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Chapter 18: Problem 6

Distinguish among salt water, freshwater, and groundwater. \([\) Section 18.3\(]\)

Short Answer

Expert verified
Salt water, freshwater, and groundwater can be distinguished based on their salt concentration, sources, and suitability for human consumption and use in agriculture. Salt water has high salt concentrations and is found in oceans, making it unsuitable for drinking and irrigation. Freshwater has low salt concentrations and is found in sources like rivers, lakes, ice caps, and groundwater, making it suitable for human consumption and agriculture. Groundwater, a type of freshwater, is specifically found in underground reservoirs called aquifers and can be accessed through wells for drinking and irrigation purposes.

Step by step solution

01

Define Salt Water

Salt water is water that contains a high concentration of dissolved salts, typically sodium chloride (NaCl). The majority of the Earth's salt water is found in the oceans (approximately 97% of the total water on Earth), which have an average salinity of 35 parts per thousand (ppt).
02

Define Freshwater

Freshwater is water with a very low concentration of dissolved salts, usually less than 1 ppt (parts per thousand). It is essential for most life on Earth, as most organisms cannot survive in salt water. Freshwater can be found in various sources, such as rivers, lakes, and ice caps.
03

Define Groundwater

Groundwater is water that is stored beneath the Earth's surface in soil and rock layers. It is an important source of freshwater, as it often accumulates in underground reservoirs called aquifers. Groundwater can be accessed and used as a source of drinking water through wells.
04

Differentiate between Salt Water and Freshwater

The key difference between salt water and freshwater is the concentration of dissolved salts. Salt water has high concentrations of dissolved salts (typically around 35 ppt), whereas freshwater contains less than 1 ppt. Because of this, salt water is not suitable for drinking or use in irrigation, as it can damage plants and is generally unsafe for human consumption. Salt water is primarily found in oceans, while freshwater can be found in rivers, lakes, ice caps, and groundwater.
05

Differentiate between Freshwater and Groundwater

Freshwater is a general term that refers to all water with low concentrations of dissolved salts, while groundwater specifically refers to water found in underground reservoirs. Groundwater is a type of freshwater, but not all freshwater is groundwater. For instance, water in rivers, lakes, and ice caps is freshwater but is not considered as groundwater.
06

Differentiate between Salt Water and Groundwater

Salt water is characterized by high salt concentrations and is typically found in the oceans, while groundwater is a type of freshwater, meaning it has low salt concentrations and is found underground in soil and rock layers. Salt water is unsuitable for drinking and irrigation, whereas groundwater is a valuable source of drinking water and can be used for irrigation purposes. By following these steps, you can now distinguish among salt water, freshwater, and groundwater based on their salt concentration, sources, and suitability for human consumption and use in agriculture.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

The Ogallala aquifer is the largest in the United States, covering \(450,000 \mathrm{~km}^{2}\) across eight states, from South Dakota to Texas. This aquifer provides \(82 \%\) of the drinking water for the people who live in this region, although most \((>75 \%)\) of the water that is pumped from it is for irrigation. Irrigation withdrawals are approximately 18 billion gallons per day. (a) The Ogallala aquifer might run dry, according to some estimates, in 25 years. How many cubic kilometers of water would be withdrawn in a 25 -year period? (b) Explain the processes that would recharge the aquifer.

If the \(\mathrm{pH}\) of a 1.0 -in. rainfall over \(1500 \mathrm{mi}^{2}\) is 3.5 , how many kilograms of \(\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{SO}_{4}\) are present, assuming that it is the only acid contributing to the \(\mathrm{pH}\) ?

Describe the basic goals of green chemistry. [Section 18.5\(]\)

You are working with an artist who has been commissioned to make a sculpture for a big city in the eastern United States. The artist is wondering what material to use to make her sculpture because she has heard that acid rain in the eastern United States might destroy it over time. You take samples of granite, marble, bronze, and other materials, and place them outdoors for a long time in the big city. You periodically examine the appearance and measure the mass of the samples. (a) What observations would lead you to conclude that one or more of the materials are well-suited for the sculpture? (b) What chemical process (or processes) is (are) the most likely responsible for any observed changes in the materials? [Section 18.2\(]\)

The enthalpy of evaporation of water is \(40.67 \mathrm{~kJ} / \mathrm{mol}\). Sunlight striking Earth's surface supplies \(168 \mathrm{~W}\) per square meter \((1 \mathrm{~W}=1 \mathrm{watt}=1 \mathrm{~J} / \mathrm{s}) .\) (a) Assuming that evaporation of water is only due 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 -hour day. (b) The specific heat capacity of liquid water is \(4.184 \mathrm{~J} / \mathrm{g}^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\). If the initial temperature of a 1.00 square meter patch of ocean is \(26^{\circ} \mathrm{C},\) what is its final temperature after being in sunlight for 12 hours, assuming no phase changes and assuming that sunlight penetrates uniformly to depth of \(10.0 \mathrm{~cm}\) ?
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