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Chemistry > C13-The Earth's Atmosphere > Flashcards

C13-The Earth's Atmosphere Flashcards

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1
Q

What three gases is the Earth’s atmosphere made of ?

A
  • 78% itrogen
  • 21% oxygen
  • Small proprotions of other gases (CO2 and noble gas Argon).
  • These have gases have stayed pretty constant for about 200 million years .
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2
Q

Why can’t scientists be certain of the early atmosphere ?

A

-As the earth is around 4600 billion years old .

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3
Q

Stage one of the Earth’s early atmosphere formation .

A

-There were volcanic eruptions , these volcanic eruptions releases gases that formed the atmospehre one of these being large amounts water vapour and co2 and small amounts of nitrate and ammonium .

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4
Q

Stage two of the Earth’s early atmosphere formation .

A

-As the water vapour condensed to form oceans .

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5
Q

Stage three of the Earth’s early atmosphere formation ..

A
  • Some of this Co2 dissolved int he oceans to form a weak acid .
  • This reacted with minerals to form preciptates .
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6
Q

Stage four of the Earth’s early atmosphere formation . .

A

Overtime this formed sediments of carbonate rock on the sea bed .

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7
Q

What was some of the Co2 in the ocean used to make ?

A
  • To make corals and shels of orrganisms such as mussels .

- When these died they formed limestone . This also removed Co2 from the atmosphere .

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8
Q

Where did the oxyegn come from ? fourth stage of the Earth’s early atmosphere formation .

A

-Around 2.7 billion yers ago , photsynthetic alage first evolved in the oceans increasign mount of oxyegn in the atmosphere .

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9
Q

Lasts tage of the Earth’s early atmosphere formation ..

A

-At some point , oxygen levels reached where animals could evolve . Nitrogen levels were also steadily increasing

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10
Q

What is the formula for photosynthesis , give balanced equation .

A

Carbiondioxide +water —-> glucose + oxyegn

check sheet for balanced equation

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11
Q

How else did Co2 in the atmosphere decrease ?

A
  • As well as producing oxygen , photosyntheisis takes in Co2 .
  • The carbon can be then trapped in fossil fuels causing the level of Co2 to fall .
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12
Q

Key differences between early atmospehre and now .

A
  • Early atmosphere large amounts of Carbon dioxide and little oxyegn .
  • Now , small amounts og carbnodioxoide and 21% oxygen .
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13
Q

nitrogen in early atmosphere

A

-Mainly Co2 but with small but increasing amounts of nitrogen .

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14
Q

How long does it take to form fossil fuels ?

A

-Millions of years .

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15
Q

Fossil fuels are non-renewable , what does this mean ?

A

-If we keep using them , they will run out .

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16
Q

How does coal form ?

A
  • Coal is formed from the remains of ferns and trees .

- If these die in marshy wetlands , they do not decompose .

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17
Q

What could cause the ferns and trees to not decompsoe ?

A
  • Due to the lack of oxyegn or acidic conditions .
  • These both prevent bacteria from carrying out decomposoition .
  • Overtime the plant remains are covered in sediment nd are compressed .
  • High temperature and pressure creates coal .
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18
Q

How does oil form ?

A
  • Crude oil is made from plankton which are tiny plants and animas found in the sea .
  • When they die , they settle in mud on the sea-bed .
  • Overtime they are compressed by sediment , heat and pressure converts them into crude oi .
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19
Q

How does natural gas form ?

A
  • Natrua gas is mainly the hydrocarbon of methane .
  • We often find natrual gas near deposits of oil .
  • As natural gas if ormed from plankton - a similr way to crude oil .
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20
Q

What are the three fossil fuels

A
  • Coal
  • Oil
  • Natural gas
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21
Q

What is the key fact about all three fossil fuels ?

A

-All fossil fuels contian trapped carbon . That carbon was part of the carbodndioxide taken in byb photosynthesis .

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22
Q

What are the other gases in the atmosphere

A

-MOstly oxygen and nitroge

BUT - Water Vapour , Carbondioxide , methane .

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23
Q

How is thw amount of water vapour in the atmosphere variable ?

A

-It changees depending on the temperature .

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24
Q

What is the first stage of the green house effect ?

A
  1. Energy from the sun travels to the Earth as short wavelength radiation - e.g UV and Visible light .
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25
Q

What is the second stage of the green house effect ?

A
  1. Some of the short wavelength radiation simpl reflects back into space , but most of it passes easiy throguh the atmopshere .
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26
Q

Why does most short wavelength radiation pass easily through the atmosphere ?

A

This is because hsort wave length radiation does not ineract strongly with the gas molecules in the atmosphere .

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27
Q

What is the third stage of the green house effect ?

A

The energy of the radiation is absorbed when it reaches the surface of the Earth .

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28
Q

What is the fourth stage of the green house effect ?

A

The surface of the Earth now radiates the energy as long wavelength radiation such as infrared .

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29
Q

What is the fifth stage of the green house effect ?

A

Some of the long wavelength radiation interacts with the greenhouse gas molecules in the atmosphere .
(the energy in the long wavelength radiation is absorbed .)

30
Q

What is the sixth of the green house effect ?

A

Because the energy is trapped in the atmosphere , this cuases the temperature of the atmosphere to increase .

31
Q

Why is the green house effect important ?

A

-It is important as it keeps the temperature on Earth warm enough to suport life .

32
Q

What would happen if the green house effect didnt exist ?

A

Without the green hosue effect , The Earht would be too cold for most iving organisms to survive .

33
Q

Why are the levels of CO2 and methan icnreasing ?

A

-Due to human activity .

34
Q

How is CO2 released , how is it increasing ? ?

A

As we burn fossil fuels .Coal - electricity , Petrol and diesel -power car , gas-heating .
-Rainforests destroyed byy defrestation by burning , mainly for land to graze cattle increasing levels of CO2 .

35
Q

How is methane released ?

A
  • Methane is released in agriculture , growing rice in flooded paddy fields .
  • Also reeased when cows / burp pass wind .
36
Q

What does increasing levels of CO2 and Methane mean?

A

-The temperature of the atmosphere is irisng as more energy from the sun is trapped .

37
Q

What is one effect of rising temperatures ?

A

-Rising temperatures wi increase melting of poar ice shees ad glaciers leading to increased sea levels .

38
Q

What could increasing ea levels lead to ?

A

More flooding of low-lying areas .

39
Q

What is another effect of irisng temperatures ?

A
  • Cimate change coud also lead to more severe weather _e.g more troms in the uk .
  • Increasing temperature could also change distribution of animals such as insects .
  • Could even change distribution of insect-borne diseases - malaria .
40
Q

Why do many scientists believe Climate Change is cused by human activity , cause of release of green hsoue gases .

A

Due to peer review

  • As the evidence for climate change is shared between many scientists .
  • These scientists can then ciriticise evidence and decide whetehr it is valid .
41
Q

What does peer review allow ?

A

-It allows sicentists to detect fase claims based on poor evidence or bias .

42
Q

What is the problem with understanding climate change ?

A
  • Climate change is complex and difficut to mode .
  • So we see stories of climate change in the media being simplified or simpy biased .
  • We can aso see speculation based on onlyparts of he evidence .
  • So scientists have to work harder to communicate the ideas around climate change to the geenra public .
43
Q

What is an uncertanity with Climate Change ?

A

-Cannot predict with certainity how much of the temperature of the atmosphere wil icreas e. Leading to speculation in the media.

44
Q

What does the carbon footprint do ?

A

The carbonfootrpint , tries to gie us an idea of how much something contributes to climate change .

45
Q

What is the definition of a carbon footprint ?

A

The carbonfootprint is the total amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emitted over the full life cycle of a product , service or event .

46
Q

Give one way we can reduce our C02 emissions .

A
  • A lot of energy used to heat our homes - come from fossil fuels .
  • By insulating our homes , turnign down heting , can reduce C02 eissions .
47
Q

Give another way we can reduce our CO2 emissions ? .

A

great deal CO2 releases when diriving cars .Can reduce this by using public transport -buses and trains . These release less CO2 per passenger .

48
Q

Give one more way we can reduce our CO2 emissions .

A
  • Can reduce how much electricity we use at home , switch to energy saving light bubls .
  • Turn applicants off at plug rather than stanby .
49
Q

Problem with carbondixoide reduction solutions ?

A
  • Solutions are expensive , so people are reluctant to pay .
  • Some cases are inconvenient , drving rather than using public transport .
50
Q

Give one way to reduce methane emissions .

A

-Most emissions due to cattle graxzing and when they burb , if people eat les beef and less dairy products .
PROBLEM - people like these porducts so unlikely to change diet .

51
Q

Give another way we can reduce methane emissions .

A
  • Another source of methane is landfills . We can reduce this by trapping the methane or buring it to produce ectricty .
  • This is a good idea as methane is much more of a powerful greenhouse gas than carbondixoide .
  • However trappign and burning methane costs money .
52
Q

What are fuels ?

A

Fuels release energy when they are combbusted (burned).

53
Q

Two examples of fuel >

A
  • Two good examples of fuel are coal and hudrocarbons .
  • Fuel can geenrate electrcitiry .
  • Hydrocarbons such as those found in petrol and diesel can be used to power vehicles sucha s cars .
54
Q

What elemnts do fuels contain ?

A

Carbon and hydrogen .

55
Q

What happens to the elemnts in fuel when be burn fuel ?

A

-The carbon and hydrogen atoms react with oxyegn in the air . These leemts are oxidised .

56
Q

Give the word and symbole equation of methane .

A

Check sheet

57
Q

explain the word equation for ethane .

A
  • The carbon atoms in the methane oxidsed to form gas carbon dioxide .
  • Hydrogen atoms have been oxidised to form watervapour .
58
Q

Requirements of complete combustion ;

A
  • You need plenty Oxygen .

- Carbon dioxide is porduced .

59
Q

When humans burn fuels , carbondioxide is released into the atmosphere , which contributes to climate change .

A

.

60
Q

If the amount of oxygen is reducted during combustion…

A

we make carbon monoxide instead of carbondixiodie .

Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas colourless and odourless hence way people have CO detectors at home .

61
Q

What elemnt does coal contain ?

A

Sulfur .

62
Q

What happens to sulfur when coal is burned ?

A

When coal is burned , the sulfur atoms are oxidised (react with oxygen .
This produces SULFUR DIOXIDE
S+02—>SO2
Sulfur + Oxygen —-> sulfur dioxide .

63
Q

Where are oxygen of nitrogens produced ?

A

-Inside car engines .

64
Q

What does high temperatures do to the nitrogen in cars ?

A

-High temperatrue can cause nitrogen and oxygen from the air to react .
This produces a range of different molecules , so scientists call them oxides of nitrogen (NOx).

65
Q

givee the word and symbol equation of nitrogen reacting with oxygen .

A

N2 +O2—> NOx

Nitrogen+Oxyegn —->oxides of nitrogen .

66
Q

What can sulfur dioxide and oxide of nitrogen do to humans ?

A

-Can cause breathing problems in humans .

67
Q

What other problems can sulfur dioxide and oxide of nitrogen

A
  • They also dissolve in rainwater to form acid rain .

- Acid rain can damage trees and corrodee buildings made from limestone .

68
Q

What is anothe rproduct of combustion apart from carbon dioxide , carbon monoxide and water vapour ?

A

-There are particles of carbon (soot) and unburned hydrocarons . Scientists call this type of polluition particulates

69
Q

Whatc can particulates do to humans ?

A

-Particulates can damage human health and increase risk of heart and lung disease .

70
Q

What can particulates do to the world , what is this knnown as /

A

GLOBAL DIMMING - particulates can also reduce the amount of energy from the sun that reaches the Earth’s surface .
-Global dimmiing can effect rainfall patterns .

71
Q

PLASTIC BAG

A

RAW MATERIALS
Crude oil is a finite resource; fractional distillation, cracking and polymerisation all require a lot of energy.

MANUFACTURE
Cheaper to make large quantities of bags from plastic.

USE
Lower impact on the environment because plastic bags are usually stronger so they can be reused many times.

DISPOSAL
Can sometimes be collected and recycled; if disposed of as litter, they do not biodegrade; in landfill, may take decades or centuries to degrade.

72
Q

PAPER BAG

A

RAW MATERIALS
Can be made from recycled paper, or from trees. Making paper from trees requires more energy than recycling paper, but much less than making plastics.

MANUFACTURE
More expensive to make bags from paper because the handles must be glued on.

USE
Relatively short lifetime; can only be reused a limited number of times.

DISPOSAL
Can be recycled easily; if disposed of in landfill, they biodegrade quickly.

Chemistry (20 decks)

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