This chapter will not be on the test explicitly. However, you should watch the lectures as they
provide valuable background information that you WILL need to know to understand other
content in this course. For example, what elements are essential for life? What does “organic”
mean in a chemistry context?
Chapter 2 - Water: Essential Resource
Make sure you study the water cycle diagram from this Unit.
o Be able to describe the % distribution of ALL water between salty, ocean water
and freshwater. Also, how is freshwater divided up between common “reservoirs”
(atmosphere, soil & aquifers, plants & animals, glaciers and icecaps, surface
water – lakes, rivers and streams).
96.5% ocean, 2.5% freshwater
Surface Water- lakes reservoirs, rivers/streams/creeks/canals
o How LONG is a water molecule in these different Earth reservoirs (on average –
just know reservoirs with 2 longest and 2 shortest times)?
o Be able to define the following transfer processes for water from on reservoir to
another (also known as “The Water Cycle!”):
precipitation, condensation, evaporation, transpiration, evapotranspiration,
runoff, infiltration, recharge
transpiration- Release of water vapor from plants
evapotransportation- evaportation of water from plants and soil
condensation- water vapor becomes liquid water as air cools
precipitation- condensed water falling as rain, snow or ice
infiltration- water from precipitation percolating/ soaking into
surface
runoff- water from precipitation that flows over land surface
recharge- infiltrating water gets past surface soils and plant roots;
reaches water table and aquafier// water is purified as it travels
through porous materials underground, removing biological and
chemical contaminants
,
o Define the following terms that descry nbe where water is stored”
Aquifer (including confined aquifer), lakes, rivers, streams, canals,
wetlands
What regions of the world tend to have the highest and lowest precipitation rates
(compare tropics versus sub-tropics)? How does this impact water distribution, globally?
What is the difference between consumptive and non-consumptive water withdrawals?
o Nonconsumptive- water can be returned to the source after being cleaned,
includes many industrial uses (washing and flushing of wastes in homes)
o Consumptive- water is not returned to source but is lost to evaporation or
percolates into ground, includes most of irrigation of crops
What are the primary uses for water in the world? (Hint, agriculture, domestic and
industry). Which of these uses the MOST water worldwide? What does the industrial
sector use water FOR, most commonly?
Which continent uses the most freshwater?
o Asia
Which water uses consume the most water in the U.S., and how does this vary by region?
o Agriculture!
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