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CHEM115 Environmental Chemistry

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TOPIC 9

WATER
CHEM115 Environmental Chemistry
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General Introduction
Every living organism needs water.

Chemical formula : H
2
O

It is the only chemical compound that
occurs naturally in all three physical states.


CHEM115 Environmental Chemistry
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It covers 70% of the earths surface.

Pure water is odorless, colorless and
tasteless.

Approximately 1.7% of the earths water is
permanently frozen in glaciers and at the
polar ice caps.
General Introduction
(contd)
CHEM115 Environmental Chemistry
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Example: Lambert Glacier

Source: http://www.visitandlearn.co.uk
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Source: http://www.aad.gov.au/
CHEM115 Environmental Chemistry
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Water boils at 100C under normal
atmospheric pressure.
What is the normal atmospheric pressure?

Water vapor or steam is invisible and formed
by vaporizing water.

The lower the pressure, the lower the
boiling point.
General Introduction
(contd)
CHEM115 Environmental Chemistry
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Importance
Metabolism
Photosynthesis
Lubrication
Transport of substances
Transport of heat
Support
Temperature control
Economic/ Daily activities
Give Examples
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TYPES of WATER
CHEM115 Environmental Chemistry
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Types of water


Surface Water
Groundwater
Precipitation
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Surface Water
2 groups - Standing or Running

Standing oceans, lakes, reservoirs
Running rivers, streams
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Oceans
Facts:
Average depth is 3660 meters
No sunlight penetrates below 1000 meters of
ocean depth
Current physico-chemical characteristics were
formed more than 1.5 billion years ago
Surface water of the oceans to a depth of 2.5
meters hold as much heat as the entire
atmosphere.
Rich source of food
The composition of oceans are almost the same
from one point to another point.

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Oceans (contd)
7 most abundant compounds in seawater:

Sodium chloride
Magnesium chloride
Magnesium sulfate
Calcium sulfate
Potassium chloride
Calcium carbonate
Potassium bromide
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Concentrations of natural dissolved substances
found in other surface water other than oceans are
extremely variable.

Contribute to 0.013% of the worlds total water
and supply 0.26% of freshwater.

Only a tiny portion of surface water appears as
running water.

Surface flow of streams from the land to the
oceans is known as run-off.



Other Surface Water
CHEM115 Environmental Chemistry
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Lake Baikal (largest lake in
terms of volume)

Source: http://www.greenpeace.org.uk
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Lake Tanganyika

Source: http://www.nsf.gov
CHEM115 Environmental Chemistry
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Groundwater
Fresh water stored in open spaces within
underground rocks.

It is formed by water percolation and water
infiltration.

Groundwater passes through the aeration
zone into saturation zone.
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Percolation rain that seeps into the ground

Infiltration from streams, lake and ponds

water table Top of saturation zone

When water table exceeds soil, lakes and streams
are formed. When water table occurs at soil
surface, swamp is formed.
Groundwater (contd)
CHEM115 Environmental Chemistry
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It is traditionally considered very pure.

Fresh groundwater contributes to 0.76% of
the worlds total water supply and around
30% of water supply.

Groundwater is vulnerable to chemical
pollution, such as nitrates leaching from
fertilizers. Explain.
Groundwater (contd)
CHEM115 Environmental Chemistry
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Aquifer
Water table
Effluent Stream
(Discharge zone)
Influent stream
Confining layer
Recharge mound
Precipitation
Cone of depression
Well
Recharge zone
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Interactions between
groundwater & Surface Water
Withdrawal of groundwater lower water table and
may change a perennial stream into an
intermittent stream.

Withdrawal/ diversion of surface water affects
groundwater replenishment and quality. It may
increase the chemical concentration in
groundwater.

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What are the environmental implications of
improper groundwater pumping?

Groundwater (contd)
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Source: http://www.museumca.org
CHEM115 Environmental Chemistry
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Land
subsidence
Source: http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/fs-103-03/images/fig6.JPG
CHEM115 Environmental Chemistry
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Precipitation
In the form of rain, dew, fog, hail and snow.

Plays an important part in hydrologic cycle.

There is no general composition for precipitation.

Insoluble solids such as wind-blown dust and sand
can be found in precipitation.
CHEM115 Environmental Chemistry
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The composition of rain in coastal regions is
dominated by the presence of sodium
chloride.

Its concentration decreases exponentially
with distance from the coast, leveling off at
about 100 km.
Precipitation (contd)
CHEM115 Environmental Chemistry
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Major soluble ions:
SO
4
2-
(sulfate) and NO
3
-

(nitrate)
H
+
-- from atmospheric acids
NH
4
+

--from ammonia neutralization of these
acids
K
+
(Potassium) and Ca
2+
(Calcium)

--
predominantly from wind-blown soil
Na
+
(Sodium), Mg
2+
(Magnesium), Cl
-

(Chloride)
Soluble ions in Precipitation
CHEM115 Environmental Chemistry
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Thank you

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