Project Directions: Create a Google Document. Change the title to be "Environmental Chemistry - YOUR Name" . ALSO, put this title ON the document. USE a simple, normal font like Ariel AND
use only BLUE or BLACK lettering for the project.
A. Brainstorming : What are some environmental issues ?
1. Define "Environment." Make a list of some issues that you know about .
2. How would chemistry be connected to these issues?
Local Issues to Know:Slides
3. Use the web and add some information. Find some resources with information about the environment.
Record names of the resources and the web addresses on a Google Doc.
4. What are some jobs and companies related to the environment
5. Define "Environmental Chemistry".
6. A Pennsylvania Issue : What is "Hydraulic Fracturing"? What are some of the issues?
B. The Earth's Atmosphere:
1. What are the percentages of the gases in the Earth's atmosphere? Find the percentage for nitrogen , oxygen, carbon dioxide, helium, hydrogen, methane, and neon. List them in a data table.
2. Make a pie chart showing the percentages of gases in the Earth's atmosphere.
3. How does gas pressure change as altitude increases in the atmosphere?
4. Explain how the atmosphere is a solution. What is the solvent?
5. Watch the video. Why is it colder at higher altitudes ( or warmer at lower altitudes)?
6. Research and explain "Ozone Depletion." What is ozone, how does it protect life on Earth, what depletes it and how does the depletion occur?
Layers of the Atmosphere
Satellite Images showing the hole in the ozone over time.
C. Biochemical Cycles in Nature : Use the web to find information. Create a Google Doc with photos, information and videos.
1. The Water Cycle
a. Use the web and find a diagram of the Water cycle.
b. What is the source of the water for the lab sink at school? Where does the water go from the lab sink?
Find the specific locations that the water travels through to complete the cycle back to the lab sink. Hint: The Cacoosing Creek is one step of the journey. Use Google maps, Google Earth or other reseources to follow the journey.
c. What are some measurements of water quality? Where would water quality need to be checked?
d. Make a list of your water uses. List some other uses that other people might need.
e. What are some sources of water pollution?
f. Visit the web site and list the stream conditions from the USGS. USGS ( or Google USGS Tulpehocken Creek)
g. The Fish Kill Lab: Document
h. EPA DATA for Blue Marsh Lake: Document
2. The Carbon Cycle
a. Use the web and find a diagram of the Carbon cycle.
b. What is the connection of photosynthesis to the carbon cycle?
c. How is cellular respiration connected to the carbon cycle? ( What is the basic idea of cellular respiration?)
d. What is a "Carbon Foot-print"?
e. Where does carbon fixation occur? What does it mean?
f. How does the burning of fossil fuels add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere?
g. Watch the video and explain the green -house effect.
3. The Nitrogen Cycle
a. Use the web and find a diagram of the Nitrogen cycle.
b. What biological macromolecules have nitrogen atoms? Find a molecular image showing these molecules as a monomer and as a polymer.
c. How is Nitrogen gas converted to a solid nitrogen containing compound? What is nitrogen fixation? What organism ( living thing) does nitrogen fixation?
4. The Phosphorus Cycle
a. Use the web and find a diagram of the Phosphorus cycle.
b. What biological macromolecules have Phosphorus atoms? Find a molecular image showing these molecules as a monomer and as a polymer.
c. What is "weathering" of rock?
5. Be able to Define :
a. Biosphere
b. ecosystem
c. bacteria
d. fungus
6. Environmental Project: Make a Poster :
THIS is Submitted on Classroom as a separate assignment from the Inquiry
Choose an environmental topic for this list to make a poster :
Clean Water
Clean Air
Acid Rain
Threatened species
Recycling
Use the web to research your topic and collect information on a Google Document. List your sources of information.
Design a poster with at least one big image and title. Include other information is a smaller font supporting the main idea.
Label your poster with your name and class period clearly Written in the lower right corner. Scan your poster and submit it on Classroom with the Google Document. Your poster can be the size of printer paper , 8"x 11".
Put a big graphic and/or title to get attention.
Have key information listed for quick reading
Provide some detailed information for those who ae very interested in the topic.
Add a QR Code to send people to even more information on the web. ( Bonus pts., not required.)