CHEM 1002 : Chemistry Exam 1
Document Summary
Earth is divided into three main regions: the core is largely iron and nickel and is not accessible, the mantel consists of silicates and a variety of metals, the crust is the outer shell of earth. The lithosphere is the land masses, the hydrosphere makes up the water, and the atmosphere is the air surrounding earth. The outer portion is the earth consist of the 9 most abundant elements: oxygen, silicon, hydrogen, aluminum, sodium, iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium. The lithosphere: orgnanic ad inorganic: the lithosphere is about 35 km under the continents and 10 km thick under the oceans. Composed of mainly rocks and minerals: the organic portion of the lithosphere is much smaller in quantity compared to the inorganic and includes the living organisms, their waste and decomposition products, and their fossilized remains (including petroleum products). These organic materials contain carbon, as well as elements such as: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen.
