Atmosphere Flashcards
What is the atmosphere?
A layer of gases surrounding the Earth that is retained by gravity
What are the names of the four layers of the atmosphere, and what order are they in from Earth going out?
Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere (Trains Start Moving Through)
What percent of each gas is in the atmosphere?
Nitrogen 78%
Oxygen 21%
Argon 0.9%
Carbon Dioxide 0.04%
Other Gases (including water vapour) 0.06%
Complete the equation:
copper + oxygen —->
Copper oxide
If I burn copper in 100cm3 of air and end up with 80cm3 of air, what % of the
air is oxygen? (show all working)
Change in Volume of air: 100 - 80 = 20cm3
Percentage of oxygen in the air = (reduction in volume of air/ volume of air at start of experiment) x 100
= (20/100) x 100 = 20%
How can I test for oxygen in the lab?
Apply a glowing splint. If the splint reignites, there is oxygen present.
How can I test for carbon dioxide in the lab?
- Apply a lit splint. If carbon dioxide is present, the glow/flame, will extinguish.
- Test gas with limewater. If carbon dioxide is present, the limewater changes from colourless to cloudy.
Does oxygen support combustion?
Yes
Does carbon dioxide support combustion?
No
Does nitrogen support combustion?
No
Which gases were present in Earth’s very early atmosphere?
Hydrogen and Helium
True or False:
Oxygen was released by volcanoes
False
Which four gases were released into Earth’s early atmosphere by volcanoes?
Carbon dioxide, water vapour, methane and nitrogen
What did comets bring to the Earth?
Water
What gas dissolved into the oceans?
Carbon dioxide
What gas was first released into the atmosphere when the first bacteria evolved?
Oxygen
Name the process that first released oxygen and write the equation:
Photosynthesis.
Above the arrow should be: sunlight, chlorophyll and excess water.
Once there was enough oxygen in the atmosphere, what evolved next?
Primitive plants
What are the three fossil fuels and what is stored in them?
Coal, Gas and oil: Carbon trapped in them (preventing CO2 from entering the atmosphere)
What is causing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels to rise in the current atmosphere?
Carbon dioxide concentrations are rising mostly because of the fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) that people are burning for energy
What is the source and harmful effects of: Carbon Monoxide
Source:
Released when fossil fuels are burnt in limited oxygen
Harmful effects:
- Causes carbon monoxide poisoning
What is the source and harmful effects of:
Sulfur Dioxide
Source:
Released when fossil fuels are burnt
Harmful effects:
The sulfur dioxide reacts with the oxygen in the atmosphere to form sulfur trioxide
Then, the sulfur trioxide reacts with the water vapour in the atmosphere to form sulfuric acid.
The sulfur dioxide can also react directly with water vapour in the atmosphere to form sulfurous acid (H2SO3).
Both processes cause ACID RAIN
What is the source of, and what are the harmful effects of, nitrous oxides?
Eg: nitrogen oxide - NO, and nitrogen dioxide - NO2
Source:
Mainly released from car engines
Harmful effects:
NO and NO2 can both cause smog
NO2 can also cause acid rain
The NO2 reacts with oxygen in the atmosphere to form nitric acid
What is the source of, and what are the harmful effects of:
Methane?
Source:
- Intensive cow farming and rice paddy fields
Harmful effects:
Enhance the greenhouse effect
What is the source of, and what are the harmful effects of:
Carbon dioxide?
Source:
- Released when fossil fuels are burnt
Harmful effects:
Enhance the greenhouse effect
What is the source of, and what are the harmful effects of:
Particulate pollutants?
(Including: lead, dust and soot)
Source:
- Released when fossil fuels are burnt
- Lead used to be added to petrol and used in paint.
Harmful effects:
If lead particulates build up in the body (either by being breathed in or eaten) they can cause nerve damage
