Answer:Pollutants and contaminants are terms that are often used interchangeably, but they have slightly different meanings.
- Pollutants: Pollutants are substances or energy that are released into the environment, causing harm to living organisms, ecosystems, or the environment as a whole. These can include chemicals, gases, particulate matter, or even noise or light pollution. Pollutants are typically human-made, such as industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, or waste products.
- Contaminants: Contaminants, on the other hand, refer to substances that are present in an environment where they are not normally found, and their presence may cause harm or disruption. Contaminants can be natural or human-made and can include substances like heavy metals, pesticides, or pathogens.
Factors that control the fate and transport of pollutants can vary depending on the specific pollutant and environment. However, two common factors that play a significant role are:
1) Environmental conditions: Factors such as temperature, humidity, wind patterns, and the presence of other substances can influence the fate and transport of pollutants. For example, volatile pollutants may evaporate more quickly in higher temperatures, while heavy pollutants may settle closer to the source due to gravity.
2) Chemical properties: The chemical properties of pollutants, such as solubility, reactivity, and persistence, can determine how they behave in the environment. For instance, water-soluble pollutants may be carried by rainfall and end up in water bodies, while persistent pollutants may bioaccumulate in organisms over time.
The term "population crash" refers to a sharp decline in the size of a population of organisms over a short period. It often occurs when the birth rate or immigration rate is significantly lower than the death rate or emigration rate. This can lead to a rapid decrease in population numbers, which can have significant ecological and environmental consequences.
Three factors that contribute to a population crash can include:
1) Lack of resources: If a population exceeds the carrying capacity of its environment, meaning there are not enough resources (such as food, water, or shelter) to support the entire population, it can lead to competition and a decline in population numbers.
2) Disease or predation: The outbreak of a disease or the presence of a predator can quickly reduce a population. Diseases can spread rapidly through a population, causing illness or death, while predators can directly reduce the number of individuals through predation.
3) Environmental changes: Sudden or drastic changes in the environment, such as natural disasters, habitat loss, or pollution, can disrupt ecosystems and lead to population crashes. These changes can affect the availability of resources or directly harm individuals, leading to a decline in population numbers.
Step-by-step explanation:
In summary, pollutants and contaminants refer to harmful substances or energy in the environment. Factors such as environmental conditions and chemical properties can influence their fate and transport. A population crash is a rapid decline in population size, which can occur due to factors like resource scarcity, disease or predation, and environmental changes.