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Ch.18 - Chemistry of the Environment
Chapter 18, Problem 44b

The Ogallala aquifer described in the Closer Look box in Section 18.3, provides 82% of the drinking water for the people who live in the region, although more than 75% of the water that is pumped from it is for irrigation. Irrigation withdrawals are approximately 18 billion gallons per day. (b) What process or processes accounts for the presence of arsenic in well water?

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Arsenic Sources

Arsenic is a naturally occurring element found in the Earth's crust, often present in groundwater due to geological formations. It can leach into well water from minerals and ores, particularly in areas with high natural arsenic levels. Human activities, such as mining and the use of certain pesticides, can also contribute to arsenic contamination in water supplies.
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Groundwater Contamination

Groundwater contamination occurs when pollutants infiltrate the water table, affecting the quality of water in aquifers. This can happen through various pathways, including agricultural runoff, industrial discharges, and improper waste disposal. Understanding the mechanisms of contamination is crucial for assessing water safety and implementing remediation strategies.
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Irrigation Practices

Irrigation practices can influence the concentration of contaminants like arsenic in groundwater. Excessive irrigation can lead to the leaching of arsenic from soil and rocks into the water supply, especially in regions where arsenic is naturally present. Additionally, the use of contaminated water for irrigation can further exacerbate the issue, highlighting the need for sustainable water management.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

The enthalpy of evaporation of water is 40.67 kJ/mol. Sunlight striking Earth's surface supplies 168 W per square meter (1 W = 1 watt = 1 J/s). (a) Assuming that evaporation of water is due only to energy input from the Sun, calculate how many grams of water could be evaporated from a 1.00 square meter patch of ocean over a 12-h day

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Textbook Question

The enthalpy of fusion of water is 6.01 kJ/mol. Sunlight striking Earth's surface supplies 168 W per square meter (1 W = 1 watt = 1 J/s). (b) The specific heat capacity of ice is 2.032 J/g°C. If the initial temperature of a 1.00 square emter patch of ice is -5.0°C, what is its final temperature after being in sunlight for 12 h, assuming no phase changes and assuming that sunlight penetration uniformly to a depth of 1.00 cm?

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Textbook Question

The Ogallala aquifer described in the Closer Look box in Section 18.3, provides 82% of the drinking water for the people who live in the region, although more than 75% of the water that is pumped from it is for irrigation. Irrigation withdrawals are approximately 18 billion gallons per day. (a) Assuming that 2% of the rainfall that falls on an area of 600,000 km2 recharges the aquifer, what average annual rainfall would be required to replace the water removed for irrigation?

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Textbook Question

The organic anion

is found in most detergents. Assume that the anion under-goes aerobic decomposition in the following manner: C18H29SO3- + 51 O2 → 36 CO2(aq) + 28 H2O (l) + 2 H+(aq) + 2 SO42-(aq) What is the total mass of O2 required to biodegrade 10.0 g of this substance?

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Textbook Question

Magnesium ions are removed in water treatment by the addition of slaked lime, Ca(OH)2. Write a balanced chemical equation to describe what occurs in this process

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Textbook Question

In the lime soda process once used in large scale munici-pal water softening, calcium hydroxide prepared from lime and sodium carbonate are added to precipitate Ca2+ as CaCO3(s) and Mg2+ as Mg(OH)2(s): Ca2+(aq) + CO32-(aq) → CaCO3(s) Mg2+(aq) + 2 OH-(aq) → MgOH2(aq) How many moles of Ca(OH)2 and Na2CO3 should be added to soften (remove the Ca2+ and Mg2+) 1200 L of water in which [Ca2+] = 5.0x10-4 M and [Mg2+] = 7.0x10-4 M?

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