An Introduction to Environmental Chemistry

by Andrews, Julian E.; Brimblecombe, Peter; Jickells, Tim D.; Liss, Peter S.; Reid, Brian

• ISBN13: 9780632059058
• ISBN10: 0632059052
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-12-19
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Summary

This introductory text explains the fundamentals of the chemistry of the natural environment and the effects of mankind's activities on the earth's chemical systems. Retains an emphasis on describing how natural geochemical processes operate over a variety of scales in time and space, and how the effects of human perturbation can be measured. Topics range from familiar global issues such as atmospheric pollution and its effect on global warming and ozone destruction, to microbiological processes that cause pollution of drinking water deltas. Contains sections and information boxes that explain the basic chemistry underpinning the subject covered. Each chapter contains a list of further reading on the subject area. Updated case studies. No prior chemistry knowledge required. Suitable for introductory level courses.

Author Biography

J.E. Andrews, P. Brimblecombe, T.D. Jickells, P.S. Liss and B. Reid are all based in the School of Environmental Sciences at the University of East Anglia. They have many years experience in teaching environmental chemistry to undergraduates and are internationally respected researchers in their fields.

Table of Contents

List of boxes	ix
Preface to the second edition	xi
Preface to the first edition	xii
Acknowledgements	xiv
Symbols and abbreviations	xviii
1 Introduction	1	(13)
1.1 What is environmental chemistry?	1	(1)
1.2 In the beginning	2	(1)
1.3 Origin and evolution of the Earth	2	(7)
1.3.1 Formation of the crust and atmosphere	4	(1)
1.3.2 The hydrosphere	5	(3)
1.3.3 The origin of life and evolution of the atmosphere	8	(1)
1.4 Human effects on biogeochemical cycles?	9	(2)
1.5 The structure of this book	11	(1)
1.6 Internet keywords	12	(1)
1.7 Further reading	13	(1)
1.8 Internet search keywords	13	(1)
2 Environmental chemist's toolbox	14	(17)
2.1 About this chapter	14	(1)
2.2 Order in the elements?	14	(5)
2.3 Bonding	19	(2)
2.3.1 Covalent bonds	19	(1)
2.3.2 Ionic bonding, ions and ionic solids	20	(1)
2.4 Using chemical equations	21	(1)
2.5 Describing amounts of substances: the mole	22	(1)
2.6 Concentration and activity	22	(1)
2.7 Organic molecules - structure and chemistry	23	(4)
2.7.1 Functional groups	25	(1)
2.7.2 Representing organic matter in simple equations	26	(1)
2.8 Radioactivity of elements	27	(2)
2.9 Finding more chemical tools in this book	29	(1)
2.10 Further reading	30	(1)
2.11 Internet search keywords	30	(1)
3 The atmosphere	31	(35)
3.1 Introduction	31	(1)
3.2 Composition of the atmosphere	32	(3)
3.3 Steady state or equilibrium?	35	(3)
3.4 Natural sources	38	(6)
3.4.1 Geochemical sources	39	(2)
3.4.2 Biological sources	41	(3)
3.5 Reactivity of trace substances in the atmosphere	44	(1)
3.6 The urban atmosphere	45
3.6.1 London smog - primary pollution	46	(2)
3.6.2 Los Angeles smog - secondary pollution	48	(4)
3.6.3 21st-century particulate pollution	52
3.7 Air pollution and health 5	3	(52)
3.8 Effects of air pollution	55	(1)
3.9 Removal processes	56	(2)
3.10 Chemistry of the stratosphere	58	(6)
3.10.1 Stratospheric ozone formation and destruction	59	(2)
3.10.2 Ozone destruction by halogenated species	61	(2)
3.10.3 Saving the ozone layer	63	(1)
3.11 Further reading	64	(1)
3.12 Internet search keywords	65	(1)
4 The chemistry of continental solids	66	(75)
4.1 The terrestrial environment, crust and material cycling	66	(4)
4.2 The structure of silicate minerals	70	(6)
4.2.1 Coordination of ions and the radius ratio rule	70	(3)
4.2.2 The construction of silicate minerals	73	(1)
4.2.3 Structural organization in silicate minerals	73	(3)
4.3 Weathering processes	76	(1)
4.4 Mechanisms of chemical weathering	77	(10)
4.4.1 Dissolution	77	(1)
4.4.2 Oxidation	77	(6)
4.4.3 Acid hydrolysis	83	(1)
4.4.4 Weathering of complex silicate minerals	84	(3)
4.5 Clay minerals	87	(6)
4.5.1 One to one clay mineral structure	88	(1)
4.5.2 Two to one clay mineral structure	88	(5)
4.6 Formation of soils	93	(11)
4.6.1 Parent (bedrock) material (p)	94	(1)
4.6.2 Climate (cl)	94	(3)
4.6.3 Relief (r)	97	(2)
4.6.4 Vegetation (v)	99	(1)
4.6.5 Influence of organisms (o)	99	(5)
4.7 Wider controls on soil and clay mineral formation	104	(7)
4.8 Ion exchange and soil pH	111	(1)
4.9 Soil structure and classification	112	(7)
4.9.1 Soils with argillic horizons	113	(1)
4.9.2 Spodosols (podzols)	113	(4)
4.9.3 Soils with gley horizons	117	(2)
4.10 Contaminated land	119	(20)
4.10.1 Organic contaminants in soils	119	(6)
4.10.2 Degradation of organic contaminants in soils	125	(4)
4.10.3 Remediation of contaminated land	129	(8)
4.10.4 Phytoremediation	137	(2)
4.11 Further reading	139	(1)
4.12 Internet search keywords	140	(1)
5 The chemistry of continental waters	141	(40)
5.1 Introduction	141	(1)
5.2 Element chemistry	142	(3)
5.3 Water chemistry and weathering regimes	145	(10)
5.3.1 Alkalinity, dissolved inorganic carbon and pH buffering	151	(4)
5.4 Aluminium solubility and acidity	155	(6)
5.4.1 Acidification from atmospheric inputs	156	(1)
5.4.2 Acid mine drainage	156	(3)
5.4.3 Recognizing acidification from sulphate data - ternary diagrams	159	(2)
5.5 Biological processes	161	(9)
5.5.1 Nutrients and eutrophication	163	(7)
5.6 Heavy metal contamination	170	(4)
5.6.1 Mercury contamination from gold mining	170	(4)
5.7 Contamination of groundwater	174	(6)
5.7.1 Anthropogenic contamination of groundwater	176	(2)
5.7.2 Natural arsenic contamination of groundwater	178	(2)
5.8 Further reading	180	(1)
5.9 Internet search keywords	180	(1)
6 The oceans	181	(58)
6.1 Introduction	181	(1)
6.2 Estuarine processes	182	(7)
6.2.1 Aggregation of colloidal material in estuaries	183	(1)
6.2.2 Mixing processes in estuaries	184	(2)
6.2.3 Halmyrolysis and ion exchange in estuaries	186	(1)
6.2.4 Microbiological activity in estuaries	187	(2)
6.3 Major ion chemistry of seawater	189	(2)
6.4 Chemical cycling of major ions	191	(25)
6.4.1 Sea-to-air fluxes	194	(1)
6.4.2 Evaporites	194	(1)
6.4.3 Cation exchange	195	(1)
6.4.4 Calcium carbonate formation	196	(9)
6.4.5 Opaline silica	205	(1)
6.4.6 Sulphides	206	(2)
6.4.7 Hydrothermal processes	208	(6)
6.4.8 The potassium problem: balancing the seawater major ion budget	214	(2)
6.5 Minor chemical components in seawater	216	(11)
6.5.1 Dissolved gases	216	(1)
6.5.2 Dissolved ions	216	(2)
6.5.3 Conservative behaviour	218	(1)
6.5.4 Nutrient-like behaviour	218	(5)
6.5.5 Scavenged behaviour	223	(4)
6.6 The role of iron as a nutrient in the oceans	227	(2)
6.7 Ocean circulation and its effects on trace element distribution	229	(4)
6.8 Anthropogenic effects on ocean chemistry	233	(4)
6.8.1 Human effects on regional seas 1: the Baltic	233	(2)
6.8.2 Human effects on regional seas 2: the Gulf of Mexico	235	(1)
6.8.3 Human effects on total ocean minor element budgets?	235	(2)
6.9 Further reading	237	(1)
6.10 Internet search keywords	238	(1)
7 Global change	239	(44)
7.1 Why study global-scale environmental chemistry?	239	(1)
7.2 The carbon cycle	240	(22)
7.2.1 The atmospheric record	240	(2)
7.2.2 Natural and anthropogenic sources and sinks	242	(9)
7.2.3 The global budget of natural and anthropogenic carbon dioxide	251	(6)
7.2.4 The effects of elevated carbon dioxide levels on global temperature and other properties	257	(5)
7.3 The sulphur cycle	262	(12)
7.3.1 The global sulphur cycle and anthropogenic effects	262	(3)
7.3.2 The sulphur cycle and atmospheric acidity	265	(6)
7.3.3 The sulphur cycle and climate	271	(3)
7.4 Persistent organic pollutants	274	(7)
7.4.1 Persistent organic pollutant mobility in the atmosphere	274	(4)
7.4.2 Global persistent organic pollutant equilibrium	278	(3)
7.5 Further reading	281	(1)
7.6 Internet search keywords	281	(2)
Index	283