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Chemistry, Energy, and Ecosystems: Applying Science to Real-World Issues

Explore the importance of chemistry in environmental biology and learn about energy types, origin of life, and application of chemistry and biology to real-world issues. Dive into case studies on the Exxon Valdez oil spill and Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone. 8 Relevant

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Chemistry, Energy, and Ecosystems: Applying Science to Real-World Issues

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  1. Lecture 3 Environmental Systems: Chemistry, Energy, and Ecosystems

  2. What will I learn today? • Learn why chemistry is important in environmental biology • See chemistry applied to real-world situations • Learn the building blocks of living organisms • Understand the types of energy and the basis energy flow in the Universe • Distinguish the different ways of making and using energy. • Learn about the origin of life on Earth • What do we understand about early life

  3. Application of chemistry and biology to real world issues • Two great case studies…

  4. Exxon Valdez Case study 1

  5. Oil Tanker

  6. Disaster • On March 24, 1989 • Alaska’s Prince William Sound • Tanker Exxon Valdez struck a reef • Spilled 42 million L (11 million gal) of crude oil • This oil eventually coated 2,100 km (1,300 mi) of Alaskan coastline. • The largest oil spill in U.S. history • it killed an estimated • 100,000-400,000 seabirds, • 2,600-5,500 sea otters, • 200-300 harbor seals, and countless fish.

  7. Wild life was dying - The feathers of birds do not insulate when covered in oil. The birds were dying of hypothermia

  8. Clean up effort - classical • The cleanup crews corralled the oil with • booms • skimmed it from the water • soaked it up with absorbent materials • and dispersed it with chemicals. • They pressure-washed the beaches, removed contaminated sand with backhoes and tractors, • and even tried burning the oil. • It simply was too slow or not working

  9. Then TV crews say scientists spraying fertilizer!!!!!

  10. Clean up effort - Biological • Scientists tested a new cleanup strategy • One that enlisted nature to help take care of the mess. • They stimulated naturally occurring bacteria to biodegrade, or break down, the oil. • About 5% of the natural bacteria present on Alaskan beaches feed on chemical compounds called hydrocarbons that are produced by conifer trees. • Hydrocarbons from conifers are chemically similar to the hydrocarbons that make up crude oil, so scientists predicted that the microbes might also be able to degrade oil. • Scientists from the EPA and Exxon decided to put the bacteria to work in a process called bioremediation • DEF - the attempt to clean up pollution by enhancing natural processes of biodegradation by living organisms.

  11. Bioremediation • It worked on the test beaches • It was applied to all the areas suitable • Some say it helped… • Others say that it did little • In general it did aid in removing the oil • Now common for scientists and companies to offer a custom solution to a problem.

  12. Dead Zone Case study 2

  13. Gulf of Mexico • Each year in the spring and summer the ocean waters of the coast of Louisiana and troubled!!!

  14. http://www.smm.org/deadzone/ • Watch this flash interactive lesson.

  15. Bioremediation • Scientists have discovered that certain plants, bacteria, and animals have special systems that can be used • Consider…

  16. Plants used as filters • When soil is contaminated with heavy metals from mining, manufacturing, or other causes, the standard solution has been to dig up tons of soil and pile it into a hazardous waste dump. • As an alternative, scientists are developing methods of phytoremediation, using plants to detoxify contaminated soils.

  17. Toxic Selenium • Most heavy metals are toxic to plants, just as they are to wildlife and people. • But some plants can take up toxic elements and store them without harm. • The researchers concluded that the reed was most effective at removing selenium.

  18. Chemistry • Atoms and elements are chemical building blocks • Lets see how much we know?

  19. FACTS

  20. Each Group Take a minute and come up with a skit about how an atom is organized

  21. Each Group Take a minute and come up with a skit explaining what an isotope is.

  22. Isotopes

  23. Isotopes and radiodating

  24. Atoms bond to form molecules and compounds • Take a minute and come up with a skit explaining the difference between molecules and compounds

  25. The chemical structure of the water molecule facilitates life • Take a minute and come up with a list of features of water that make it very different from other compounds

  26. Water • Hydrogen bonding • Freezing point • Boiling point • Density • Specific heat capacity

  27. pH • Take a moment and come up with a good definition of what the pH scale measures and give good examples of each.

  28. Hydrogen ions determine pH

  29. Matter is composed of organic and inorganic compounds • What is organic and what is inorganic? • Carbon atoms (and hydrogen) = organic • Mix in some N, O, S, P • Inorganic molecules lack C-C bonds

  30. Macromolecules are building blocks of life • What is a macromolecule? • Very long! • Proteins • Carbohydrates • DNA & RNA

  31. We create synthetic polymers • Give examples of synthetic polymers? • What are some of the issues with these synthetic polymers?

  32. Organisms use cells to compartmentalize macromolecules • Isolation • Protection

  33. Hierarchy of order

  34. Energy Fundamentals

  35. Energy is always conserved . .

  36. . . . But energy changes in quality

  37. Light energy from the sun powers most living systems

  38. Photosynthesis produces food for plants and animals

  39. Cellular respiration releases chemical energy

  40. Geothermal energy also powers Earth’s systems

  41. The Origin of Life How life originated is one of the most centrally important, and intensely debated, questions in modern science.

  42. Early Earth was a very different place

  43. Early Earth was a very different place • Earth formed about 4.5 billion years ago • For several hundred million years Earth was hostile • UV light • Volcanic activity • Lava • Comets

  44. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain life’s origin • Three prominent theories follow… • Listen and see which one do you relate to most?

  45. Primordial soup: The heterotrophic hypothesis • life originated from a ‘primordial soup’ of simple inorganic chemicals dissolved in the ocean’s surface waters or tidal shallows. • Lab experiments have provided evidence that such a process can work. • 1953 Miller and Urey made simple organic molecules in a test tube!

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