Carlos Hilado Memorial State College

Alijis Campus | Binalbagan Campus | Fortune Towne Campus | Talisay Campus

To be a leading GREEN institution of higher learning in the global community by 2030

(Good governance, Research-oriented, Extension-driven, Education for Sustainable Development & Nation-
building)

MODULE 1
INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
MATTER AND ENERGY

I. LEARNING OBJECTIVES

 Describe the relationship of environmental science with other sciences

 Define terms used in Environmental Science
 Identify different sources of energy
 Initiate acts that will help conserve energy

II. INTRODUCTION

Environmental science is a multi-disciplinary science because it embraces countless

branches of studies like sciences, biology, chemistry, agriculture, public health, sanitary,
engineering, etc. It is the science of physical phenomena in the environment. This field of study
comprises both applied and theoretical facets of human influence in the world. It converses the
reactions, sources, transport, effect and possibilities of biological activity that could also affect
human to environment and vice versa.

III. LESSON

Lesson 1. Components of Environmental Science:

1. Atmospheric Sciences deals with the study of the atmosphere, its
processes, the effects other systems have on the atmosphere and
the effects of the atmosphere on these systems. It covers the other
fields such as meteorology, climatology and aeronomy.
2. Ecology (from Greek word “oikos” meaning the family of
households and logy meaning “the study of”), which deals with the
relationship between organisms and their environment. This
involves diversity, distribution, amount (biomass), number
(population) of organisms as well as competition between them
within and among ecosystems.
3. Environmental Chemistry is a scientific discipline which focuses on the chemical changes in
the environment. This study includes soil contamination and water pollution. The topics of
analysis include chemical degradation in the environment, multi-phase transport of and
chemical effects in the environment.

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4. Geosciences is a scientific study on earth’s crust that includes environmental geology,
environmental soil science and volcanic phenomena as well as hydrology like oceanography.

The Environmental Ethics

Ethics is a branch of philosophy that is derived from the logical application of human
values. These values are the principles that an individual or a society considers important or
worthwhile.
The ways in which humans interact with its natural
resources are determined by the ethical attitudes and
behaviors. Attitudes towards these resources which
assume that the earth has infinite supply is called frontier
ethic. It is absolutely anthropocentric (human-centered),
for only the needs of humans are measured. If resources
run out in one area, more can be found elsewhere or
alternatively human ingenuity will find substitutes just to
satisfy human desires.
Environmental Ethics is a field of applied ethics that considers the moral basis of
environmental responsibility. Such an ethics places limits on human activities that may
adversely affect the natural community.
Sustainable ethics is environmental ethics by the way people treat the earth as if its
resources are limited. This ethics assumes that the earth’s resources are not unlimited and that
humans must use and conserve resources in a manner that allows their continued use in the
future. This ethics include the following tenets:
1. The earth has a limited supply of resources.
2. Humans must conserve and share the earth’s resources with other living things.
3. Humans are part of nature and are affected by natural laws.

Three Ethical Perspectives

1. Anthropocentric (human-centered) – is a set of ethics
that protect and promote human interests or well- being at
the expense of all other factors. It places an
emphasis on short-term benefits while
disregarding long-term consequences. Its costs and benefits
are measured only on their impact on people. Anything
that does not provide benefit to people has no value.
2. Bio-centric is a belief that certain living things also have
value and that all life has ethical standing. In this sense,
development is opposed if it destroys life, even if it creates
jobs.
3. Eco centrism is advocated by John Muir, where he believes
that nature deserves to exist for its own sake regardless of degree of usefulness to
humans. The preservation of ecosystems or other living things takes priority over human
needs.

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The Environmental Attitudes.
There are several different attitudes about the environment according to Enger and
Smith but most of them fall under the following:
a. Development ethics is based on individualism and egocentrism. It assumes that the
human race is and should be the master of nature; therefore, the earth and its
resources exist for our benefit and pleasure.
b. Preservation ethics considers the special value of nature. Unchanged nature should be
protected for its own inherent value.
c. Conservation ethics or Management ethics is using natural resources wisely for the
greatest good of most people. It is a utilitarian standard that calls for prudent, efficient
and sustainable resource extraction and use of the natural resources. It stresses
equilibrium of total development and absolute preservation from resource use and
resource availability.

ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
Local Environmental Non-Government Organizations
1. ABS-CBN Bantay Kalikasan
2. The Center for Environmental Concerns-Philippines (CEC-Phils)
3. The Eco Link Women’s Network
4. Foundation of the Philippine Environment
5. The Global Environment and nature ecosystems Society (Phil)
Foundation (GENESYS), Inc.
6. Haribon Foundation
7. Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation Inc. (PTFCF)
8. Philippine Ocean Heritage
9. The Rain Forestation Information Portal
10. Society for the Conservation of Phil Wetlands
Incorporated
11. Tanggol Kalikasan (Defense of Nature)
12. The World Wide Fund (WWF)
13. Partnerships in Environmental Management for
the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA)

LESSON 2. MATTER AND ENERGY

Matter is a material that makes up things in the universe; it is
anything that occupies space and has mass. Matter on earth is
composed of elements which is approximately 115 different types.
Atoms is the smallest particle that exhibits the unique chemical
properties of an element. It is composed of smaller parts known as
protons, neutrons and electrons. A proton is a subatomic particle that
has positive electrical charge while neutron has a negative electrical
charge. Protons and neutrons make up the nucleus of an atom making
the nucleus the most massive part of an atom. Electrons are found
orbiting outside the nucleus on their energy level.

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States of matter
1. Solid – has a definite shape, volume and particles
vibrate around fixed positions
2. Liquid – has no definite shape (takes the shape of its
container), has definite volume and particles are free
to move each other, but are still attracted to each
other
3. Gas – has no definite shape and volume, particles
move in random motion with little
4. Plasma – has no definite shape and volume, known as the fourth state of matter and is
not an ordinary gas because it can generate electricity

Classification of matter

1. Mixture – composed of different substance, proportions vary and can be separated by

physical method, classified as homogeneous or heterogeneous.
2. Pure substances – have constant composition; can only be separated by chemical
reactions, classified as elements and compounds.

Methods of Separating Mixtures:

Distillation Filtration Chromatography

Properties of Matter

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 1. Physical properties show what the substance is without changing into or interacting
with another substance.

2. Chemical properties are those that will happen to a substance as it changes or interact with
another substance.

Physical and Chemical Change

1. Physical change occurs when a substance changes its
physical form, not its composition.
2. Chemical change occurs when a substance is altered
into different substances.

Energy
Energy is defined as the capacity of doing work. Energy
and matter are associated with each other in different aspects
and in larger nature
There are two basic forms of energy: kinetic and potential
energy.

Energy Resources
1. Conventional energy resources are non-renewable
sources of energy which are used since time being.
The use of this form of energy has been in massive
volumes for the past years that their reserves have
decreased to a great extent
and it is difficult to
discover and exploit their new deposits
2. Alternative energy resources are renewable and are
thought to be free. They also have lower carbon
emissions.

IV. LEARNING ACTIVITIES

1. Given the 13 Environmental Organizations, choose 3 and give a brief description of each
2. List down 5 activities of humans and classify these according to the given Environmental
Attitudes ( Development ethics, Preservation ethics and Conservation Ethics)
3. Differentiate homogeneous from heterogeneous mixture
4. Explain how the 3 methods of separating mixtures are done

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 5. Give 5 examples of mixture and 5 examples of pure substances
6. Enumerate the physical and chemical properties of matter
7. List down 5 examples of physical change and 5 examples of chemical change.
8. List down your activities at home that will save your energy consumption.

V. ASSESSMENT

1. Differentiate the following: (limit your answer to 3 sentences for each question that
needs discussion)
a. Environmental issues from environmental problems
b. Ethics from Environmental ethics
c. Development ethics from preservation ethics
d. Atmospheric science from Geoscience
e. Bioethics from ecocentrism
2. Give 5 examples of matter and classify their states (solid, liquid, gas, plasma)
3. Define energy and identify its sources.
4. Differentiate kinetic from potential energy and give 5 examples of each kind
5. List down the non-renewable sources of energy and be able to describe each
6. List down renewable sources of energy and be able to describe each

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