Environmental chemistry

Environmental chemists study how chemicals interact with the natural environment. Environmental chemistry is a study that involves both analytical chemistry and an understanding of environmental science with various assessments being used. Environmental chemists must first understand the chemicals and chemical reactions present in natural processes in the soil, water and air. Sampling and analysis can then determine if human activities have contaminated the environment or caused harmful reactions to affect it. Water quality is an important area of environmental chemistry. Completely “pure” water does not exist in nature as it always has some kinds of minerals or other substances dissolved in it, even so it is still possible to predict where cleaner water sources may occur. Water quality chemists test rivers, lakes and ocean water for characteristics such as dissolved oxygen, salinity, turbidity, suspended sediments, and ph-levels. Water that is for human consumption must be free of harmful contaminants and may be treated with additives like fluoride and chlorine to insure it is clean enough for human consumption.

Question:

1. What’s the first thing environmental chemists must understand?
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2. Why is there no such thing as ‘pure’ water?
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3. How is water treated to insure it’s clean enough for human consumption?
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