3.1. Overview of Organic and Inorganic Chemicals

Try these first

1. 1.

   What does KOC stand for?

   Hint

   Think about what properties it measures.

2. 2.

   Define hydrophobicity.

   Hint

   Consider the opposite term.

3. 3.

   What does KOC measure?

   • A. How much a chemical prefers soil over water
   • B. The water solubility of a chemical
   • C. The vapor pressure of a chemical

   Hint

   Think about the context of soil and water.

4. 4.

   True or False: KOW relates to how substances behave in biological systems.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Consider accumulation in the body.

5. 5.

   Evaluate how differences in organic carbon from various geographical regions might affect the KOC values for a specific pesticide.

   Hint

   Consider specific examples of pesticides and their uses in different areas.

6. 6.

   Predict the environmental impact of a chemical with a low KOC value in a freshwater ecosystem.

   Hint

   Think about how chemicals interact with water and sediment.