Air Pollution Part 1 Flashcards
What is ambient air?
The air around us
Which pollutants does fire release?
Pm and CO
Which pollutant do volcanoes release?
SO2, S, pm
What pollutant do forests release?
VOCs
Which pollutant does rotting material release?
CH4
What are 4 examples of primary pollutants?
Hg, NOx, SO2, pm
What are 3 examples of secondary pollutants?
Acid rain, HNO3, H2SO4
What reacts with primary pollutants to create secondary pollutants?
Air, UV light, water
What did the clean air act in 1955 accomplish?
National ambient air quality standards (NAAQS)
Set up cap and trade program for SO2 emission
What are 7 criteria pollutants?
Sulfur oxides (SO2) Nitrogen oxides (NO2) Carbon oxides (CO, CO2) Metals (Pb, Hg) Particulate matter VOCs Photochemical oxides
What does VOC stand for?
Volatile organic compounds
Is nitrogen oxide a primary or secondary pollutant?
Primary
What is the chemical formula for nitric acid rain?
NO + O + H2O = HNO3
What are 3 natural sources of nitrogen oxide?
Fire smoke, swamps, N-cycle
What are 3 anthropogenic sources of nitrogen oxide?
Coal, petroleum, nitrate
Sulfur compounds cause ___% of acid rain
75
What is the chemical formula for sulfuric acid rain?
SO2 + H2O + O + H2SO4
What are 2 natural sources of sulfur?
Volcanoes, sea spray
What are 3 anthropogenic sources of sulfur?
Coal, petroleum distillation, smelting
What is the order of the nitrogen cycle?
N2O in air Nitrogen fixation Nitrification Assimilation Ammonification Denitrification
What happens in nitrogen fixation? (Abiotic)
Gas is turned to a liquid or solid by lightning or cosmic radiation, N is combined with O to make HNO3
What happens in nitrogen fixation? (biotic)
Gas is turned to a liquid or solid by bacteria rhizobium in root nodules of plants
What are 2 examples of legumes?
Soybeans and alfalfa
What happens in nitrification?
Bacteria change nitrogen so plants can use it