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CHEMISTRY IN THE ENVIRONMENT What a big topic. The field of environmental chemistry calls on organic chemistry, biochemistry and a heck of a lot of biology. We'll focus on the chemistry of the Earth right now.
Environmental chemists study the chemistry of the biosphere. Many of them focus on the effects of the modern world and technology on our environment. What do they study? Consider them to be like detectives of the planet. They look at the fingerprints and figure out what went down at the scene of the crime.
WHERE DO THEY COME FROM? Environmental chemists look at the world and figure out where all of these elements and compounds came from. Where did the first living organisms find proteins or did they create them on their own? Where does all of the silicon (Si) in the sand of a beach come from?
WHAT'S HAPPENING With all of the molecules and compounds floating around are world someone needs to study the reactions they have with each other. It could be as simple as seeing red rocks and figuring out that they have a high level of iron (Fe). At the other end of the spectrum, they could be studying the shrinking Ozone (O3) layer. Then they might try and answer the question, "What are aerosol cans doing to destroy it?"
WHERE DOES IT ALL GO? The Earth is a closed system (basically). While energy may come in and leave the planet most of our mass stays right here. That means all of the elements are constantly recycling through our environment. A free hydrogen molecule (H2) that was floating around the atmosphere yesterday might be a part of someone's hamburger next week. It's up to the environmental chemists to study those cycles and watch the elements in motion.
Biofuels: transportation fuel derived from biomass. A wide range of biomass products such as sugar cane, rapeseed, corn, straw, wood, animal and agriculture residues and waste can be transformed into fuels for transport;
Bioplastics: production of plastic materials using natural sources such as plants, which are then biodegradable;
Insulation: enhanced insulating materials to enable more energy-efficient homes and buildings; Lightweight plastic composites which help reduce cars and airplanes fuel consumption; Fuel cells: when used to power cars or motorbikes, hydrogen fuel cells produce water vapour instead of exhaust gases;
New lighting technologies (such as Organic Light Emitting Diodes - OLEDS) which produce more light with less electricity;
Wind turbines and solar panelling: both rely on materials produced by the chemical industry. The metal blades of wind turbines have largely been replaced by blades made of fibreglass-reinforced polyester to stand
up to the severest weather. Society tends to consider every man-made chemical as bad and everything natural as good. Just because something is natural does not automatically make it good for the health or the environment or unsafe if its a man-made chemical. What looks more natural than burning wood in on open fire for instance? In reality, smoke from open burning can be harmful to both human health and the environment like other combustion processes. Also, the whole life cycle of a product (from its creation through to its disposal) needs to be taken into account when considering its impact. Did you ever realise that the impact of cotton culture on the environment can be higher than making synthetic fibres such as polyester? The reason for this is that cotton requires the use of enormous quantities of water, fertilisers and pesticides. Strengthening the science of chemistry through research and development is necessary to allow us maintaining a comfortable life in harmony with the environment and nature. It illustrates the greatest challenge of all disciplines of modern science, and most especially with those that pertain to the environment - the integration of technology, nature and human beings.