Geology 210      Class Preparation Questions

Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Groundwater

What are the structural characteristics of the following groups:

alkanes, alkenes, aromatics, organic halides, alcohols

How does viscosity, volatility and solubility in water vary among the various members of the aromatics and alkanes?

How do we 'fingerprint' petroleum hydrocarbons?

What is an LNAPL? a DNAPL?

What are the characteristic components of gasoline?

How do the various components vary in terms of solubility in water?

What is MTBE?  Why is it such a problem?

What natural processes lead to attenuation of petroleum derivatives in groundwater?