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Chemistry - s2 Inorganic Chemistry > 2c Gases in the atmosphere > Flashcards

2c Gases in the atmosphere Flashcards

1
Q

What is the percentage of nitrogen (N2) in the air?

A

78%

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2
Q

What is the percentage of oxygen (O2) in the air?

A

21%

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3
Q

What is the percentage of argon in the air?

A

0.94%

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4
Q

What is the percentage of Carbon Dioxide in the air?

A

0.04%

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5
Q

What are the properties of nitrogen?

A
  • Nitrogen gas is difficult to notice – it’s colourless, odourless and insoluble in water.
  • Its structure is two nitrogen atoms joined by a triple covalent bond. This means it is diatomic.
  • The triple covalent bond is very strong, and a great deal of energy is required to break it.
  • The bond needs to be broken before nitrogen will react with other atoms.
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6
Q

What are the uses of nitrogen?

A
  • Used to make fertilisers, nitric acid, nylon dyes and explosives
  • Nitrogen must first react with hydrogen to produce NH3 - this is called the harbor process
  • It can also be used for filling light bulbs
  • Liquid nitrogen is very cold and can be used as a coolant
  • Nitrogen gas provides an
    inert atmosphere in food packaging, helping to keep the contents fresh.
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7
Q

What are the properties of Oxygen?

A
  • Oxygen is soluble in blood which allows effective transportation in haemoglobin
  • It’s reactive with fuels and it supports combustion which significantly raises the flame temperature
  • It can react with organic materials and impurities which allows it to break down contaminants
  • It’s a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas
  • Soluble in water / supports combustion
  • BP: -182.97C MP: -218.76C
  • Pure oxygen is 1.1x heavier than air
  • (l) oxygen is magnetic
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8
Q

What are the uses of Oxygen?

A
  • Used as a medicine to help people with breathing problems - vital in humans and animals
  • Production of steel, plastics and textiles as well as cutting off steels and other elements
  • Oxygen can be used to purify water and treat waste water
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9
Q

What are the properties of Argon?

A
  • Colourless, odourless, non flammable and not toxic as a (s), (l) or (g)
  • MP: -189.35C BP: -185.85C
  • Density: 1.784g/l
  • It’s a gas at room temperature
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10
Q

What are the uses of Argon?

A
  • It is often used when an inert atmosphere is needed
  • Used in this way to produce titanium and other reactive elements
  • 3D printing, shield gas in welding, radioisotope dating and heat treating
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11
Q

What are the properties of Carbon Dioxide?

A
  • colourless and low concentrations, its odourless but at high concentrations has sharp and acidic odour
  • 1.53x denser than air
  • It is non flammable
  • Mostly exists as a gas
  • It is not combustible
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12
Q

What are the uses of Carbon Dioxide?

A
  • Used in food and beverage production, the fabrication of metal, cooling, fine suppression and in greenhouses to help plants grow
  • Fire extinguishers, preparation of washing soda, photosynthesis in plants inflating life boats and life jackets
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13
Q

What is the method for the heating copper turnings experiment to figure out how much % of oxygen is in the air?

A
  • Fill a gas syringe with 100cm3 of air.
  • Start to heat the copper turnings and then gently pass the air from one syringe to the other.
  • Continue to pass the air backwards and forwards until the volume of the gas syringe remains fixed

Volume of air in syringe at start - 100cm3
Volume of air in syringe at end - 79cm3
Volume of air used up - 21cm3
Volume of oxygen used up - 21%

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14
Q

What is the method of how to determine the % of oxygen used up during rusting?

A
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15
Q

What is the method for burning phosphorus in air to determine the % of oxygen?

A
  • Light the phosphorus with a hot wire
  • It reacts with the oxygen in the air and causes the water level in the bell jar to rise by about 20%
  • Place the phosphorus in the evaporating dish and float it in the bell jar
  • Light the phosphorus
  • Quickly cover the dish with a bell jar in the trough
  • Note the water level in the bell jar
  • Leave the apparatus until the phosphorus is extinguished
  • Measure the final water level in the bell jar, the decrease in the volume of air is the volume of air originally in the jar
  • Calculate the % of oxygen in air using the change in water level / original volume of air in the bell jar x 100
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16
Q

How would you heat copper turnings to determine the % of oxygen in the air?

A
  • Fill a gas syringe 100cm3 of air.
  • Start to heat the copper turnings and then gently pass the air from one syringe to the other.
  • Continue to pass the air backwards and forwards until the volume in the gas syringe remains fixed
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17
Q

What is the greenhouse effect and why is it important?

A

The greenhouse effect is the process that happens when gases in the Earth’s atmosphere trap heat from the sun in the atmosphere and prevent it from escaping back into space. This effect is what keeps the Earth warm and a suitable temperature and what helps to sustain life on the planet.

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18
Q

What is meant by the “enhanced greenhouse effect”?

A

The enhanced greenhouse effect is where extra greenhouse gases (the ones that are made by humans eg. burning fossil fuels) that are emitted into the atmosphere trap too much of the Sun’s energy which then warms up the planet causing global warming.

19
Q

Name one other greenhouse gas other than carbon dioxide?

A

Another greenhouse gas that is not carbon dioxide is methane (CH4). The biggest sources of methane is agriculture, fossil fuels and decomposition of landfill waste. It is released during different processes eg. production and transport of coal, oil, and natural gas as well as from livestock and other agricultural practices

20
Q

Why are greenhouse gasses a problem?

A

Greenhouse gas emissions are like a blanket on earth, they trap the sun’s heat. This leads to global warming as the temperatures are increasing really quickly. Increase of global temperatures over time are changing weather patterns and disrupting the usual balance of nature. It can also increase the frequency and intensity for extreme weather events such as sea level rise and disruptions to ecosystems and biodiversity.

21
Q

What evidence is there for the greenhouse effect?

A

Birds are migrating earlier, and their migration patterns are changing. Lobsters and other marine species are moving north. Plants are blooming earlier in the spring. Mountain glaciers are melting worldwide. There have been measurements of atmospheric gases, satellite observations, and climate models. These sources show that greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapour, trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere and contribute to the warming of the planet.

22
Q

What evidence is there that carbon dioxide, and the greenhouse effect, is contributing to climate change?

A

Scientists have observed a significant increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels since the industrial revolution due to human activities eg. burning fossil fuels. This increase correlates with the rise of global temperatures and other indicators of climate change such as melting ice caps and shifting weather patterns.

23
Q

What are the main concerns for climate change?

A

More severe extreme weather events and increase in temperatures eg. hurricanes, earthquakes and heatwaves
A warming and rising ocean - leading to coastal erosion and increased flooding
Disruption of ecosystems and loss of biodiversity
Negative impacts on agriculture and food security
Migrations and conflicts due to resource scarcity and environmental displacement

24
Q

How is sulfur dioxide (SO2) formed?

A
  • Burning of fossil fuels (coal and oil)
  • Smelting of mineral ores (zinc, lead) that contain sulfur
25
Q

What are the problems with sulfure dioxide?

A
  • Can damage trees and plants
  • Damage sensitive ecosystems
  • Can affect lung function
  • Causes acid rain
26
Q

What are the solutions to sulfur dioxide?

A
  • Use coal that contains less sulfur
  • Can be reduced by using cleaner fuels in power plants and installing scrubbers
27
Q

How are nitrogen oxides (NO/NO2) formed?

A
  • Produced in combustion processes
  • High temperatures and pressures inside a car engine causes nitrogen and oxygen to react with each other
28
Q

What are the problems of nitrogen oxides?

A
  • Inflammation of the airways, dizziness and headache
  • Contributes to global warming
  • Acid rain
29
Q

What are the solution to nitrogen oxides?

A

Use catalytic converters

30
Q

How are unburned fuels formed?

A
  • When air escapes combustion
  • Occurs when there is a poor supply of oxygen
31
Q

What are the problems of unburned fuels?

A
  • Contribute to global warming
  • Can cause respiratory problems when inhaled
32
Q

What are the solutions to unburned fuels?

A
  • Improve combustion efficiency
  • Using emission control systems
  • Turn to electric vehicles
33
Q

How is water (H2O) formed?

A
  • Evaporation of water bodies
  • Hydrogen particles will burn to form water
34
Q

What are the problems of water?

A

Floods + droughtsWh

35
Q

What are the solution to water problems?

A
  • Improve carbon storage
  • Doesn’t cause long term problems
36
Q

How is Carbon Dioxide (CO2) formed?

A
  • Complete combustion
37
Q

What are the problems of carbon dioxide?

A

Warms the planet causing climate change

38
Q

What are the solutions to carbon dioxide?

A

Burn less fossil fuels

39
Q

How is Carbon Monoxide (CO) formed?

A

Fossil fuels burn without enough oxygen

40
Q

What are the problems with carbon monoxide?

A

Can reduce the amount of oxygen the body receives

41
Q

What are the solutions to carbon monoxide?

A

Additional ventilation

42
Q

How are soot particulates (C) formed?

A

Incomplete combustion

43
Q

What are the problems with soot particulates?

A
  • Acidification of lakes + rivers
  • Can lead to global dimming
44
Q

What are the solutions to soot particulates?

A
  • Haze (particles in the air)
  • Using clean energy sources

Chemistry - s2 Inorganic Chemistry (8 decks)

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