clean Development
Mechanism (CDM).
Explain what CDM is about and give two examples that have been implemented in
Fiji.
(4 marks)

QUESTION 3
(a) A 10 g soil sample is leached with 150 cm3 of ammonium acetate to displace all the
exchangeable Ca, Mg, Na and K in the soil. The leachate sample was analysed on
AAS and the following data were obtained:

Ca 10 mg dm-3 (diluted 10x)

Mg 5 mg dm-3 (diluted 10x)

Na 20 mg dm-3

4
 K 20 mg dm-3

i. Using the results above, calculate the Total Exchangeable Base (TEB) for the
soil (in meq /100g).
(6 marks)

ii. Suppose if the CEC of this soil sample was calculated to be 20 meq/100g,
calculate the % base saturation and % hydrogen saturation. Comment on the
soil fertility and soil pH.
(4 marks)

(b) Provide three examples of organometallic compounds. Then select one and discuss
in detail its beneficial aspects to humans as well as its harmful impacts.
(4 marks)

(c) With reference to dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), discuss how pesticides

remain persistent and bioaccumulate in the environment.
(3 marks)

(d) While chemical weapons are no longer in production, huge stockpiles of these
extremely hazardous substances exist in countries that produced them. Discuss the
real environmental challenges associated with the management and safe disposal of
these weapons.
(3 marks)

SECTION B

ANSWER ANY TWO QUESTIONS IN THIS SECTION.

QUESTION 4

(a) Smog reduces the visibility of the atmosphere and there are two types of smog LA
smog and London smog.

i. Distinguish between London smog and LA smog.

(3 marks)

ii. Explain the diurnal variation of photochemical smog formation illustrated in

the diagram below. Discuss in terms of increasing concentrations of non-

5
 methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs), its role in the production of PAN and how
PAN influences ozone production. Use relevant equations in your discussion

(5 marks)

(b) Aerosols have a negative radiative forcing, they cause cooling. They can cause cooling
either directly by backscattering light or indirectly when they act as cloud
condensation nuclei. Explain the role of phytoplankton in regulating the climate and
state why this pathway is a negative feedback mechanism.

(5 marks)

(c) Explain how stratospheric ozone is formed (name the reaction and give equations)
and state why same mechanism cannot be used to produce tropospheric ozone.
(3 marks)

(d) CFCs undergo photo-dissociation in stratosphere to produce Cl• to catalyse ozone

destruction using the CLOx cycle. Although CFCs are released into the atmosphere
throughout the year explain why ozone hole occurs only during early spring over
Antarctica.
(4 marks)

QUESTION 5

(a) When considering pesticide affinity for organic matter and lipids, the parameter K ow
is normally taken into account. Explain what Kow represents and how it can be used.
(3 marks)

6
 (b) Give a brief description of how the organophosphorus insecticides (e.g., malathion)
function.
(2 marks)

(c) Discuss how solar energy has been harnessed by humans in the form of
hydroelectric power and wind power.
(6 marks)

(d) Coal, oil and natural gas are the three major forms of fossil fuels that have been
used by mankind.
i. Fossil fuels are renewable.
ii. Fossil fuels are non-renewable.
Select the statement that you consider correct and give reasons for your choice.
(3 marks)

(e) Most of the development activities that generate foreign earnings for the economy
of Pacific countries are heavily dependent upon the exploitation and utilization of
natural resources such as minerals, timber, fisheries, etc. For many years, economic
development activities in many of these countries have not integrated
environmental considerations. As a result of the accelerated pace of development
and level of exploitation of their natural resources, the countries witness significant
natural resources depletion resulting in environmental pollution, degradation and
damage.
Discuss how an EIA process can contribute to better management of the above
problems.
(3 marks)

(f) Waste recycling involves the return of materials to the manufacturers where they
can be broken down and reincorporated into new products. Discuss some benefits
of the recycling process.
(3 marks)

QUESTION 6

(a) In climate change assessment reports two terms that are commonly used to express
the radiative properties of the gases are Global Warming Potential (GWP) and
Radiative Forcings.
i. Explain the term GWP and why the GWP of methane is 21.
(3 marks)

ii. Which of the following molecules will have a higher radiative forcing, CO2 or
CH4? Explain your answer.

7
 (2 marks)

(b) Discuss the impacts of global warming or climate change in the South Pacific region
and how we can adapt to climate change to become less vulnerable and more
resilient to the impacts of climate change.
(5 marks)

(c) Pollution monitoring is carried by many governments and environmental agencies.

Give three reasons why this needs to be done?
(3 marks)

(d) The stages of chemical analysis can be summarized as:

Samplingsample treatment/preparationanalysisdata
calculation/interpretation
Describe the experiment you did on the determination of Pb in roadside dust
under the following sub-headings: sample (standards) treatment/preparation;
analysis; data calculation/interpretation.
(5 marks)

(e) Discuss at least two types of environmental pollution that you have witnessed in
your country. Name the pollution type and the effect it causes on humans and/or
plants and animals.
(2 marks)

End

8
9