DDT

A specific example of a biological interaction with environmental cheimcals would be DDT. The process of DDT is pretty simple. A foreign substance to an environment works its way up the food chain and as it moves up it becomes for conentrate and more harmful to the larger speices. For example a bottom feeder in a lake or pond would eat the foreign substance then a small fish would eat the bottom feeder. Next a larger fish would eat the small fish and after that a bird would eat the larger fish. As the foreign substance makes its way into all of these organisms it would become more and more concentrated and leaving bigger damage. It would kill most of the birds that eat the infected fish.
         When the effects of DDT were first seen in the 1950s it was among robins in the United States. Toxic spray to control beetles was ingested by worms and the worms were then eaten by the robins and killed large amounts of robins in that area.

WE ALL HAVE ONE

Vehicles are the leading air pollute. It is not only the use of cars but the production as well as the disposal that causes the smoggy skies and dirty air we breath. Major pollutes that are put into the air during these processes are

Particulate matter  that are tiny pieces of metal that are release into the air.

Hydrocarbons that react with nitrogen oxides when in sunlight and form ground level ozone(ingredient in smog)

Nitrogen Oxides which as we know combined with sunlight and hydrocarbons form ground level ozone

Carbon Monoxide  formed by the combustion of fossil fuels (gasoline)  and is emitted primarily from cars and trucks. It is also odorless, colorless, and poisonous which makes it deadly when inhaled in big amounts
Sulfur Dioxide created by power plants and vehicles because they burn sulfur containing fuels like diesal


When these compounds are released into the air we get a combination that creates harmful gases which are linked to cancer, respiratory problems, and various other health problems with young children.


Electric, hydrids and more fuel efficient motor vehicles have been made to help lessen the impact on the environment. In 2012 these are the new cars that will lower the impact on the environment:

Electric BMW ActiveE,  Ford Focus Electric, Honda Fit EV, Mitsubishi i MiEV

Hybrid Honda Civic Hybrid,  Infiniti M Hybrid, Buick Lacrosse, Chevy Malibu

Fuel Efficient Chevrolet Sonic Hatchback , FIAT 500, Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Hyundai Accent

 

Water as a Solvent

 Water is a chemical compound, a solvent and, a polar molecule. Its chemical formula H₂O. meaning every water molecule is made up of 2 hydrogen atoms and 1 oxygen atom. It is a green solvent because it is natural and there is a lot of water on earth.  70% of the Earth's surface is covered by it.


Water is a good green solvent because of its polarity which simply means equal bonding electrons are shared between atoms.When a polar compound enters the water the water molecules surrounds the compound. A polar compound could be salt (sodium chloride). In water the compound separates and each element is surrounded by water molecules. The ions then are easily move away from the crystal structure into the solution/water.

http://www.worldofmolecules.com/solvents/water.htm
http://www.teachersdomain.org/asset/lsps07_int_dissolvesalt/

So if you were to do a experiment to observe how salt crystals are form. Water is a green solvent that can be used. It can also be a green solvent in other experiments observing how different compounds dissolve. For example compounds like calcium choloride, sodium hydroxide, or sucrose.