Environmental Chemistry of the Hydrosphere

The enviromnental chemistry of the hydrosphere is rich and complex. It is strongly influenced by the unique chemical properties of water, especially the polar nature of the water molecule and hydrogen bonding discussed in Section 3.1. It involves a variety of chemical processes, including 

FIGURE 3.7 Water chemistry as affected by the stratification of a body of water in which a warmer, less dense layer of water in the epilimnion resides above a cooler, denser hypolimnion this stratification prevents oxygen from penetrating to lower depths where chemically rednced species (CH4, NHJ, H S) predominate. In the oxic epilimnion, chemically oxidized species (CO2, NO3, SOj ) are present. 

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Chapters 11-13 address the environmental chemistry of the hydrosphere. Chapter 11 discusses the fundamental properties of water, water supply and distribution, properties of bodies of water, and basic aquatic chemistry, including acid-base behavior, phase interactions, oxidation-reduction, chelation, and the important influences of bacteria, algae, and other life forms on aquatic chemistry. Chapter 12 deals specifically with water pollution and Chapter 13 with water treatment. 

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