atmosphere (air)

Question 1

what is the percentage composition of nitrogen in clean air?

Answer 1

78%

Question 2

what is the percentage composition of oxygen in clean air?

Answer 2

21%

Question 3

in clean air, which noble gas is it mainly made of?

Answer 3

mainly argon

Question 4

method of separation for air

Answer 4

fractional distillation

Question 5

what is the source of the pollutant, carbon monoxide?

Answer 5

incomplete combustion of petrol in vehicles

Question 6

what effect does carbon monoxide have on humans?

Answer 6

reduces the ability of haemoglobin to transport oxygen to the rest of the body causing breathing difficulty and even death

Question 7

what are the sources of the pollutant, sulfur dioxide?

there are 2 sources, one source is natural

Answer 7

1. burning of fuels in power stations such as coal and oil
2. NATURAL SOURCE: volcanic eruptions

Question 8

what effect does sulfur dioxide have on the environment?

Answer 8

causes acid rain that
1. corrodes buildings
2. corrodes metal surfaces such as bridges
3. makes land acidic leading to poor crop growth
4. makes fresh water lakes acidic which affects marine life

Question 9

what effect does sulfur dioxide have on humans?

Answer 9

1. eye and lung irritation leading to breathing difficulty
2. high levels of sulfur dioxide leads to bronchitis

Question 10

what are the sources of the pollutant, oxides of nitrogen?

there are 2, one is natural

Answer 10

1. at HIGH TEMPERATURE, nitrogen gas and oxygen gas burns in the vehicle engines to form oxides of nitrogen
2. NATURAL source: lightning activity

Question 11

what effect does oxides of nitrogen have on the environment?

Answer 11

causes acid rain that
1. corrodes buildings
2. corrodes metal surfaces such as bridges
3. makes land acidic leading to poor crop growth
4. makes fresh water lakes acidic which affects marine life

Question 12

what effect does oxides of nitrogen have on humans?

Answer 12

1. eye and lung irritation leading to breathing difficulty
2. high levels of oxides of nitrogen leads to bronchitis

Question 13

how to reduce pollution caused by carbon monoxide?

Answer 13

fit cars with catalytic converters which converts carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide

Question 14

how to reduce pollution caused by sulfur dioxide?

Answer 14

desulfurisation: treat exhaust gases from power stations/acidic soil with calcium carbonate or calcium oxide

Question 15

how to reduce pollution caused by oxides of nitrogen?

Answer 15

fit cars with catalytic converters that convert oxides of nitrogen to nitrogen gas

rhodium and platinum catalysts speeds up the formation of harmless gases