10.2 Air Quality & Climate

Question 1

What makes up the composition of clean, dry air? [3]

Answer 1

• nitrogen
• oxygen
• noble gases and carbon dioxide

Question 2

What are the percentages of things that make up the composition of clean, dry air? [3]

Answer 2

• nitrogen = 78%
• oxygen = 21%
• CO₂ = 1%

Question 3

What are the most common air pollutants? [6]

Answer 3

• carbon dioxide
• sulfur dioxide
• carbon
• nitrogen monoxide
• carbon monoxide
• nitrogen dioxide

Question 4

What are the symbols for each of the most common air pollutants? [6]

Answer 4

• CO₂
• SO₂
• C
• NO
• CO
• NO₂

Question 5

What is the source of carbon dioxide? [2]

Answer 5

• complete combustion of carbon-containing fuels

Question 6

What is the source of carbon monoxide? [2]

Answer 6

• incomplete combustion of carbon containing fuels

Question 7

What is the source of methane? [2]

Answer 7

• decomposition of vegetation
• waste gases from digestion in animals

Question 8

What is the source of nitrogen oxides? [1]

Answer 8

• car engines

Question 9

What is the source of sulphur dioxide? [2]

Answer 9

• combustion of fossil fuels which contain sulphur compounds

Question 10

What is the formula for complete combustion? [2]

Answer 10

CH₄ + O₂ –> CO₂ + H₂O

Question 11

What is the formula for incomplete combustion? [2]

Answer 11

CH₄ –> CO + C

Question 12

What are general sources of outdoor air pollution? [10]

Answer 12

• power plants
• construction and road dust
• emissions
• industries
• biomass burning
• brick kilns
• transportation
• open waste burning
• combustion
• agriculture

Question 13

What is the effect of carbon dioxide? [3]

Answer 13

• higher levels of carbon dioxide = increase in global warming = climate change

Question 14

What is the effect of carbon monoxide? [1]

Answer 14

toxic gas

Question 15

What is the effect of particulates? [2]

Answer 15

• increased risk of respiratory problems
• risk of cancer

Question 16

What is the effect of methane? [3]

Answer 16

• higher levels of methane = increase in global warming = climate change

Question 17

What is the effect of nitrogen oxides? [2]

Answer 17

• acid rain
• respiratory problems

Question 18

What is the effect of sulphur dioxide? [1]

Answer 18

acid rain

Question 19

What are ways to reduce the effects of climate change? [4]

Answer 19

• planting trees
• reduction in livestock farming
• decreasing use of fossil fuels
• increasing use of hydrogen and renewable energy

Question 20

What are ways to reduce the effects of acid rain? [3]

Answer 20

• reducing emissions of sulfur dioxide by using:
• low-sulfur fuels
• flue gas desulfisation with calcium oxide

Question 21

How do the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and methane cause global warming? [4]

Answer 21

• the absorption of thermal energy
• the reflection of thermal energy
• the emission of thermal energy
• reducing thermal energy loss to space

Question 22

How are nitrogen oxides formed in car engines? [3]

Answer 22

• car engine runs and causes combustion by heating up quickly
• this process acts like a catalyst and binds nitrogen with oxygen
• this form nitrogen dioxide or nitric oxide

Question 23

How can nitrogen oxides be removed? [1]

Answer 23

by catalytic converters

Question 24

What is the formula for the removal of nitrogen oxides? [2]

Answer 24

carbon monoxide + nitrogen monoxide –> carbon dioxide + nitrogen

Question 25

What is the balanced symbol equation for the removal of nitrogen oxides? [2]

Answer 25

2CO + 2NO –> 2CO₂ + N₂

Question 26

What is acid rain? [2]

Answer 26

• caused by the release of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide into the atmosphere