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AQA A-level Environmental Science > Atmospheric Pollution > Flashcards

Atmospheric Pollution Flashcards

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1
Q

Name 2 ways in which pollutants can behave differently because they are dispersed in the atmosphere and not in water

A
  • more rapid movement due to wind leads to dispersal over wider areas
    -secondary pollutants occur more often because of the more frequent interactions with electromagnetic radiation can cause more chemical reactions
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2
Q

Name the 5 different types of atmospheric pollution you need to know

A

Smoke smogs
Photochemical smogs
Acid rain
Tropospheric ozone
Carbon monoxide

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3
Q

What are the 5 types of atmospheric pollution to learn?

A

Smoke and smoke smogs
Photochemical smogs
Acid rain
Tropospheric ozone
Carbon monoxide

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4
Q

What is smoke made up of?

A

Particles produced by the incomplete combustion of carbon based materials

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5
Q

How is smoke categorised

A

By the size range of particles

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6
Q

What does PM10 mean?

A

Particulate matter that is less than 10 microns in diameter

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7
Q

what does PM5 mean?

A

Particulate matter that is less than 5 microns in diameter

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8
Q

What does PM1 mean?

A

Particulate matter that is less than 1 micron in diameter

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9
Q

Why is particle size important?

A

Because smaller particles remain in the atmosphere for longer so are more likely to be inhaled

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10
Q

What are some toxic chemicals that can be found in smoke?

A

Fluorides,Aluminium,Lead,Acids,Organic compounds like phenol

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11
Q

How does smoke act with with other atmospheric pollutants? Can you give a named example?

A

Act synergistically
Sulfur dioxide

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12
Q

What does the exact composition of smoke depend on?

A

The source

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13
Q

What is the main source of smoke in urban areas?

A

Combustion of coal,diesel and general combustible wastes

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14
Q

What is the main source of smoke in rural areas?

A

The combustion of crop waste, wood fuel, grasslands and forests

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15
Q

What are the effects of smoke pollution on humans?

A

Respiratory diseases e.g. Bronchitis, asthma and lung cancer
Chemicals on/in smoke particles can kill cilia in bronchioles
This can make it more difficult to clear the lungs of inhaled particles and bacteria
Which can increase the risk of infections and some of the chemicals might be carcinogenic

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16
Q

What is the impact of smoke pollution on living organisms (other than humans)?

A

It can reduce photosynthesis in plants because the smoke blocks the light
Substances in smoke may be toxic for them, such as heavy metals and acids

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17
Q

What effect can smoke pollution have on non-living things?

A

It can damage buildings due to acids and organic solvents they may contain
It is also expensive to clean buildings that are dirty from smoke

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18
Q

Summarise the impacts of smoke pollution on the climate

A

Reduction of temperature
A ‘Nuclear winter’
Particles can remain in the atmosphere for long time periods
Ozone depletion

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19
Q

How can smoke pollution reduce temperatures?

A

Because smoke has a high albedo, meaning it reflects light so the light doesnt reach the ground where it may have been absorbed and converted to heat

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20
Q

Where can smoke particles remain for a long period of time?

A

They are small and can remain suspended in the atmosphere
Especially in the stratosphere where there is no rain to wash it out

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21
Q

What is the link between smoke and the ozone layer?

A

Smoke in the stratosphere can deplete the ozone layer

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22
Q

What is it called when smoke and fog are present together?

A

Smog

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23
Q

When does fog form?

A

When moist air is cooled until it reaches dew point so the water vapour condenses as airborne water droplets

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24
Q

What makes fog formation more likely?

A

Temperature inversions

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25
Q

What is concerning about the smoke in smogs?

A

It is very easily inhaled

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26
Q

What is a property of smogs that relates to the length of a temperature inversion?

A

Smog has a high albedo so the temperature inversion can last for long periods of time
This allows pollutant levels to increase to a high level

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27
Q

Example of a serious smog event

A

London smog 1952

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28
Q

Describe the geographical position of London that made the smog more likely

A

London is in a valley, there has been pollution problems since the 1200s which have increased as the city has

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29
Q

What weather conditions led to the smog in 1952?

A

There was 5 days of anti cyclonic weather in December 1952, which produced clear. Skies and low wind velocities so a temperature inversion formed, and atmospheric pollutant levels rose

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30
Q

How may died in the 1952 London Smog?

A

12’000
Mainly old people or very young or those with existing respiratory problems

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31
Q

What legislative measures are there to control smoke pollution in the UK?

A

The Clean Air Act (1956)
Which restricted the use of fuels that produce smoke in large urban areas of the UK

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32
Q

What control measures are there for smoke pollution from domestic sources?

A

An increase in fuels that dont produce smoke e.g. Natural gas, electricity

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33
Q

What control measures are there for smoke pollution from transport sources?

A

DPFs are fitted in the exhaust pipes of diesel engines which trap up to 80% of smoke particles

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34
Q

DPF

A

Diesel particulate filter

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35
Q

What control measures are there for smoke pollution from industrial sources?

A

Electrostatic precipitators
Cyclone separators
Scrubber
Coal treatment
Bag filters

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36
Q

How do electrostatic precipitators control industrial smoke pollution?

A

Effluent gases are passed through a chamber that has electrically charged wires/plates
The smoke particles in the gases are attracted to these so collect together
As they accumulate, they fall to the floor as fly ash

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37
Q

Where are electrostatic precipitators often used as a pollution control method?

A

In coal-fired power stations

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38
Q

How are cyclone separators a pollution control method/ how do they work?

A

Like air/waste in a vacuum cleaner, effluent gases are forced to rotate in a cylindrical chamber
This throws particles to the outer surface of chamber, causing them to fall and collect
This cleanses gases and they are then discharge via a pipe in the centre of the cylinder

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39
Q

How can a ‘scrubber’ be a smoke pollution control method/ how does it work?

A

It uses a fine what’re spray to wash suspended solid particulate matter and dissolve soluble gaseous pollutants

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40
Q

How does coal treatment control smoke pollution?

A

Heating coal so the tar that causes smoke production is drained off
This produces smokeless coal

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41
Q

How do bag filters control industrial smoke pollution?

A

Remove smoke particles from effluent gases by trapping them on a fabric filter

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42
Q

Describe how combustion technology could be more efficient and the role of oxygen

A

A lot of smoke particles are made from organic matter that hasn’t burnt completely so if oxygen is supplied and efficiently mixed with some particles then they can completely be burnt to gases

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43
Q

What kind of engines produce the most smoke and why?

A

Diesel engines when the driver accelerates too quickly
Too much fuel enters the engine for the amount of oxygen available to burn it

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44
Q

Give an example of more efficient combustion technology

A

Turbo chargers
They enable more air so more oxygen is delivered to combustion chamber, it increases the efficiency of combustion

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45
Q

Why is the term ‘photochemical smog’ slightly inaccurate ?

A

They dont involve smoke or fog so no conventional smog

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46
Q

How are photochemical smogs similar to smoke smogs ?

A

Because they involve urban pollution during temperature inversions in valleys

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47
Q

What pollutants are involved in photochemical smogs?

A

There are a wide variety of reactions that happen between primary and secondary pollutants in the presence of sunlight, including UV light

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48
Q

NOx are one of the primary pollutants that are involved in photochemical smogs. What releases them?

A

Exhaust gases from petrol/diesel engines are a source in urban areas

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49
Q

NOx are formed by fuel combustion. True or false?

A

False
They are formed by the nitrogen and oxygen from the air that is drawn into the engine and they react with each other under the high temperature and pressure conditions in the engine

50
Q

Why in Nitrogen dioxide dangerous/involved in photochemical smogs?

A

It is toxic at high concentrations but they are only normally reached in more polluted cities.
However, in the presence of sunlight and other pollutants, they can produce more toxic secondary pollutants like PANS

51
Q

What is another pollutant, that when present causes nitrogen dioxide to result in the production of the secondary pollutant, PANs?

A

Hydrocarbon vapours

52
Q

Unburnt hydrocarbons are what?

A

A primary pollutant involved in photochemical smogs

53
Q

What are the source of unburnt hydrocarbons?

A

Unburnt fuel in engine exhaust gases
Fuel evaporation from fuel tanks
Spillages

54
Q

Name 3 photochemical pollutants

A

NOx
PANs
Tropospheric ozone

55
Q

PANs

A

Peroxy Acetyl Nitrates

56
Q

What are the effects of NOx as a photochemical pollutant?

A

They increase the risk of respiratory infection e.g. colds,flu. Bronchitis
They can make health conditions worse e.g. asthma and heart disease

57
Q

What are the effects of PANs as photochemical pollutants?

A

They are toxic at lower concentrations than NOx
They cause eye irritation, breathing difficulty, asthma, emphysema
They can also result in an increased risk of heart attacks

58
Q

What is the effect of tropospheric ozone as a photochemical pollutant?

A

They contribute to the production of PANs but they are toxic themselves
The cause asthma, bronchitis and heart disease

59
Q

Why are some cities prone to photochemical smogs?

A

Because of their topography
Areas were the traffic congestion is severe, the climate is sunny and temperature inversions are common

60
Q

What are some cites prone to photochemical smogs?

A

LA, México city,Paris,Beijing,Athens

61
Q

How can NOx and hydrocarbons be controlled to control photochemical smogs?

A

Using catalysts like platinum and palladium in exhaust pipe catalytic converters
NOx can be chemically reduced in the converters to re-form oxygen and nitrogen

62
Q

How can unburnt hydrocarbons be controlled to control photochemical smogs?

A

Catalytic converters can oxidise them to CO2 and water
Vapours at filling stations can be collected, condensed and returned to the main fuel tan, or they can be collected and passed through an activated carbon filter where hydrocarbons absorb onto the carbon particles

63
Q

How can photochemical smogs be controlled?

A

By controlling the release of primary pollutants to prevent the formation of secondary pollutants that they react with

64
Q

What PH is rain naturally?

A

5.6
Slightly acidic

65
Q

Why is all rain naturally acidic?

A

Because naturally occurring CO2 in the atmosphere dissolves in it to produce a dilute carbonic acid, which is a weak acid

66
Q

What is acid rain?

A

The name given to any precipitation that is more acidic than a PH of 5.6

67
Q

What is the cause of acidic rain?

A

A combination of pollution problems that is caused by a range of acidic gases, and other pollutants that contribute to the problems

68
Q

What gases are involved in acid rain?

A

The main gases are sulphur dioxide, and oxides of nitrogen, but other gases include hydrogen chloride and ozone

69
Q

How is sulphur dioxide involved in acid rain?

A

It dissolves in water to produce sufurous acid or it may be oxidised by ases in the atmosphere like ozone to make sulphur trioxide
Sulphur trioxide is dissolved to produce sulphuric acid which is a more powerful acid than sulfuros acid

70
Q

Sulfuros acid or sulphuric acid. Which is a more powerful acid?

A

Sulphuric

71
Q

How are oxides of nitrogen involved in acid rain?

A

They dissolve to produce nitrous and nitric acids

72
Q

How is hydrogen chloride involved in acid rain?

A

They dissolve to form hydrochloric acids

73
Q

How is ozone involved in acid rain?

A

In the oxidation of sulphur dioxide to trioxide
It also directly harms plants

74
Q

What is the source of the sulphur dioxide that is involved in acid rain?

A

The combustion or oxidation of material containing sulphur, especially the burning of coal and smelting sulphide ores

75
Q

What is the source of oxides of nitrogen that are involved in acid rain?

A

High temperature combustion, especially in power stations and petrol/diesel combustion engines

76
Q

What is the source of ozone that is involved in acid rain?

A

It is a secondary pollutant that is produced by photochemical reactions involving NOx

77
Q

What is the source of hydrogen chloride that is involved in acid rain?

A

The combustion of coal or the incineration of wastes containing chlorine like PVC plastic waste

78
Q

What is the source of sulfur trioxide that is involved in acid rain?

A

The oxidation of sulfur dioxide by ozone

79
Q

What effects does acid rain have on non-living things?

A

Acid deposition corrodes meta, so can damage railway lines,metal railings,water pipers,pylons & overhead power lines
Buildings and statues that are limestone can be damaged by acids because they issolve the surface layers and weaken the stone structure of porous limestone

80
Q

In what 2 ways can acid pollution harm living organisms?

A

Directly by the acids in the rain
Indirectly where they cause environmental changes that can be harmful

81
Q

Acids can be harmful to all living organisms, but why can the effects differ between species?

A

Different species have different ranges of tolerance

82
Q

How does acid rain affect cells?

A

Low PHs (Acidic) can denature proteins in cell membranes and can inhibit enzyme action
Tissues that have living cells that are exposed to the environment are most likely to be damaged by acid rain

83
Q

Examples of tissues most likely to be damaged by acid rain

A

Cells inside leaf stomata
Plant root hairs
Germinating seeds
Fish eggs
Fish gills

84
Q

How might invertebrates be affected by acid rain?

A

Those what exoskeletons may die because the acids dissolve the calcium compounds that form the skeleton

85
Q

What species may be used to monitor acid rain pollution and why?

A

Lichens because they are very sensitive to acidic conditions
Their size, state of health, abundance and diversity may be used in a biotic index to monitor acid rain pollution

86
Q

How can sulphur dioxide involved in acid rain pollution, affect humans?

A

It can create breathing difficulties and increase the frequency of respiratory problems like asthma attacks

87
Q

How can acid rain pollution affect metal ions and how can this indirectly affect living organisms?

A

The solubility of metal ions is effected by PH, more soluble at a low PH
The acidic solutions can percolate soil,leach metal ions, so plant nutrients like calcium and magnesium are lost
Once these are gone, other ions are mobilised which usually aren’t as they are absorbed onto the surface of clay particles
These include aluminio and lead which are toxic

88
Q

The toxic ions that are mobilised in soil because of acidic solutions from acid rain leaching metal ions, such as aluminum and lead, have what effect?

A

The toxic ions inhibit enzyme action in plant root hair cells and other soil organisms e.g. detrivores & decomposers
The mobilised toxic ions may be leached into rivers/lakes where they can harm aquatic animals

89
Q

How can metal ions leached out of the soil because of acid rain affect human health?

A

Lead is a neurotoxin, and there is some evidence that aluminium ions may be a factor associated with some neurological disorders

90
Q

Name 3 environmental factors that can affect the severity of acid rain

A

Soil lime content
Fog
Snow

91
Q

How can soil lime content affect the severity of acid rain?

A

Soils with high lime content include CaCO3 which neutralises acids and reduces the impacts of acids on soil PH

92
Q

How can fog affect the severity of acid rain?

A

Acid precipitation in rain only has brief contact with leaves of vegetation
In areas with fog, acidic water droplets might be in contact with leaves of trees for longer periods, so damage by acids might increase

93
Q

How can snow affect the severity of acid rain?

A

Areas that have alo of snow may accumulate acidic snow
If it melts quickly, meltwater will be very acidic and can harm life in soil and rivers

94
Q

What are the methods of controlling oxides of sulphur in order to control acid rain?

A

Natural gas desulfurisation
Crude oil desulfurisation
Coal desulfurisation
FGD
Dry FGD
Wet FGD

95
Q

FGD

A

Flue gas Desulfurisation

96
Q

How is sulfur controlled in areas like the North Sea and california?

A

Only low sulphur fuels can be used by ships

97
Q

Why is natural gas desulphursaition important?

A

Hydrogen sulphide is removed from natural gas after it has been extracted to prevent corrosion damage to refinery and pipeline equipment and to the appliance in which the gas is used.
This also prevents the production of sulphur dioxide when burned

98
Q

How is natural gas desulphurised?

A

By dissolving it in amine solution or reacting it with iron particle

99
Q

What is crude oil desulphurisation?

A

The removal of sulphur compounds from crude oil during distillation using molybdenum catalysts in the process of hydro desulfurisation

100
Q

How does coal desulfurisation work?

A

It is removed by washing and streaming
The coal is crushed then put in a stream of flowing water
The flow rate is fast enough to carry coal away but leave denser pyrites

101
Q

When are the different Flue-gas desulfurisation processes used?

A

To remove sulfur dioxide from power station emissions that are released after combustion

102
Q

Describe the process of Dry FGD

A

Flue gases are passed through a bed of crushed calcium carbonate
The sulphur dioxide reacts with calcium carbonate producing solid calcium sulfur

103
Q

If the effluent gases in dry FGD have ben cleaned to remove smoke particles, what can they be used for?

A

The calcium sulfate produced might be pure enough to produce gypsum building plaster

104
Q

What is the reaction for dry FGD?

A

2CaCO3 + 2SO2 -> 2CaSO2 + 2CO2

105
Q

What happens in wet FGD?

A

Involves sodium sulfate scrubbing where the flue gases are bubbled through a sodium sulfate solution
Sodium hydrogen sulfate is reduced because it absorbs the sulfur dioxide

106
Q

What can the sodium hydrogen sulfite produced in wet FGD be used for?

A

It can be heated so it breaks down to produce sodium sulfite and water which are reused, and concentrated to prue sulphur dioxide
This is a valuable industrial raw material and can be converted to solid sulphur or sulfúrico acid

107
Q

What is the chemical reaction for wet FGD?

A

Na2SO3 + H20 + SO2 -> 2NaHSO3

108
Q

What are 3 methods of controlling the oxides of nitrogen to control acid rain?

A

Low temperature combustion
Catalytic converters
Urea sprays

109
Q

How does low temperature combustion control oxides of nitrogen?

A

Less NOx are produced with lower temp techniques
Techniques like fluidised bed combustion where an increase SA for combustion maintains rapid combustion without the need for high temperatures

110
Q

How can catalytic converters control oxides of nitrogen?

A

A chamber in exhaust pipes with a catalyst like platinum which can reduce NOx to nitrogen and oxygen gases

111
Q

How do Urea sprays control oxides of nitrogen?

A

They remove it
Urea + nitrogen monoxide + oxygen -> nitrogen + carbon dioxide + water

112
Q

Ozone occurs naturally but is also an atmospheric pollutant- why?

A

Stratospheric ozone occurs naturally and reduces the exposure of life on earth to harmful UV light
Tropospheric ozone is a pollutant produced because of human activities and is toxic to living organisms

113
Q

How can ozone impact plants?

A

It can reduce the growth rate of trees and agricultural crops

114
Q

How can ozone affect humans?

A

Cause breathing difficulties and increase asthma rates

115
Q

What atmospheric pollution is tropospheric ozone involved in?

A

The production of secondary pollutants in photochemical smogs
Acid rain

116
Q

How is tropospheric ozone produced

A

Nitrogen dioxide is broken down by UV-A sunlight ( a photochemical reaction)
The monatomic oxygen produced reacts with normal (diatomic) oxygen to produce ozone

117
Q

How can tropospheric ozone be controlled?

A

It is a secondary pollutant so levels can be controlled by reducing levels of primary pollutants that produce it e.g. nitrogen dioxide

118
Q

How is carbon monoxide produced?

A

When carbon-based materials are burned with a shortage of oxygen e.g. incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons especially in petrol/diesel engines

119
Q

What is the effect of carbon monoxide?

A

It can bind to Hb and prevent it carrying oxygen from lungs to tissue round the body
If too much Hb is inactivated by CO the brain damage may occur and possibly death

120
Q

What can low concentrations of CO in the body do?

A

Increase the health problems caused by chronic heart disease

121
Q

How can carbon monoxide be controlled?

A

Exhaust catalytic converters
They oxides CO to CO2
CO2 is still a pollutant but in comparison to other emissions, those from CO are small

AQA A-level Environmental Science (46 decks)

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