Air Quality

Question 1

How was the earth’s atmosphere formed?

Answer 1

Probably from gases given off during volcanic eruptions

Question 2

Name 2 things that cause air pollution

Answer 2

Vehicles and power stations

Question 3

What elements are found in hydrocarbons

Answer 3

Hydrogen and carbon

Question 4

What is given off by incomplete combustion?

Answer 4

Carbon monoxide and carbon particulates

Question 5

Name three gases that are pollutants

Answer 5

Carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide

Question 6

How would you recognise an outlier

Answer 6

The result is different to all the others

Question 7

How are the molecules in a gas arranged?

Answer 7

There is no structure, and lots of space between them

Question 8

Has the earth’s atmosphere always been as it is today?

Answer 8

No

Question 9

Can particulates be released by natural processes?

Answer 9

Yes

Question 10

What 2 gases make acid rain?

Answer 10

Sulfur dioxide, and the nitrogen oxides

Question 11

What do hydrocarbon fuels form when they burn in oxygen?

Answer 11

Water and carbon dioxide

Question 12

Where are the nitrogen oxides form?

Answer 12

In hot car engines, from the nitrogen and oxygen in the air

Question 13

What is the range of a set of results?

Answer 13

The difference between the highest and the lowest results

Question 14

What is the mean?

Answer 14

The average

Question 15

What is correlation?

Answer 15

A link between a factor and an outcome, but one does not need to cause the other.

Question 16

What proves a causal link?

Answer 16

One factor always causes an outcome

Question 17

What is the law of conservation of matter?

Answer 17

Matter cannot be created nor destroyed

Question 18

The nitrogen oxides, as a group, are written how?

Answer 18

NOx, NO goes to NO2

Question 19

An oxidation reaction does what?

Answer 19

Adds oxygen

Question 20

A reduction reaction does what?

Answer 20

Removes oxygen

Question 21

Name a disadvantage of biofuels?

Answer 21

They use land which could be used for growing food.

Question 22

Name an advantage of biofuels?

Answer 22

They are carbon neutral in that the carbon that is released is being trapped again to produce more fuel.

Question 23

Name a natural process that releases pollutants

Answer 23

Volcanoes

Question 24

How is carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere?

Answer 24

It dissolves in the sea and can be trapped in sedimentary rocks, and fossil fuels. It is removed by photosynthesis which can also be converted to fossil fuels.

Question 25

What was the effect of plants on earth’s atmosphere?

Answer 25

They removed carbon dioxide, and released oxygen, so not the atmosphere is one fifth oxygen.

Question 26

What happened to the water vapour in earth’s early atmosphere?

Answer 26

It condensed to form oceans.

Question 27

Why is there sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere?

Answer 27

fossil fuels contain small amounts of sulfur, when they are burned the sulfur reacts with oxygen to form sulfur dioxide.

Question 28

Why is sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere a problem?

Answer 28

It dissolves in water to form sulfurous acid, which forms acid rain which damages trees and buildings.

Question 29

How can the amount of sulfur in the atmosphere be reduced?

Answer 29

Power stations can reduce it be desulfurisation of flue gases.

Question 30

What is a catalytic converter?

Answer 30

A device in the exhaust of cars to remove nitrous oxides and carbon monoxide from the exhaust fumes.

Question 31

What does the catalytic converter convert the carbon monoxide, and the nitrous oxides, to?

Answer 31

Carbon monoxide is oxidised to carbon dioxide. Nitrous oxides are reduced to nitrogen.

Question 32

Write the word equation for the reaction that happens in a catalytic converter

Answer 32

Carbon monoxide + nitrogen monoxide => nitrogen and carbon dioxide

Question 33

Why are modern fuels required to be “low sulfur”

Answer 33

Sulfur damages the catalyst in the catalytic converter

Question 34

How are emissions of cars controlled in the UK?

Answer 34

The car emissions are tested as part of the annual MOT test, if the car fails the problem needs to be fixed.

Question 35

Are electric cars “green”?

Answer 35

They do not give out pollutant gases when being used, so the atmosphere in our cities is much better. However, there are still pollutant gases given off at the power station when the electricity is generated.

Question 36

How could you reduce electricity consumption in the home?

Answer 36

Switch appliance off, do not leave on standby. Turn off lights. Increase insulation.

Question 37

How could you reduce pollution from power stations?

Answer 37

Reduce electricity use.

Question 38

How can power stations remove particulates from their flue gases?

Answer 38

They can use electrostatic filters.

Question 39

Which fossil fuels contain less sulfur?

Answer 39

Gas and oil.

Question 40

Which fossil fuels can have sulfur removed?

Answer 40

Gas and oil. Coal it is much harder, it is in solid lumps.

Question 41

What is the chemical process use to achieve flue gas desulfurisation?

Answer 41

Use calcium oxide and water to form calcium sulphate which can be sold as plaster. It is also possible to use sea water to absorb the sulfur oxide as sea water is naturally alkaline.

Question 42

What are the disadvantages of electric cars?

Answer 42

Few charging points, limited range, long charging time.