Environmental Science Chapter 2

Which formula correctly identifies sulfuric acid? a. H2SO4 b. NaOH c. C6H12O6 d. CaCO3 e. CO2

a. H2SO4

Combinations of two or more different elements held together in fixed proportions are known as _____. a. compounds b. nuclei c. isotopes d. ions e. atoms

a. compounds

The second law of thermodynamics states that whenever energy is converted from one form to another in a(n) _____ change, we end up with _____ energy than before. a. physical or chemical; lower-quality b. potential or predicted; lower-quality c. manifest or assumed; highest-quality d. physical or chemical; higher-quality e. potential or predicted; higher-quality

a. physical or chemical; lower-quality

Science which consists of data, hypotheses, models, theories, and laws widely accepted by all or most of the scientists who are considered experts in the field under study is called _____. a. reliable b. unreliable c. tentative d. prospective e. reputable

a. reliable

A scientific theory is ____. a. a scientific law that has not yet been proven b. a well-tested and widely accepted scientific hypothesis c. a description of the steps scientists must follow to perform research effectively d. a description of how we should act when interacting with nature e. an approximate representation or simulation of a system

b. a well-tested and widely accepted scientific hypothesis

Water flowing through a hydroelectric dam is an example of _____ energy. a. electromagnetic b. kinetic c. chemical d. potential e. nuclear

b. kinetic

The number of ____ in an atom determine which element it is. a. neutrons b. protons c. electrons d. leptons e. positrons

b. protons

When coal is burned completely in a power plant, the solid carbon in the coal combines with oxygen gas from the atmosphere to form carbon dioxide. What type of change is this? a. Nuclear b. Physical c. Chemical d. Cellular e. pH change

c. Chemical

A negative feedback loop ____. a. converts additional low-quality energy to kinetic energy b. creates positive ions by stripping electrons from atoms c. causes a system to change in the opposite direction from which it is moving d. causes a system to change further in the same direction in which it is moving e. is a feedback with beneficial results

c. causes a system to change in the opposite direction from which it is moving

After scientists analyze data from an experiment, they can propose a(n) _____ to explain the data. a. analytic b. theory c. hypothesis d. conclusion e. assessment

c. hypothesis

Because scientists cannot actually precisely measure a process like soil erosion over the entire earth, they must ____. a. extrapolate conclusions from the most available sampling b. prove their hypotheses without the use of external measurements c. use statistical sampling and mathematical models to produce estimates d. rely on peer review to provide consensus on the validity of the hypothesis e. focus on developing sound scientific theories with correlating data

c. use statistical sampling and mathematical models to produce estimates

An atom with a net positive or negative charge resulting from the loss or gain of electrons is known as a(n): a. molecule b. acid c. nucleotide d. ion e. isotope

d. ion

Consider the controlled experiment on runoff from forested and deforested valleys as discussed in the Core Case Study in your text. What were the results? a. Runoff in the deforested valley decreased. b. Soil erosion increased in the forested valley. c. Runoff increased in the forested valley, but not in the deforested one. d. Removal of forest has no major impact on runoff or soil erosion. e. Runoff in the deforested valley increased and eroded soil.

e. Runoff in the deforested valley increased and eroded soil.

The acidity of a solution is based on the comparative amounts of hydrogen ions and _____ ions. a. sulfate b. ammonium c. chloride d. sodium e. hydroxide

e. hydroxide

If you burn a chunk of wood, some of the _____ energy within the wood will be converted to ____ energy. a. thermal; kinetic b. electromagnetic; kinetic c. potential; electromagnetic d. kinetic; potential e. potential; kinetic

e. potential; kinetic