Salinity refers to the concentration of dissolved salts in water, typically expressed in parts per thousand (ppt) or as a percentage. It is an important characteristic of aquaticenvironments, including oceans, seas, and estuaries. Salinity can have significant impacts on the physical and chemical properties of water, as well as on the organisms that inhabit these environments.
Factors Affecting Salinity
Several factors can influence the salinity of a body of water:
Precipitation: Rainfall and snowmelt can dilute the salt content of water, decreasing salinity.
Ice Formation and Melting: When seawater freezes, the salt is excluded from the ice, increasing the salinity of the remaining water. Conversely, when the ice melts, it can decrease the salinity of the surrounding water.
Chemical Analysis: Laboratory analysis of water samples can provide precise measurements of salinity by determining the concentration of dissolved salts.
Explore the methods used to measure salinity, such as refractometry, conductivity, and chemical analysis.
Examine the impacts of salinity on biological communities, water quality, and human activities.
Consider real-world examples of how salinity can influence specific ecosystems and industries.
By mastering these aspects of salinity, you will develop a comprehensive understanding of this crucial aspect of aquaticchemistry and environmental science.
Energy - A. Energy is involved in all physical and chemical processes. It is conserved, and can be transformed from one form to another and into work. At the atomic and nuclear levels energy is not continuous but exists in discrete amounts. Energy and mass are related through Einstein's equation E=mc 2 . B. The properties of atomic nuclei are responsible for energy-related phenomena such as radioactivity, fission and fusion. C. Changes in entropy and energy that accompany chemical reactions influence reaction paths. Chemical reactions result in the release or absorption of energy. D. The theory of electromagnetism explains that electricity and magnetism are closely related. Electric charges are the source of electric fields. Moving charges generate magnetic fields. E. Waves are the propagation of a disturbance. They transport energy and momentum but do not transport matter.
Relate temperature to the average molecular kinetic energy.