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.

RELATED LINKS

- Biology4Kids: Scientific Method
- Geography4Kids: Biosphere
- Geography4Kids: Biogeochemical Cycles
- Cosmos4Kids: The Universe
- Cosmos4Kids: Space Exploration
- Cosmos4Kids: Earth

- International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry
- American Chemical Society

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