Ch. 13- Air Flashcards
atmosphere
the thin blanket of air surrounding Earth
layers of Earth’s atmosphere
- troposphere
- stratosphere
- mesosphere
- thermosphere
- exosphere
describe relationship between each atmospheric layers’ temperature & the altitude
- troposphere: temperature decreases as the altitude increases
- stratosphere: temperature increases as the altitude increases
- mesosphere: temperature decreases as the altitude increases
- thermosphere: temperature increases as the altitude increases
- exosphere: temperature is very hot, but to humans, feels cold
which gases make up Earth’s atmosphere & how much of each?
- nitrogen (N2): 78.08%
- oxygen (O2): 20.94%
- argon (Ar): 0.93%
- carbon dioxide (CO2): 0.04%
which layer contains the ozone layer?
stratosphere
how much (in ppm) CO2 is in our atmosphere & how much does it increase annually
in 2018 it was about 408 ppm, rising 2-3 ppm annually
range of altitude for each layer
- troposphere: ~0-11 km
- stratosphere: ~11-50 km
- mesosphere: ~50-85 km
- thermosphere: ~85-110km
- exosphere: ~110-blends with space
nitrogen fixation
a process that combines nitrogen with one or more other elements
nitrogen cycle
the various processes by which nitrogen is cycled among the atmosphere, soil, water, and living organisms
explanation of nitrogen cycle
Atmospheric nitrogen is fixed, or converted to water-soluble forms, both naturally and industrially. Animal wastes, and dead plants and animals are converted back to atmospheric nitrogen by certain bacteria
explanation of oxygen cycle
Animals and people use oxygen gas and produce carbon dioxide, different metals use oxygen to oxidize; Plants, in turn, consume the carbon dioxide, converting it to oxygen gas and glucose for food. In the stratosphere, atmospheric oxygen is involved in ozone production
temperature inversion
a warm layer of air above a cool, stagnant lower layer; causes smog
pollutant
a chemical that causes undesirable effects by being in the wrong place and/or in the wrong concentration
smog
a combination of smoke and other pollutants, forming a visible haze
industrial (sulfurous) smog
polluted air associated with industrial activities, characterized by sulfur oxides and particulate matter
industrial smog vs. photochemical smog
COPY PHOTO UNDER “TWO MAIN TYPES OF SMOG” IN NOTES FOR 13.3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
aerosol
solid or liquid particles of 1mm diameter or less, dispersed in air
explain the chemistry of coal combustion
carbon (mainly) and sulfur oxidize as the coal burns, producing chemicals that are dangerous for respiratory systems; sulfur trioxide can react with water to form acid rain, which eventually forms aerosol (the most irritating to our lungs of all mentioned above)
explain the chemistry of coal combustion
carbon (mainly) and sulfur oxidize as the coal burns, producing chemicals that are dangerous for respiratory systems; sulfur trioxide can react with water to form acid rain, which eventually forms aerosol (the most irritating to our lungs of all mentioned above)
particulate matter (PM)
an air pollutant composed of solid and liquid particles whose size is greater than that of a molecule
electrostatic precipitator
a device that removes PM from smokestack gases by creating an electron charge on the particles, which are then removed by attraction to a surface of opposite charge
wet scrubber
a pollution-control device that uses water to remove pollutants from smokestack gases
ways to remove PM
- electrostatic precipitator
- wet scrubber
- bag filtration
- cyclone separator
components of auto exhaust
- water vapor
- carbon dioxide
- unreacted N2 & O2 (from atmosphere)
- carbon oxides
- nitrogen oxides
- VOCs
how is carbon monoxide poisonous?
binds more tightly to hemoglobin than oxygen can, preventing oxygen from binding to hemoglobin at all
- deprives us of oxygen, prevents body’s ability to transport oxygen to organs
allotropes
different forms of the same element in the same physical state
dangerous effects of ozone
- highly toxic when inhaled
- at low levels, causes eye irritation
- at high levels, makes people more susceptible to respiratory infections, causes lung inflammation, aggravates asthma, decreases lung function, and increases chest pain/coughing
- part of photochemical smog
- damages crops & rubber items
volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
organic compounds that cause pollution because they vaporize readily
VOCs react with oxygen to form…
- ozone
- aldehydes
- peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN)
photochemical smog
smog created by the action of sunlight on hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides, which come mainly from automobile exhaust
catalytic converters
devices that use catalysts that oxidize carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons to carbon dioxide, and that reduce nitrogen oxides to nitrogen gas
stages of catalytic converters
- reduction catalyst reduces NOx emissions
- oxidation catalyst uses remaining oxygen to oxidize unburned hydrocarbons & carbon monoxide to produce water and carbon dioxide
solutions to photochemical smog
- improved design of storage/dispensing systems in gas stations
- modified gas tanks & crankcase ventilation systems
- catalytic converters
- hybrid cars
what does indoor air pollution consist of?
- carbon monoxide
- nitrogen oxides
- PM (mold spore specifically)
- ozone
- formaldehyde productions as ozone reacts with air pollution
sources of indoor air pollution
- wood/gas stoves
- cigarettes
- unvented gas
- kerosene space heaters
- uncontrolled moisture (creates mold)
- electronic air cleaners
daughter isotope
an isotope by the radioactive decay of another isotope
sources of radon
released naturally from concrete, soils, & rocks (due to presence of uranium atoms in these materials)
how is radon harmful?
produces polonium-218 & other radioactive daughter isotopes during decay; when daughter isotopes are inhaled, they get trapped in the lungs where they further decay & damage tissues
effects of ozone depletion
- skin cancer
- cataracts
- impaired immune systems
- reduced crop yields
- decrease in population of phytoplankton
how do CFCs deplete the ozone?
- because CFCs are inert, they reach as far as the upper atmosphere
- UV radiation in upper atmosphere cleaves C–Cl bond, initiating a series of reactions…
LOOK AT 13.8 NOTES
1987 Montreal Protocol
ban on CFCs & the start of replacing them with HFCs & HCFCs
greenhouse effect
the retention of the sun’s heat energy by the Earth’s atmosphere as a result of excess carbon dioxide and other gases in the atmosphere
explain the greenhouse effect
Sunlight passing through the atmosphere is absorbed by the surface of the Earth, causing it to warm. The warm surface reemits energy as infrared radiation. Some of this radiation is absorbed by CO2,H2O,CH4, and other gases and therefore retained in the atmosphere.
global warming
an increase in Earth’s average temperature
global warming
an increase in Earth’s average temperature
sources of methane in atmosphere
- natural wetlands
- cattle/termite digestion processes
- fracking
- “methane ice”
sources of carbon dioxide in atmosphere
- air breathing mammals
- coal/petroleum combustion
gases that contribute to greenhouse effect
- carbon dioxide
- water (not very effective except in large amounts)
- methane (more effective than CO2 at trapping IR)
- nitrous oxide (N2O)
- **any gas that contains molecules that are polar or have moderate-to-strong dispersion forces are effective greenhouse gases (examples: CFCs & HCFCs)
Fifth Assessment Report: Climate Change 2013-14
massive study by UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that provided a comprehensive review of past changes & predictions of future changes regarding climate change
carbon sequestration
removal of CO2 from the atmosphere by collecting and transporting CO2 from large emission sources (such as power plants & factories) and storing it in underground reservoirs, or by converting it to solid form (such as carbonates)
which radiation gets trapped by our ozone?
ultraviolet radiation
which radiation gets trapped by greenhouse gases?
infrared radiation
EPA’s 6 criteria air pollutants
- carbon monoxide
- nitrogen dioxide
- ozone
- PM
- sulfur dioxide
- lead
7 major air pollutants, their sources, and their effects on health/environment
copy the table in 13.10!!!!!!!!!
according to WHO, which is the worst air pollutant?
sulfur oxides, due to its health effects
