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Introduction to Environmental Chemistry

Last updated date: 11th Jan 2023 • Total views: 279k • Views today: 27.90k

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Environmental Chemistry is different from Green Chemistry. While Green chemistry aims to reduce potential pollution at its source by
chemically engineering products that minimize such pollution, Environmental Chemistry is simply the study of biochemical and chemical
phenomena that occur in the environment. 

In this article, you will be acquainted with the Environmental Chemistry branch of Science. You will also understand the various types of
pollution that occur in our environment. You will be familiarised with different kinds of pollutants that pollute our surroundings. The article
also enlists different real-time effects of pollution on our environment including acid rain, greenhouse effect, and global warming.
Furthermore, tips will be provided to help minimize such pollution and to provide a purer and more sustainable environment to the next
generations.

What is Environmental Chemistry? 

Environmental chemistry is a branch of chemistry that deals with the study of various chemical and biochemical processes that occur in
the environment. In environmental chemistry, we also study the effect of human activities on the environment. 

Environmental Pollution 
When physical and biological components of the environment get contaminated up to such an extent that they start affecting the natural
environmental processes and composition adversely, then this condition is called environmental pollution. 

The substances which cause pollution are called pollutants. 

Pollutants cannot be degraded by natural processes and remain in the environment for a long time and unbalance the composition of the
environment which causes adverse effects on its natural processes. In the end, when these natural environmental processes get adversely
affected, then they impose adverse effects on human beings as well. The irony is these pollutants originate from various human activities
such as overuse of plastic bags, over emission of carbon dioxide through factories and power plants, etc. 

Atmospheric Pollution 
The envelope of gases that surrounds the earth is called its atmosphere. 

Earth’s atmosphere does not have the same composition in all regions. Its thickness and density vary at all heights. It has been divided into
various layers and different gases are found in different layers. 

Various physical and chemical processes add various harmful gases and unbalance the composition of air. This causes atmospheric
pollution. 

The atmosphere has been divided into the following six layers –

Troposphere 

Stratosphere 

Mesosphere 

Thermosphere 
 Ionosphere 

Exosphere 
The troposphere starts at the surface of the earth and extends up to 14.5 km height from sea level. Thus, it is the lowest region of the
atmosphere where living organisms and human beings live. Above the troposphere, the stratosphere starts. It ranges between 10 – 50 km
from sea level. 

Following Major, Pollutants are Found in the Troposphere –

Type of
Name of Pollutants  Sources 
Pollutant 

Oxides of Sulphur – ,  , etc. 

Oxides of nitrogen – , , etc. 

Factories, power plants,
Gaseous
Hydrocarbons – , coke, other petroleum pesticides,insecticides,mismanagement
Air
of waste materials, cars, buses, trucks,
Pollutants  products, etc. (they form pollutants due to oil refineries, industrial waste, etc. 
their incomplete combustion) 

Oxides of carbon- (Greenhouse gas),

CO 

Smoke – combustion of organic matter,

burning of fossil fuel, dry leaves, garbage, etc. 

Dust – crushing and grinding of solid

materials, extraction of metals, etc.  Methods of extraction of metals,
Particulate cigarettes, some agricultural techniques
Pollutants  Mists – sulfuric acid mist, the spray of such as threshing, a spray of herbicides,
herbicides and insecticides, etc.  pesticides, insecticides, etc.   
Fumes – sublimation, boiling, a distillation of
organic solvents and metals from fume
particles. 

Global Warming and Greenhouse Effect 

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Almost 75% of the heat energy from the Sun reaching the earth can be absorbed by the surface of the earth. The rest of the solar radiation
or heat energy radiates back to the atmosphere. This absorbed heat energy increases the temperature of the earth. The heat radiations
which are going back to the atmosphere get trapped by the carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, CFC compounds, etc. Thus, this heat increases
the temperature of the atmosphere. If the amount of these gases increases in the atmosphere, then more heat gets absorbed by these
gases and the atmosphere becomes hotter. This is called global warming. This happens exactly like the greenhouse effect. In colder places,
plants are grown in a greenhouse in which solar radiation can enter the glass walls but the heat radiations from the greenhouse cannot go
back. Thus, the heat gets trapped in the greenhouse and plants get enough solar heat to grow. But the greenhouse effect on the earth’s
surface causes global warming which is harmful to us and the environment. 

Industrial waste, burning fossil fuels, etc. activities of human beings are increasing the concentration of greenhouse gases such as CO2,
ozone, CFCs, etc. in the environment. It is a point of concern as due to the increasing amount of greenhouse gases global warming is also
increasing which is increasing the temperature of the earth. 

The Ozone Hole – Depletion of the ozone layer over the south pole is commonly known as the ozone hole. The increasing concentration of
chlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere are the main cause behind ozone layer depletion. Ozone layers filter the UV radiation. Ozone layer
depletion causes UV radiations to enter the earth’s atmosphere. UV radiations cause skin cancer, kill phytoplanktons, damage fish
productivity, etc. 

Acid Rain - In simple words, if rainwater has a pH lower than 5.7 then it is called acid rain. According to EPA (Environmental Protection
Agency), acid rain is a broad term that includes any form of precipitation with acidic components (nitric acid, sulfuric acid, etc.) that fall to
the ground. It can be in the form of wet or dry forms. It includes rain, fog, hail, or even dust that is acidic.
Chemistry Behind Acid Rain 
Industries, vehicles, etc. emit gases such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, etc. which are transported by wind and air currents and react

with rainwater. When sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides ( ,  ) react with water, form acids (such as sulfuric acid, nitric acid, etc.).

Other than sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere also contributes to acid rain. 

Reactions involved in the formation of acid rain can be written as follows –

Rainwater has a pH of 5.7 which is slightly acidic because of carbonic acid formed by the reaction of carbon dioxide with water, present in
it. It doesn’t lower the pH of water much as carbonic acid is a weak acid. But when sulfuric acid and nitric acid get merged with rainwater,
they lower the pH of rainwater below 5.7 as these both are strong acids. 

Causes of Acid Rain 

All those mediums, instruments, or reactions which emit gases such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, etc. are indirect causes of acid rain.
Here we are listing a few causes of acid rain –

Natural Causes- Forest fires, volcanic eruptions, etc. release some chemicals which cause acid rain. Although these natural incidents
cause only 1% of the total amount of acid rains. A major part of acid rain is caused by human activities only. 

Industries- Steel industry, cement manufacturing industry, etc. emit sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides in large quantities which causes
acid rain. 

Coal-Based Power Plants- Coal-based power plants emit many gases which cause air pollution and acid rain. 

Burning of Fossil Fuels- Fuels that are produced by the anaerobic decomposition of dead organisms are called fossil fuels. The
burning of fossil fuels such as coal, petrol, etc. emits many gases which cause air pollution and air pollution is the main cause of acid
rain.

Petrol and Diesel-Based Vehicles- Petrol and diesel on burning produce a large amount of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and
nitrogen oxides which cause air pollution and acid rain. 

Effects of Acid Rain 

Acid rain mainly affects our ecosystem, health, materials such as marble, visibility, etc. We can list the effects of acid rain by following
points –

Effect of Acid Rain on Our Ecosystem- The ecosystem is a community made by the interaction between living organisms and their
physical environment. All living and non-living materials are interlinked. If one part of it gets affected, then another part also gets the
harmful effects of it. Due to acid rain organisms which live in the pond, sea, etc. get affected at a large level. If the pH level goes
below 5.7 then frogs, fishes, snails, clams, trout, etc. die. 
 Acid rainwater releases aluminum from soil which goes into lakes, seas, and ponds. Thus, more acid rain causes high amounts of
aluminum in water bodies while most of the plants and animals can tolerate a moderate amount of aluminum. So, many plants and
animals die due to this. 

Effect of Acid Rain on Human Health- Human health gets adversely affected by acid rain. Human beings are also a part of the
ecosystem. Acid rain causes an imbalance in the ecosystem by affecting its many factors. It can cause lung diseases, hair fall, liver
diseases, etc. 

Effects of Acid Rain on the Material- Acid rain affects the materials such as marble, cement buildings, etc. Strong acids present in
acid rain react with calcium carbonate and other materials which cause damage on their surface. They get faint and deteriorate
faster. 

Less Visibility- Gases such as sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, etc. cause fog, smog in the atmosphere which causes less visibility. 

Effect of Acid Rain on Plants, Trees, and Forests- Acid rain adversely affects forests, plants, and trees. They die due to high amounts
of aluminium in the soil or acid in the water. Their roots get dry completely and ultimately the plant or tree dies. 

Effect of Acid Rain on Monuments (Real-Life Examples)

Taj Mahal – Taj Mahal is largely affected by acid rain. Sulphuric acid reacts with marble or calcium carbonate and forms calcium
sulfate. Which cause corrosion. Thus, the white colour of the marble gets brownish. The reaction can be written as follows –

Statue of Liberty – It is made up of copper. It is becoming green in colour due to the reaction with acid present in acid rain. The
reaction can be written as follows –

Prevention of Acid Rain 

Following measures should be taken for prevention of acid rain –

Air pollution should be reduced. 

The emission of air polluting gases such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, etc. should be reduced or stopped. 

Electric vehicles should be used in place of fossil fuel-based vehicles. 

Industries must use different ways to prevent the emission of air polluting gases. 

The burning of fossil fuels should be minimized. 

Water Pollution 
Contamination of water bodies due to various human activities such as industrial waste, mining activities, sewage wastewater, etc. is called
water pollution. 

Soil Pollution 
Contamination of soil due to agricultural waste, insecticides, detergent industries, chemical industries, etc. is called soil pollution. 

Industrial Waste 
Industrial waste is the main cause of environmental pollution. Industries generate solid, liquid, and gaseous waste materials. The industrial
waste can be of two types biodegradable and non – biodegradable. Non - biodegradable industrial waste generally remains in the
environment for a long time. It is generated mainly by thermal power plants. 

Industrial waste must be managed effectively to reduce air, soil, and water pollution. Effective management of industrial waste can reduce
the pollution caused by industrial waste by 70%. Thus, the management of industrial waste is of utmost importance. Large parts of the
industrial waste can also be recycled and reused. 

Strategies to Control Environmental Pollution 

Following strategies can be helpful to control environmental pollution –

General awareness regarding environmental pollution is a must as it will make people aware that their activities are causing harm to
the environment and mankind. 

An effective and well-managed waste management system is required to deal with solid, liquid, and gaseous waste. 

Proper collection and disposal should be done of domestic dry and wet waste. 

Methods of 3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle) should be used. 

Green Chemistry 

Overuse of fertilizers, weedicides, etc. for a long time causes damage to the soil. Overexploitation of the soil makes it infertile. This problem
gave birth to green chemistry as a solution. Green chemistry is a way of thinking and is about utilizing the existing knowledge and principles
of chemistry and other sciences to reduce the adverse impact on the environment. Green chemistry is a production process that would
bring about minimum pollution or deterioration to the environment.  

This ends our coverage on the summary of the unit “Environmental Chemistry”. We hope you enjoyed learning and were able to grasp the
concepts. You can get separate articles as well on various subtopics of this unit such as soil pollution, water pollution, etc. on the Vedantu
website. We hope after reading this article you will be able to solve problems based on the topic. We have already provided detailed study
notes or revision notes for this unit, which you can easily download by registering yourself on the Vedantu website. Here in this article, we
have discussed the unit in a summarized way with an emphasis on important topics of the unit.  If you are looking for solutions to NCERT
Textbook problems based on this topic, then log on to the Vedantu website or download Vedantu Learning App. By doing so, you will be
able to access free PDFs of NCERT Solutions as well as Revision notes, Mock Tests, and much more.
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FAQs on Environmental Chemistry

1. How is Green Chemistry useful for the Environment?
Green Chemistry is an important branch of science that is developing at a good rate. Green Chemistry is the requirement of the hour. It is a branch of chemical
engineering that works to design products that reduce pollutants right at the source of their origin. It works to reduce waste and provide ways to produce less hazardous
chemical synthesis. It performs real-time analysis to prevent pollution. Another major benefit of this science is that it aims to design products to utilize energy efficiently
keeping the environmental and economic impacts in mind.

2. How can I thoroughly study the unit of Environmental chemistry provided in the NCERT textbook?

3. How can Industrial Waste be reduced?

4. What are some Applications of Environmental Chemistry in real life?

5. In what Professions is Environmental Chemistry used?

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