ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF CHEMICAL REACTIONS (END PRODUCTS)

Chemical reactions result in new substances being produced that can simultaneously provide both positive and negative environmental impacts.

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Vocabulary :

end product: The result of a completed series of processes or changes.

environmental impact: Any change to the environment, whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partially resulting from an organization's activities, products or services economic impact: Any increase or decrease in the productive potential of the economy.

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BURNING PAPER?

The end product was different than the reactant.

What could have been done with the paper other than burning it or the usefulness of the reactant.

REACTANTS While the paper was burning, some pretty useful stuff was produced, such as……., light and heat Compare it to a campfire …..

fire provides light to see and the heat needed to stay warm and cook food. 3

ASHES What was the final product, ash, good for? END PRODUCT For the most part, ash is not much fun to deal with. It is messy and not very useful. 4

What chemical reactions or uses of chemicals have negative waste products or consequences? If a farmer does not use fertilizer, his crop will not grow as well and he will produce less and make less money, but if he does use fertilizer, the residue may run off into local rivers and ultimately into the ocean which could cause algae blooms that kill off aquatic wildlife. If a farmer does not use pesticides, his crop will suffer and he will produce less and make less money, but if he does use them, levels of toxins can build up in local ground water making the water unfit to drink. 5

If a power plant does not control its smokestack emissions, pollution will add to the acid rain effect, but if they put in equipment to control emissions their operating cost and the cost of electricity goes up. If a person carpools they help to produce less pollution and they save money, but they lose some independence in traveling. 6

What chemical reactions or uses of chemicals have negative waste products or consequences?

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Car (Combustion) exhaust

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Smoke pollution from industrial plants (release of sulfur dioxide)

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Fertilizer run off

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Hot water being released from industrial plants

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Acid Rain

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‘Greenhouse’ Gases

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Chemical spills (release of heavy metals) 7

Throughout modern history, mankind has had to deal with the negative effects of certain chemicals and the end products of certain chemical reactions.

However, many of the mistakes that have been made have been correctable through action. 8

Two examples of problems that, if not solved, have been greatly improved are acid rain and chemicals affecting the ozone layer. 9

Most chemicals and chemical reactions have both good and bad consequences. Many negative impacts can be avoided or corrected once steps are taken to fix the problem, but there are costs involved. 10

RESEARCH GOALS:

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Identify the positive and negative impacts of the chemical or chemical reaction researched Economical pros and cons Environmental pros and cons for either not using the process or for controlling the negative impacts Suggest solutions that can maximize the pros and minimize the cons.

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POSTER REQUIREMENTS:

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MAIN DRAWING (BY HAND) GRAPHICS (2) FROM INTERNET ECONOMIC/ENVIRONMENTAL PROS & CONS POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS CREATIVE COLORFUL 12

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