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CH312

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47 views8 pages

CH312

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Tetz
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The University of the South Pacific FACULTY OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & ENVIRONMENT ‘Schoo! of Biological and Chemical Sciences DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY CH312 ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY FINAL EXAMINATION ~ SEMESTER 2, 2010 Time Allowed: 3 hours plus 10 minutes reading 100 marks INSTRUCTIONS 1, Bach question is worth 20 marks, 2. Answer all the FOUR questions in Section A and select any ONE. ‘question from Section B, SECTION A ANSWER ALL FOUR QUESTIONS IN THIS SECTION. QUESTION 1 (@) The ice core studics (eg, at Vostok, Anturctica and Greenland) have ensbled scientists to understand the typ of environment that existed thousands of years before present. Explain briefly what is involved in these studies. What sors of findings were made for carbon dioxide and temperature trends? (6 marks) (©) Metal poisoning is common among children who have been exposed to relatively high concentrations of toxic metals eg, Pb. Discus the principle behind the treatment of metal poisoning including the compounds used (Smarts) (©) Discuss the dual role of ozone asa greeahouse gus and asa filter fr the sun's ‘harmful radiation, Indicate the negative and positive aspects ofthese roles. (S marks) (@) Acid precipitation consiss of dry and wet deposition of acids or aciic compounds on the surface of the earth, in lakes or streams, of on object oF vegetation near the earth’ surface, asa result of their separation from the stunosphere Diseuss the origins ofthe problem and the kind of harmfl impact it has on the envionment Indieate some ways of reducing the problem. (Smaris) QUESTION? (@) Assume that after graduation you are employed in an atmospheric resewch laboratory. AS an atmospheric chemist what problems you may encounter in studying atmospheric chemistry? @ marks) (©) Luminescence and chemiluminescence are the reaction processes that our {allowing absorption ofa photon of light to produce an electronically excted species?” Explain with suitable examples the terms luminescence end chemiluminescence reactions (4marks) (©) The diagram below shows the variation of air temperature with aliude, I decreases to about -60°C at 18 km from the earths surface an then increases to about -2°C at distance of 50 km. The temperature drops wo -100°C at a hegit oF 85 lam and then increases with inereasing altitude, What phenomenos is responsible for temperature maximum a the stratopause which i the boundary between the stratosphere andthe mesosphers? a a pe nude co) of \ Mecompiare Seatephae 1 269204900 Temes (@ marks) (® Ionosphere, & pat of thermosphere contains electrically charged gas parses Gonized) and transmits radio waves overlong distances. What makes possible the transmission of radio waves over much longer distances during night ime? (2 marks) (©) DDT (pare-dichlordiphenyltrchlooethane) isan effective pesticide but due to ‘environmental earon it has been banned in most ofthe countries, This pesticide is fatal to fish fingerlings ata level of 0.040 ppm in water. A leaking metal can containing 4.00 kg of the DDT was dunped into a stream with alow of 10 liters per second, moving a km per hour. The container leaks pesticide at a consant rate of 4.0 mg) second, For what distance downsieam (in km) isthe water contaminated by fatal levels of the pesticide by the time the containers empty. (maria) (9 A.quantity of merery-chiorine compound is included in a shipment of waste a toxte waste disposal dump, operated by a City Couneil. Before it ean be disposed properly, the City Counell wants to know whether the compound is HgCls of High, or some other compound. [Moy = 35.5, Meg = 2006] (They send a sample of it for analysis and find thet it contains 26.1% chlrine bby mass, What isthe formula of the compound? (mais) (ii) Why isi important wo consider analyzing mercury as He or Has", when total mercury metal levels can be more easly detenmined!? (marks) QUESTION3 (@) _Sesquiterpene suchas E-f-tamesene is sometimes referred wo 8 non-methane hydrocarbon of biogenic origin, (State the main biogenic sources of sesquiterpene and discus its plausible le. (i) Explain its fate in the environment, paying. paricular attention 10 its conversion to other organi compounds in he troposphere (4 marks) (©) Explain wit the use of chemical equation the formation of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) such a8 3-nitobenzanthrone on combustion of petol in an automobile engine. Discuss the significance of 3-nitroberzanthrone in the coe oO (4 marks) (©) The production of chlorofuorocarbons (CFCS), along with other chlorine- and bromtine-consining compounds has now been pated out dic to their significant role in the destruction of ozone in the stratosphre. (Did the level of ozone depletion in the stratosphere decrease or increase following the ban on the use of CPC's in the early 1980'S? Justify your argument, (marks) (i) What typeof chemicals are used as replacement for CFC’s and discuss what suvantage these chemicals have over CPC's? G marks) ai ‘Sarin is an example of chemical weapon. What would be the most likely route of exposure and explain its mode of action in humans. 9 octet, fk cris F 6 marks) (©) Show by means of equations how mercury is converted to methyl mercury inthe environment (Sediments) and explain why the organic form of mercury is more toxic than it salt form Hg"), (4 marks) (QUESTION 4 (©) Box models are the simplest ofall she ther models. Sketch ¢ box model for mosphere chemistry and write various processes that can oecur within the bo, ‘What are the limitations ofthe box model? (4 marks) (©) Ocean models serve asa valuable parameter to atmospheric models in analyzing the behaviour of the planet in its present condition and under a variety of persrbatios, Explain how oceans influence the atmospheric changes. Disiss some of the difficulis in developing models that can teat both ocean and mosphere. (@ marks) (©) What is meant by the tem climate fedback? Explain the diference between 3 negative and a positive feedback? Briefly discuss cloud radiation and ice albedo feedbacks (marks) (0) List various types of solid waste. Explain why prevention and minimization of| ‘wast is important (4 marks) (©) Explain the following (©) Bovironmental impact assessment (i) Earth's enerpy budget (GijElarian and Lagrangian box models (marks) SECTION B ANSWER ONE QUESTION ONLY FROM THIS SECTION. QUESTIONS (®) Explain how the Greenhouse Effet, Global Warming and Sea-Level Rise are Tink. (Saris) (©) Soil is formed through weathering, a process of breakdown of rock materials hy some combination of physical, chemical or biological activity. Discuss any Wo chemical proceses with appropriate reactions. (@ marks) (©) How do the humie substances formed during the decomporiton of vegetation, influence the soil properties to a large extent despite is low proportion in soi, (@ marks) (One cannot dispute the positive impact that polyvinyl chloride (PVC) has in improving our standard of living. However, production and disposal of FVC products is critical and. presents a major challenge to safeguarding our environment. Explain, (S marks) (©) Write the characteristics of houschold hazardous wastes. Briefly explain the dangers this waste poses to the environment and humans. Briefly discuss proper handling and disposal echniqus for this type of waste (S marks) QUESTION 6 @ o oxen) From the ozone measurement using blloobomne ozonesondes cared ox at USP, in was observed that atthe ground level Belo the balloon was lasek, ozone concentration was 0.034 ppm, the temperate was 26.2 °C and pestis eas 100.28 kPa (1 sn ~ 101.328 kPa, [R= 082 atm dm? mol 1. What wll be the equivalence of this concentration in molecules Oper en? of i? Show ll neces calitions marks) The diagram below shows the effect of soil moistre on the diffusion coefficient () of 3 contrasting pesticides, the fumigant ethylene dibromide and ‘organophosphorous inseciides(imethoate and disulfoton). Porosity (Vol. % for EDB) S ST Disulfoten S S Volumetric moisture content (%) Use the additonal information given below to explain the relative diffixion coefficient values ofthe tre pesticides at any particular moisture content andthe fect of changing moisture onthe diffusion coeficent of each pesticide. Pesticide ‘Vapor pressure (am Hg) Solubiiy Gugia hylene dibromide [1.1 x 10 434107 Dimethoat Ex x10 Disulfoton Lex io" Sx 10! Diffsiog in vapor phase: D-10 em’, Diffusion in solution phase: D-Sxi0°emis Order of adsorption wo sol panicles: Dimethoate

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