Environmental Chemistry

Environment constitutes air, water, soil, plants and atmosphere around us. The branch which deals with the relationship between living organisms and environment is called environmental chemistry.

Pollutant: A substance which is present in the nature and which grows in quantity due to human activity and has adverse effect on environment is called as pollutant.

Contaminant: A substance which is not present in nature, but released due to human activity and has an adverse effect on environment is called as contaminant.

Receptor: The medium which is effected by pollution is called receptor.

Environment is divided into four segments.

1. Atmosphere
2. Hydrosphere
3. Lithosphere
4. Biosphere

Green House Effect or Global Warming

Carbon dioxide and water vapour absorb infrared radiation coming to the earth and partly reflect it back to the earth's surface. Due to this, the surface of the earth gets heated up. This phenomenon of heating up of the surface of the earth is called green house effect.