(CHO) Chemical Oceanography Module Overview

Image reads Module Review Oceanography

Chemical Oceanography Module Overview

Introduction

This unit will focus on the chemical characteristics of the World Ocean, water chemistry, element cycles, and chemical resources.

Essential Questions

These are the essential questions this module will seek to help you answer:

  • How does the water cycle unite all living things on Earth?
  • What are some of the major differences between pure water and sea water?
  • Why is the ocean critical for human life?

Key Terms

Here are some key terms to pay special attention to in this module:

  • Polar - Characteristic of molecules that have slightly positively-charged and slightly negatively-charged ends
  • Cohesion - The act of molecules cohering or sticking to one another
  • Adhesion - The act of molecules adhering or sticking to other molecules
  • Capillary action - The act of water molecules moving up through a narrow tube due to the properties of adhesion and cohesion
  • Universal solvent - Water is referred to as the universal solvent because many substances dissolve easily in water
  • Specific heat - Water resists temperature changes when it absorbs or releases heat
  • Heat capacity - Also known as specific heat, it is the measure of heat required to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree
  • Hydrogen bonds - Bonds that are formed between negatively charged atoms and hydrogen.
  • Latent heat of vaporization - The amount of heat released or absorbed by a substance as it changes phases (i.e. solid, liquid, or gas)
  • Hydrosphere - All the water found on, under, and over the surface of Earth.
  • Evaporation - The process of the water in rivers, lakes, or the oceans turning to vapor due to the sun's energy
  • Transpiration - The evaporation of water into the atmosphere from the leaves and stems of plants.
  • Respiration - The process organisms use to take food and convert it into energy. The process yield carbon dioxide and water as a byproduct.
  • Condensation - The process by which water vapor in the air is changed into liquid water.
  • Precipitation - When water collects in the atmosphere by the process of condensation, it falls in the form of precipitation (i.e. rain, sleet, hail, or snow
  • Infiltration - The process of water soaking into the ground
  • Runoff - The process of water soaking into the ground
  • Hydrologic cycle - The circulation and conservation of the Earth's water
  • Salinity - The saltiness of a body of water
  • Desalination - Referring to one of the many processes of removing salt and other minerals from water
  • Density - Referred to as the mass per volume of a material. The density of pure water is 1 gm/ml.
  • Freezing point - The temperature at which a substance changes from a liquid to a solid Also known as the melting point
  • pH - The measure of acidity or alkalinity of a solution based on the dissolved hydrogen ions
  • Buffers - A solution that contains a weak acid or weak base that allows the pH of a solution to remain stable when acids or bases are added
  • Dissolved oxygen - The amount of oxygen present in water; a certain amount is required for aquatic life
  • Diatomic - Molecules made up of only two atoms
  • Manganese - Free element often found in many minerals, important for living things, but can be toxic in high levels
  • Phosphorus - Chemical element most often found in inorganic rocks critical for living things as it is found in DNA
  • Nitrogen - Common element naturally occurring as a gas, but often changes form as it cycles throughout the Earth
  • Silicon - Metalloid element found on the periodic table essential to living things and often used in technology

[CC BY 4.0] UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED | IMAGES: LICENSED AND USED ACCORDING TO TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION