CHEM OF THE ATMOSPHERE

Question 1

The atmosphere is a [] mixture of various gases. Its main composition has remarkably steady for ages with [] and [] being the main components. It is the abundance number of [] molecules in the atmosphere that makes life possible on earth.

Answer 1

homogeneous
nitrogen
oxygen
oxygen

Question 2

Nitrogen oxide is a product of combustion through the oxidation of air. Nitrogen at high temperature and can also be produced by []. It can also oxidize into [] which is a precursor of [] and [] formation. Meanwhile, the [] is released by [] and can be converted as nitrogen oxide into the atmosphere.

Answer 2

Nitrogen oxide
lightning
nitrogen dioxide
acid rain
smog
dinitrogen oxide
soil bacteria

Question 3

[] are produced from the oxidation of sulfur-containing fuels and dihydrogen sulfide, H2S. [] is a toxic gas that is produced from biological decay of [] and various human activities such as geothermal and industrial processes.

Answer 3

SOx
H2S
organic matter

Question 4

[] are complex mixture of extremely small particles and liquid droplets. They are existing in different forms such as ocean salt, crystals, soil particles, minerals and metallic compounds. These small particles may come from wildfires, volcanic eruptions, incomplete combustion, mineral processing, industrial processing among others.

Answer 4

Particulates and aerosols

Question 5

The [] is a natural process by which earth maintains the heat on its surface to make life sustainable.

Answer 5

greenhouse effect

Question 6

The [] is the layer of atmosphere of constant temperature found between
the stratosphere and the mesosphere.

Answer 6

stratopause

Question 7

These are light hydrocarbons and unsaturated hydrocarbons and are
precursors to smog formation and organic aerosols. They usually come from incomplete combustion processes, fugitive sources, industrial processes, petroleum processing and solvent intensive processes such as painting.

Answer 7

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Question 8

OH radical with methane and nitrogen dioxide produces [] and []

Answer 8

carbon monoxide
nitric acid

Question 9

It is in this layer where satellites orbit the earth.

Answer 9

exosphere

Question 10

On the other hand, O2 can be consumed if [] collides with [], the process known
as the [] reactions. This process is very slow and if it is the only means by which O3 is consumed, then the ozone layer will be [] than it really is.

Answer 10

O
O3
recombination
thicker

Question 11

An unwanted phenomenon may occur in the troposphere, known as [] This happens when the lapse rate becomes []; hence, the reversal of the normal behavior in the troposphere wherein the cold air at the surface of the earth is overlaid by the warmer air.

Answer 11

thermal inversion
positive

Question 12

However, in polluted environments, [] are also present which when dissolved in [], its pH goes below 5.7. This is how the
formation of acid rain occurs.

Answer 12

oxides of sulfur and nitrogen
rain droplets

Question 13

Above the mesopause is the thermosphere with a lapse rate of [].

Answer 13

thermosphere
5 K/km

Question 14

Processes occurring at the troposphere

The composition of the stratosphere is dependent on the properties of gases that
are present at the [] and the processes they undergo. If the trace gases in the troposphere are [] and do not react with the available [], they will be transported to the stratosphere.

Examples of these gases are
[] and []. However, there are trace gases
that readily react to free radicals and sometimes cause formation of unwanted
compounds in the atmosphere.

Answer 14

troposphere
inert
free radicals

chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
methyl chloride

Question 15

refers to the thin air that is made up of a low-density fluid that extends few hundred kilometers from the surface of the earth thus surrounding the planet.

Answer 15

atmosphere

Question 16

The greenhouse effect is primarily due to the augmented emissions of [] and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

[] is the largest contributor to greenhouse effect because it absorbs infrared radiation. It helps in the maintenance of atmospheric temperature during nighttime when the earth’s surface is emitting radiation into space.

The second major contributor is the
[] due to the increase in energy production. Although [] is being absorbed by the oceans and is being used by plants during
photosynthesis, its generation is much faster than being absorbed or used.

Answer 16

CO2, NOx, water vapor
Water vapor
carbon dioxide

Question 17

These may consist of hazardous particulate matter or vapors of metals such
as [] that are generated by combustion and
incineration processes, engine wear, lubricating oil components, lamp
wastes, and mineralization of geologic formations.

Answer 17

Metal and metalloid compounds and vapors
Pb, Hg, As, Ni, Be, and Cu

Question 18

lowest part of the atmosphere. It is where the planet Earth’s weather and air pollution takes place.

Answer 18

troposphere

Question 19

Above the stratopause is the [] with a temperature profile that is like the [], that is the temperature increases as the altitude increases until it reaches the mesopause at an altitude of [] from the surface of the earth.

Answer 19

mesosphere
troposphere
85 km

Question 20

[] are products and by-products of different process such as combustion, industrial activities, natural resource processing and commercial services.

They can be classified as [] (those that are directly emitted to the atmosphere) and [] (those that are products of various chemical reactions in the atmosphere). There are [] groups of air pollutants according to the US EPA (Environment Protection Agency) official Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) list:

Answer 20

Air pollutants
primary pollutants
secondary pollutants
10

Question 21

The [] is the layer of atmosphere of constant temperature found
between the thermosphere and the exosphere.

Answer 21

thermopause

Question 22

These are aromatic compounds of at least three fused aromatic rings and
are hazardous. They are products of incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and vegetable matters, petroleum products and petroleum refineries.

Answer 22

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and derivatives (PAHs)

Question 23

Above the tropopause, is the []. It has a temperature profile that increases with the altitude up to a maximum of about [] and it reaches at around [] from the surface of the earth. The layer’s temperature profile is what suppresses air to undergo vertical motions.

Answer 23

stratosphere
273K
50 km

Question 24

the layer of the atmosphere
that contains about 80 percent of the total mass of air and practically all of
the atmosphere’s water vapor.

Answer 24

troposphere

Question 25

the term used to describe the homogeneous mixture of gases that makes life on earth sustainable due to its dioxygen molecule component

Answer 25

air

Question 26

Major sources of OH is the [] with [] during
daytime, producing excited oxygen atom which rapidly reacts with water vapor.

During nighttime, the [] radical
NO2 reacts with ozone (O3) to produce the
[] radical NO3

Moreover, when the compound [] (PAN, CH3COOONO2) thermally decomposes in the presence of NO also produce OH radicals and convert NO2

Answer 26

ozone photolysis
ultraviolet (UV) radiation

nitrite
nitrate

peroxyacetyl nitrate

Question 27

Volcanic eruptions are natural sources of [], while lightnings are natural sources
of []. [] processes remain as the top anthropogenic sources of SOx and NOx.

Answer 27

SOx
NOx and ozone
Combustion

Question 28

Under normal conditions, the pH of rain is slightly [] at [] due to the dissociation of dissolved carbon dioxide in water:

Answer 28

acidic, 5.7

Question 29

The temperature change within the troposphere with respect to altitude
(known as lapse rate) decreases at a rate of []. The troposphere is the
occurrence of earth’s [] and []

Answer 29

troposphere
5 to 6 K/km
weather
air polution

Question 30

Hazardous compounds volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons and polychlorinated dibenzo compounds dioxins and furans belong to this category. They usually come from incineration processes and car emission.
The ozone layer destructing chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are also included in this category.

Answer 30

Halogenated hydrocarbons and polychlorinated organic compounds

Question 31

[] is a consequence of photochemical reactions based on primary pollutants discharged into the atmosphere. [] has many deleterious effects on human health as well as on plants and materials. Nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons emitted from vehicles with sunlight and oxygen produce pungent nitrogen dioxide and toxic ozone.

Answer 31

Photochemical smog

Question 32

[] oxidants are considered as [] as they are
products of chemical reactions from other pollutants. The common photochemical oxidants are [] (which can be produced through lightning or photochemical reactions), peroxybenzonyl nitrate (PBzN),
peroxyacyl nitrate (PAN), hydroxyl radicals (OH) and nitrogen oxide derivatives.

Answer 32

Photochemical
secondary pollutants
ozone

Question 33

is the uppermost layer of the atmosphere. The rise in temperature in this region is the result of the bombardment of molecular oxygen and nitrogen and atomic species by energetic particles, such as electrons and protons, from the sun

Answer 33

thermosphere, or ionosphere

Question 34

The ozone is not [] and the UV radiation is converted into []. This is the reason behind the positive lapse rate profile of the stratosphere. Because the stratosphere is warmer compared to the troposphere, an inversion between the two layers occurs. This traps the molecules found in the troposphere.

Answer 34

consumed
heat

Question 35

Their presence is due to natural gas or particulate emissions from natural
deposits of uranium where radon is liberated, as well as emissions from
uranium processing, nuclear reactors, and fuel-reprocessing wastes.

Answer 35

Radionuclides

Question 36

[], on the other hand, refers to the
effect of global warming to the winds and ocean currents in ways that can cool
some areas and warm others.

Answer 36

Climate change

Question 37

The presence of these [] in the troposphere are crucial to the formation of compounds that are responsible to pollution.

Answer 37

free radicals

Question 38

The [] is the thinnest layer of the atmosphere (10 km), but it is where all the dramatic events of weather—rain, lightning, hurricanes—occur. Temperature decreases almost linearly with increasing altitude in this region.

Answer 38

troposphere

Question 39

The [] is the layer of atmosphere of constant temperature found between
the troposphere and the stratosphere.

Answer 39

tropopause

Question 40

In this layer, the gases are thick enough to slow down the meteors hurtling to the atmosphere, which when burn up leave fiery tails in the night sky.

Answer 40

mesosphere

Question 41

[] changes the dynamics of air movement resulting in air pollutants to be trapped near the earth’s surface. Prolong occurrence can have several adverse effects on the population’s health such as lung inflammation.

Answer 41

Thermal inversion

Question 42

which consists of nitrogen, oxygen,
and ozone. This warming effect is the result of exothermic reactions triggered by UV radiation from the sun

Answer 42

stratosphere

Question 43

[] is produced from complete combustion of fuels and metabolic processes while [] is derived from the incomplete combustions processes and from the photochemical transformation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by the free hydroxyl radical (OH) generated in the atmosphere such as methane.

Carbon dioxide is considered toxic because it can replace [] by hemoglobin.

Answer 43

Carbon dioxide
carbon monoxide

oxygen uptake

Question 44

Combustion of [] leads to the production of main primary pollutant CO, NOx, VOCs and SO2.

Answer 44

fossil fuel

Question 45

Another way by which O3 is consumed is catalysis of the recombination reactions
by available [] such as NO*
, NO2 H* OH, HO2 Cl* ClO* and ClO2

The thickness of the ozone layer is therefore due to the competition among these three reactions.

Answer 45

free radicals

Question 46

The [] is the layer of atmosphere of constant temperature found between
the mesosphere and the thermosphere.

Answer 46

mesopause

Question 47

It is not only the gaseous compounds that have impact to the atmospheric
conditions. Solid and liquid particulates, known as [], also have consequences in atmospheric temperature and climate because they can alter the [] processes of the Earth. An example of which is the [] as a product from the burning of fossil fuels.

Answer 47

aerosols
radiative
soot

Question 48

The [] layer of the atmosphere is the exosphere which extends from the
[] to about [] from the surface of the earth.

Answer 48

exosphere
outermost
thermopause
10000 km

Question 49

It extends from the ground level to
1- to 15 km.

Answer 49

troposphere

Question 50

the concentration of ozone and other gases is low, and the temperature decreases with increasing altitude

Answer 50

mesosphere

Question 51

dioxygen molecules are abundant in the atmosphere, they are not considered as the principal oxidative species in the troposphere. This is because
reactions of dioxygen molecules require [] energy compared to that of the free radicals such as the hydroxyl radical,

Answer 51

higher activation

Question 52

the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is gradually increased. This is trapping more heat from earth resulting for the earth’s temperature to rise. The phenomenon known as the []

Answer 52

global warming.

Question 53

Processes occurring at the stratosphere

The stratosphere is where the ozone layer can be found. Stratospheric ozone
protects life in the surface of the earth by screening the harmful ultraviolet rays
from the sun through the [] mechanism.

Answer 53

photodissociation