C15 Chemistry of the Atmosphere Flashcards
What percentage of Earth’s atmosphere is nitrogen?
78%
What percentage of Earth’s atmosphere is oxygen?
21%
Which gas comprised the major part of Earth’s atmosphere during its early days?
Carbon dioxide
Which gases were emitted due to volcanic activity?
Nitrogen, water vapour, methane and ammonia
How was carbon dioxide removed from the Earth’s atmosphere?
-Absorption in the oceans
-Absorption by plants and algae
How did carbon dioxide become ‘locked away’?
Organisms containing carbonates formed in the ocean became buried under sediment over time
What substances are produced when remains of organisms are compressed and heated over time?
Sedimentary rock and crude oil
How can volcanoes be used to theorise Earth’s early atmosphere?
By assuming that the gases released by volcanoes today are similar to billions of years ago, we get a good idea of what gases comprised Earth’s early atmospheric composition
How can other planets be used to theorise Earth’s early atmosphere?
Shows what atmosphere may have been like before life evolved
What can the age of ‘red bed’ rocks show us?
The point in time at which oxygen levels reached a certain amount- the iron oxide in the rocks only forms with sufficient oxygen
What is a carbon footprint?
The amount of carbon dioxide released over the full lifecycle of something
What is carbon capture and storage?
The process of trapping the carbon dioxide released in fossil fuel combustion and storing it underground
What are the products of incomplete combustion?
Carbon particulates and carbon monoxide
Under what circumstances is sulphur dioxide produced during combustion of fossil fuels?
If the fuel contains sulphur impurities
What pollutant gas is produced in the internal combustion engines of cars?
Nitrogen oxides
