5. Environmental Implications

Try these first

1. 1.

   What is a partitioning constant?

   Hint

   Think about how substances mix in water versus settling in soil.

2. 2.

   Define mass balance in terms of environmental science.

   Hint

   Imagine keeping track of all your ingredients when cooking a recipe.

3. 3.

   What does the partitioning constant indicate?

   • Chemical solubility
   • Distribution of contaminants
   • Chemical toxicity

   Hint

   It relates to how substances behave in different environments.

4. 4.

   True or False? A mass balance must account for all species in a chemical system.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Think about conservation laws in science.

5. 5.

   If a contaminant has a partitioning constant of 5, and 200 kg is introduced into 1000L water and a soil matrix of 300kg, calculate the expected concentration in each phase if full equilibrium is assumed.

   Hint

   You may need to convert units and remember the mass balance!

6. 6.

   Explain how soil composition (such as organic carbon content) could affect the partitioning of a hydrophobic contaminant. What calculations would need to be modified?

   Hint

   Think about how water affinity and solid binding might differ by composition.