Ch 20: Praxis Chemistry: Overview of Environmental Chemistry
About This Chapter
Praxis Chemistry: Overview of Environmental Chemistry - Chapter Summary
Within this chapter, you can get up to speed on environmental chemistry before taking the Praxis Chemistry exam. Our experienced instructors ease you into studying the effects of pollution, renewable energy sources and how to reduce solid waste. Once you finish this chapter, you should be able to:
- Identify the applications of forensic chemistry
- Discuss how to improve the quality of water through water treatment
- Understand pollution sources for water, air and land
- Determine what causes greenhouse gases and the enhanced greenhouse gas effect
- Explain the causes and effects of acid rain
- List some of the chemicals found in household products
- Differentiate between renewable and nonrenewable energy sources
- Point out the pros and cons of power generation sources
- Describe the three R's of reducing solid waste
Help from an expert is just a few clicks away in the Dashboard if you struggle to understand any of these concepts. It's easy to navigate our videos using the timeline tags if you'd like to go back and review any of the material again. To make sure you're ready for exam day, take the quiz included with each lesson and the test at the end of the chapter.

1. Water Treatment: Improving Water Quality
Water treatment is the process of removing harmful substances from water to make it suitable for use. Explore how water quality is improved, the process of water purification, how wastewater is treated, and the quality of drinking water in developing countries.

2. Pollution in North America: Water, Air & Land
Pollution is a serious problem throughout North America. This lesson gives you a glimpse of that as we take a look at the various problems the United States, Mexico, and Canada face and how they've tried to deal with them.

3. Greenhouse Gases and the Enhanced Greenhouse Effect
Human activity has a measurable effect on our climate. Learn about the greenhouse effect and its gases, and examine what happens when there is an imbalance of gases in the atmosphere.

4. Acid Rain: Effects & Causes
Acid rain occurs when sulfuric or nitric acids mix with molecules in the atmosphere and increase the acidity of rain, snow, hail, or even dust in the air. Learn what acid rain is, discover its causes, and explore how its effects can be reduced.

5. Chemicals Found in Household Products
Regularly used household chemicals may contain chemicals that many are not aware of, and it is important to be educated on their contents. Learn more about chemicals that are commonly found in household products, exploring their chemical makeup and uses.

6. What Is a Renewable Energy Source? - Definition & Example
A renewable energy source is an energy source that can be repeatedly replenished without running out. Explore the definition and examples of renewable energy sources, as well as the types of renewable energy in this lesson.

7. Pros & Cons of Power Generation Sources
In this lesson we will summarize the pros and cons of the major ways to generate power. We will focus on the broad categories of fossil fuels, nuclear power, and renewable energy.

8. The 3 Rs of Reducing Solid Waste: Reuse, Reduce & Recycle
The 3 R's of reducing solid waste, i.e., reuse, reduce, and recycle, was created in an effort to reduce the amount of solid waste generated in the United States. Learn about the effectiveness of the mantra reuse, reduce, and recycle in contributing to the reduction of solid waste production in America over the past half-century.

9. Safety Regulations for Storing, Handling & Disposing of Pharmaceuticals
In this lesson, we'll present the safety regulations for storing, handling, and disposing of pharmaceutical medications. Rather than list the regulation, we present them in an easy-to-follow, discussion format.

10. Uses of Nanomaterials & Nanobots
In this lesson, we'll be looking at the applications of nanomaterials and their impact on society and the environment. We'll look at the current application of nanomaterials in medicine and research, and the potential for nanobots in the future.
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Other Chapters
Other chapters within the Praxis Chemistry: Content Knowledge (5245): Practice & Study Guide course
- About the Praxis Chemistry Test
- Praxis Chemistry: Matter and Energy
- Praxis Chemistry: Thermodynamics
- Properties of Liquids & Solids
- Praxis Chemistry: Gases
- Praxis Chemistry: Atomic Structure
- Praxis Chemistry: Nuclear Structure
- Praxis Chemistry: Nomenclature and Chemical Composition
- Praxis Chemistry: Bonding
- Praxis Chemistry: Periodicity
- Praxis Chemistry: Stoichiometric Calculations
- Praxis Chemistry: Chemical Reactions & Kinetics
- Praxis Chemistry: Chemical Reaction Equilibrium
- Praxis Chemistry: Biochemistry
- Praxis Chemistry: Solutions & Solubility
- Praxis Chemistry: Acid-Base Chemistry
- Praxis Chemistry: Scientific Inquiry & Experimental Design
- Praxis Chemistry: Math, Measurement & Data Management in Chemistry
- Praxis Chemistry: Lab Procedures & Safety in Chemistry
- Praxis Chemistry Flashcards