CHAPTER 14 Flashcards
Environmental Chemistry Atmosphere
Which two gases make up most of the Earths atmosphere?
Nitrogen and Oxygen
Which gas has the highest percentage in the air?
Nitrogen 78 percent
The envelope of gases and water vapour surrounding the Earth is called
Atmosphere
Which gas has the lowest percentage in the air?
hydrogen at 0.00005 percent
What are the 4 layers of the atmosphere in order?
- Troposphere
- Stratosphere
- Mesosphere
- Thermosphere
The word tropo means
changing or turning
the word strato means
layer or spread out
the word meso means
middle
the word thermo means
heat
what is the altitude and temperature of the troposphere?
0 to 12 km
17C to -55C
what is the altitude and temperature of the stratosphere?
12 to 50
-55C to -5C
what is the altitude and temperature of the mesosphere?
50 to 80 km
-5C to -93C
what is the altitude and temperature of the thermosphere?
above 80km
-93C to 1800C
which layer of the atmosphere contains maximum of the ozone layer?
the stratosphere
in which layer of the atmosphere do auroras occur?
the thermosphere, more specifically the ionosphere.
which layer of the earths atmosphere protects us from being hit by meteorites?
the mesosphere
in which layer do most weather conditions occur?
the troposphere
which layer of the atmosphere is characterized by extremely high temperature and why?
the thermosphere has the highest temperature, up to 1800C. This is because sunlight strikes the thermosphere first.
most of the air pollution is caused by?
burning fossil fuels, such as coal, petroleum, and natural gas.
what are three natural processes that cause air pollution.
- dust storms
- forest fires
- volcano eruptions
define global warming
the warming of the atmosphere which is due to our influence on the greenhouse effect is known as global warming.
List some effects of acid rain.
When acid rain falls, it can damage ecosystems, harm aquatic life, corrode building and statues, and contribute to air and water pollution.
what is the allotropic form of oxygen?
ozone comprising of 3 oxygen atoms.
what is meant by “ozone hole”?
the region in which the amount of ozone has been reduced.
