Chemistry - Chains, Energy and Resources - F322 - Resources (4) Flashcards
Without greenhouse gases, under which conditions would we be living?
Without greenhouse gases, our planet would be covered in ice with an average temperature 35oC lower than at present.
What is the most abundant greenhouse gas?
Water vapour is the most abundant greenhouse gas.
What causes atmospheric water vapour?
Evaporation of bodies of water.
What is the second most abundant greenhouse gas?
Carbon dioxide is the second most abundant greenhouse gas.
What causes carbon dioxide?
Volcanic erruptions, respiration of animals, burning organic matter.
What is the third most abundant greenhouse gas?
Methane is the third most abundant greenhouse gas.
Why is methane so abundant?
Emitted during the production of coal, natural gas and oil; a product of rotting waste in landfill; released from certain animals, such as cows, as a by-product of digestion.
What is the global warming potential (GWP)?
The global warming potential (GWP) of a trace gas is its ability to cause global warming.
What was agreed in the Kyoto protocol?
In the Kyoto protocol over 100 countries agreed to cut emissions of six greenhouse gases by 5% by 2012.
What is carbon capture and storage?
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) or sequestration captures carbon dioxide from power stations and stores it away safely, instead of it being released into the atmosphere.
What can act as a sponge for carbon dioxide?
Underground porous rock can act as a sponge for carbon dioxide to stop it leaking away.
What would be a good storage for carbon dioxide?
Old oil and gas fields.
What is the troposphere?
The troposhpere is the lowest layer of the Earth’s atmosphere, extending from the Earth’s surface to up to about 7km (above the poles) and about 20km (above the tropics).
What is the stratosphere?
The stratosphere is the second layer of the Earth’s atmosphere containing the ozone layer, about 10km to 50km above the Earth’s surface.
Why is ozone in the troposphere bad?
Ozone near to the Earth’s surface in the troposphere is an air pollutant with harmful effects on the respiratory system of animals.
Which UV rays are entirely screened out by the ozone layer?
UVC rays are entirely screened out by the ozone layer.
What is the ozone depletion potential?
The ozone depletion potential of a substance is the potential ability to cause damage to the ozone when compared to that of CFCl3 which has an ODP of 1.0.
Which environmental action tried to reduce global emissions of CFCs?
The Montreal protocol introduced steps to control global emissions of CFCs.
What molecule can contribute to formation of low level ozone?
Nitrogen dioxide can contribute to the formation of low level ozone.
What is a typical catalytic converter made of?
A typical catalytic converter is made of platinum, rhodium and palladium and supported on a honeycomb mesh.
What type of catalysts are used in diesel engines?
Oxidation catalysts are used in diesel engines to decrease emissions of carbon monoxide and unburnt hydrocarbons, they also remove particulate matter and nitrogen oxides.
What type of catalysts are used in petrol engines?
A three-way catalyst is fitted to petrol engines.
Define adsorption.
Adsorption is the process that occurs when a gas, liquid or solute is held to the surface of a solid or, more rarely, a liquid.
