Environmental chemistry is the branch of science that deals with the scientific study of the chemical and biochemical phenomena occurring in the surroundings. It is an interdisciplinary study dealing with air, water, soil, forest, etc. It also deals with the effect of human activities on the surroundings.
Environmental chemistry also incorporates the parts of inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, and analytical chemistry.
Water
Water is an essential natural resource composed of hydrogen and oxygen. It covers 71% of the earth’s surface. The oceans contain 96.5% of the total water. Groundwater and glaciers occupy 1.7% of total water, whereas air has 0.001% of total water suspended as vapour, cloud, and precipitate.
Properties of Water
- It is colourless, odourless, and tasteless.
- It has a high melting and boiling point.
- It has high thermal conductivity, specific heat, dipole moment, and surface tension.
- It is an excellent solvent and has a high latent heat of vapourisation.
Water is vital for the existence of life on earth. We use it for drinking, bathing, washing, cleaning, irrigation, cooking, and other household and industrial services. To learn more about water, read water questions. It will enable you to review the topic and clear all your doubts.
Air
Air is the mixture of gases constituting the earth’s atmosphere. The atmosphere contains 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% other gases and water vapour. The composition of gases does not change as we move at high altitudes. However, the moisture content may vary. Wetlands have more moisture content than the arid region.
Properties of Air
- It is colourless and odourless.
- It occupies space and has mass.
- It experiences a gravitational pull and thus has a high density at the surface.
- It exerts expansion property.
Soil
Soil is the primary element of the earth’s ecosystem. It is a blend of organic matter, liquids, gases, minerals, and organisms that jointly sustain life. It contains 5% organic matter, 45% minerals, and 50% pores occupied by water or gas and is a product of various physical, chemical, and biological processes.
Forest
We are dependent on the forests for our survival. A forest is a land area sufficed by trees. The forest covers approximately 30% of the earth’s surface, but it is decreasing rapidly due to commercialisation. It provides us with the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the wood we use. Besides, it prevents soil erosion, mitigates climate change, and is home to many wild animals.
Effect of Human Activity on the Environment
Pollution, deforestation, fossil fuel burning, urbanisation, and overpopulation have affected the environment to a great extent. It has triggered modifications like climate change, global warming, poor air quality, habitat fragmentation, mass extinction, soil erosion, ozone layer depletion, and undrinkable water.
The environment consists of the biotic and abiotic components that an organism interacts with or has an effect on it. Studying the environment means learning the relationships among these various things. Students can read the environmental question to understand the topic in-depth.
