Question

Oil spills happen in our oceans. Some oils contain volatile organic compounds; these compounds make the oil denser. What large-scale impacts could this kind of oil spill have on the ocean environment? (3 points)

A) Oil is natural and doesn't have an overall negative impact on the ocean environment.
B) Oil that is denser will sink and have a negative impact on the ocean environment.
C) Oil that is denser will float on the ocean's surface and will have a negative impact on the environment.
D) Oil will impact only a small area of the ocean and not have a large-scale impact on the environment.

Answer 1

C) denser Oil will float on the ocean's surface and will have a negative effect on the ocean's environment.

Step-by-step explanation:

Most oils have a density lighter than that of water. In such a case, the oil usually forms a film that spreads on top of the water. This in itself has various adverse effects on the ocean and its inhabitants as it prevents oxygen from getting mixed up with seawater. Some surface-dwelling fish also get covered with a film of oil.

There are a few oils that have a density higher than that of water, when such oils are spilled over rivers they may sink and combine with the sediments present in them or get collected over a big vessel at the river bed.

Though these oils have a density higher than that of water they still do not sink in the ocean as the water present in the sea is salt water. the addition of salt and other impurities increases the density of water. thus, though these oils have a density higher than that of pure water they are still lighter than salt water and form a film on the surface of the water.