Table of contents

1. A Review of General Chemistry5h 5m
2. Molecular Representations1h 14m
3. Acids and Bases2h 46m
4. Alkanes and Cycloalkanes4h 17m
5. Chirality3h 39m
6. Thermodynamics and Kinetics1h 22m
7. Substitution Reactions1h 48m
8. Elimination Reactions2h 30m
9. Alkenes and Alkynes2h 9m
10. Addition Reactions3h 19m
11. Radical Reactions1h 58m
12. Alcohols, Ethers, Epoxides and Thiols2h 42m
13. Alcohols and Carbonyl Compounds2h 17m
14. Synthetic Techniques1h 26m
15. Analytical Techniques:IR, NMR, Mass Spect7h 3m
16. Conjugated Systems6h 13m
17. Ultraviolet Spectroscopy51m
18. Aromaticity2h 34m
19. Reactions of Aromatics: EAS and Beyond5h 1m
20. Phenols55m
21. Aldehydes and Ketones: Nucleophilic Addition4h 56m
22. Carboxylic Acid Derivatives: NAS2h 51m
23. The Chemistry of Thioesters, Phophate Ester and Phosphate Anhydrides1h 10m
24. Enolate Chemistry: Reactions at the Alpha-Carbon1h 53m
25. Condensation Chemistry2h 9m
26. Amines1h 43m
27. Heterocycles2h 0m
28. Carbohydrates5h 53m
29. Amino Acids4h 20m
30. Peptides and Proteins2h 42m
31. Catalysis in Organic Reactions1h 30m
32. Lipids 2h 50m
33. The Organic Chemistry of Metabolic Pathways2h 52m
34. Nucleic Acids1h 32m
35. Transition Metals6h 14m
36. Synthetic Polymers1h 49m

8. Elimination Reactions

Solvents

Organic Chemistry

8. Elimination Reactions

Solvents

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Problem 56

Textbook Question

If a small amount of a moderately nonpolar poisonous compound was added to a pond, why would it be safer to drink the water than it would be to eat the fish that live there?

Verified step by step guidance

Understand the concept of bioaccumulation: Bioaccumulation refers to the process by which organisms accumulate toxic substances, such as nonpolar compounds, at a rate faster than they can eliminate them.

Consider the solubility of nonpolar compounds: Nonpolar compounds tend to be more soluble in organic solvents and lipids than in water. This means they are more likely to accumulate in the fatty tissues of organisms, such as fish, rather than remaining dissolved in the water.

Analyze the food chain dynamics: Fish, being higher up in the food chain, can accumulate higher concentrations of the nonpolar compound through their diet, as they consume smaller organisms that have absorbed the compound.

Evaluate the concentration effect: The concentration of the nonpolar compound in the fish is likely to be higher than in the water due to bioaccumulation, making the fish more hazardous to consume.

Conclude with risk assessment: Drinking the water, which contains a lower concentration of the compound, poses less risk than eating the fish, which have accumulated higher levels of the toxin in their tissues.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Polarity and Solubility

Polarity refers to the distribution of electrical charge over the atoms in a molecule. Nonpolar compounds tend to be hydrophobic, meaning they do not dissolve well in water. This concept is crucial because it explains why the nonpolar compound might not mix thoroughly with the pond water, making the water safer to drink than consuming fish that may accumulate the compound.

Bioaccumulation

Bioaccumulation is the process by which organisms accumulate substances, such as pesticides or other chemicals, in their bodies over time. Fish can absorb nonpolar compounds from the water and store them in their fatty tissues, leading to higher concentrations than in the surrounding water. Understanding this concept helps explain why eating fish could be more dangerous than drinking the water.

Food Chain and Biomagnification

Biomagnification refers to the increase in concentration of a substance in a food chain. As small fish consume contaminated water and are eaten by larger fish, the concentration of the nonpolar compound increases at each trophic level. This concept is essential for understanding why the compound's concentration might be higher in fish than in the water, posing a greater risk when consuming fish.

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