Chapter 3 - The Chemistry of Global Climate Change Flashcards
What do greenhouse gases do?
absorb radiation/trap heat
ex. CO2, H2O, CH4
CO2
on the rise more now than 150 years ago (due to Industrial Revolution), earth’s temp has risen
What is the Greenhouse Effect?
process where gases trap heat –> heat stays and warms the planet
- essential for life, planet would freeze otherwise (but too much = bad “enhanced greenhouse effect”)
- energy return of over 80% –> increases earths temp
What is the history of our earth’s atmosphere in relation to climate?
early atmosphere: 1000x more CO2
bacteria used CO2 to make sugars
How do we know that the earth’s temp has increased?
- core samples from ocean, bacteria remaining tells temp
- magnetic alignment of earth
- “heavy water” composition of ice
- trapped bubbles tells concentration of ice when bubbles formed
- all data seems to agree
Global Warming:
- Theory
- What’s possible…
- Fact
Theory: global warming is cased by an increase of CO2 and CH4 levels
Possible: increases in CO2 and CH4 levels are a result of warming, not a cause
Fact: CO2 and CH4 trap heat and contribute to global warming
–> cause or effect?
Recent evidence of global warming
- atmospheric CO2 is increasing
- global temps are increasing
- -> biggest boom from Industrial Revolution
Other factors to global warming
- orbital changes: temp maxima, major/minor ice ages
- Airborne dust: volcanic activity
- Cloud cover: weather patterns
- Greenhouse gases
What is the outlook for the future?
In the past 100 years: -CO2 conc. has increased 25% -avg temp increased .5-.7 degrees C Current: -doubling the CO2 conc. --> 1.8-6.3 degree F increase
What are examples of greenhouse gases? what are not examples? Why the difference?
Examples: CO2, CH4, N2O, O3, H2O, CFCs
Not examples: O2, N2, Ar
Difference due to shape!
Bonds are made of ______
electrons
neg charge, repel each other
Molecular Shape: Tetrahedral
bonded atoms: 4
lone pairs: 0
Molecular Shape: Bent
bonded atoms: 2
lone pairs: 2 or 0
Molecular Shape: Trigonal Pyrimidal
bonded atoms: 3
lone pairs: 1
Molecular Shape: Trigonal Planar
bonded atoms: 3
lone pairs: 0
Molecular Shape: Linear
bonded atoms: 2
lone pairs: 0
Shape of a molecule determines ______
HOW a molecule can vibrate
Types of light
UVB/UVC –> bonds break
IR –> can’t break bonds (not enough energy), can cause vibration