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Chemistry C1-C6 revision > Chemistry of our atmosphere > Flashcards

Chemistry of our atmosphere Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the 5 gases which our atmosphere mainly consisted of?

A 
Nitrogen
Oxygen
Argon
Carbon dioxide
Water
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2
Q

How much % of Nitrogen (N2) is made up of our atmosphere?

A

78%

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3
Q

How much % of Oxygen (O2) is made up of our atmosphere?

A

21%

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4
Q

How much % of Argon(Ar) is made up of our atmosphere?

A

1%

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5
Q

How much % of Carbon dioxide is made up of our atmosphere?

A

0.04%

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6
Q

How much % of Water is made up of our Atmosphere?

A

0% to 4%

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7
Q

How many years ago was the earth formed?

A

4.6 billion years ago.

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8
Q

What do scientists think happened in the first billion of years?

A

There was an intense volcanic activity.

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9
Q

What gases did the early atmosphere consist of?

A

Mainly Carbon dioxide, and other gases such as water vapour, methane, Ammonia, Nitrogen, virtually no oxygen.

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10
Q

What is the symbol of Ammonia?

A

NH3

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11
Q

What was the early atmosphere similar to?

A

Mars

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12
Q

What happened after water vapour was released into atmosphere?

A

The earth cooled down and the water vapour from volcanoes condensed into the oceans.

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13
Q

What happened at the same time water vapour condensed into the oceans?

A

Carbon dioxide dissolved in the oceans to form a weak acid which reacted with minerals in the sea to form carbon precipitates.

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14
Q

Over time what did the carbon precipitates form?

A

It formed sediments of Carbonate rock on the sea bed.

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15
Q

What did carbon dioxide dissolve into as well?

A

It was used to make shells shells or organisms and when they dies they formed sedimentary rocks and fossil fuels removing levels of CO2.

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16
Q

What happened 2.7 billion years ago?

A

Algae first evolved into oceans. Photosynthesis produced oxygen which entered the atmosphere.

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17
Q

As time has passed on from Algae being produced into oceans what happened after?

A

Plants evolved and this also increased the levels of oxygen in the atmosphere.

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18
Q

As their was enough oxygen in the atmosphere what evolved?

A

Animals evolved as their was enough oxygen for animals

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19
Q

As plants and animals evolved what did photosynthesis take in and produce?

A

It took in Carbon dioxide which the carbon was trapped into fossil fuels which mean’t levels of C02 went down and took in oxygen.

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20
Q

What are the two main differences between the early atmosphere and the atmosphere today?

A

The early atmosphere contained large amounts of C02 but the atmosphere today only contained small amounts.
2)The early atmosphere contained very little oxygen whereas today contains 21% of oxygen.

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21
Q

What increased levels of Oxygen?

A

Algae, plants and organisms evolved increasing levels of Photosynthesis.

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22
Q

What decreased levels of Carbon dioxide?

A

Photosynthesis
Sedimentary rocks
Fossil fuels

23
Q

Why has nitrogen gradually increased in the early atmosphere?

A

It is a very Un-reactive gas so over time, it hasn’t reacted with other things, so gradually built up in atmosphere.

24
Q

Why have the levels of Methane and oxygen decreased?

A

due to the reactions of oxygen.

25
Q

Give a quick summary of the evolution of the Atmosphere

A
  • Volcanic activity
  • Earth cools down, water vapour is condensed into the oceans
  • Carbon dioxide is dissolved in oceans and taken in by organisms and eventually locked up in sedimentary rocks and fossil fuels
  • As plants and animals evolve photosynthesis takes in Carbon dioxide and produces Oxygen
  • Oxygen levels increase and Carbon dioxide levels decrease
26
Q

Name 3 greenhouse gases.

A

Water vapour
Carbon dioxide
Methane

27
Q

How does the greenhouse effect work?

A

1) Energy from the sun travels to earth as short wavelength radiation
2) Some of the short wavelength radiation simply reflects back into space but most of it passes easily through the atmosphere
3) The energy of the radiation is absorbed when it reaches the surface of the earth.
4) The surface of the earth now radiates the energy as long wavelength radiation
5) The energy in the long wavelength radiation is absorbed with the greenhouse gas molecules in the atmosphere
6) Because the energy is trapped in the atmosphere, this causes the temperature of the atmosphere to increase

28
Q

What does the Greenhouse effect do to the temperature of the earth?

A

It keeps temperature on the earth warm enough for support, without the greenhouse effect earth would be too cold for most living organisms to survive.

29
Q

What is increasing in the earth due to human activity?

A

The levels of Carbon dioxide and methane are increasing and that is due to human activity.

30
Q

Name 3 human activities that affect the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

A

1) Carbon dioxide is increasing as we burn fossil fuels
2) Carbon dioxide is absorbed by trees but deforestation destroys trees, releasing large amounts of Carbon dioxide
3) Waste from cattle’s such as cows create waste meaning more Carbon dioxide and methane.

31
Q

What is the consequences that the levels of Carbon dioxide and Methane are increasing?

A

The temperature of the atmosphere is rising as more of the energy from the sun is trapped.

32
Q

Name 3 effects of Climate change

A

1) Rising temperature will increase melting of the polar ice sheets and glaciers which increases sea levels leading to flooding.
2) More severe weather e.g more storms
3) Increasing temperatures could change the distrubtion of animals such as insects

33
Q

What do scientists believe that causes climate change?

A

It is caused by human activity causing a release of greenhouse gases

34
Q

What is a peer review?

A

Scientists critize and decide validation of evidence.

35
Q

What is the problem of climate change?

A

It is complex and difficult to model, this is why stories about climate change are simplified or simply biased

36
Q

What cannot scientist predict?

A

They cannot predict with certainty how much the temperature of the atmosphere will increase.

37
Q

What does the carbon footprint try to give?

A

An idea of how much something contributes to climate change.

38
Q

What is a Carbon footprint?

A

It is the total amount of Carbon dioxide ans other greenhouse gases emitted or released over the full life cycle of a product, service or event.

39
Q

Name 5 ways to reduce Carbon footprints?

A

1) Use public transport instead of cars as less Carbon dioxide per passenger
2) Switching to renewable sources of power such as wind power
3) Government could tax companies or individuals based on the amount of greenhouse gases they emit
4) Government can put a cap on emissions of all greenhouse gases that companies make.
5) People eat less beef and less dairy products from cows as they release a lot of methane.

40
Q

Name problems of reducing Carbon footprints?

A

1) Solutions are expensive and people are reluctant to pay
2) they are inconvenient people prefer to drive over public transport
3) People find it hard to do the changes e.g people are relecuant to change diet and stop getting beef.

41
Q

What are fuels?

A

They release energy when they are combusted (burned)

42
Q

How does Carbon dioxide form?

A

When fuels burn, the carbon and hydrogen atoms react with oxygen in the air, which are oxidized so that Carbon dioxide and Water vapour is released into Atmosphere. by Complete combustion.

43
Q

What effect does Carbon dioxide have on humans?

A

It causes climate change and Global warming as Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas.

44
Q

How does Carbon monoxide form?

A

When their isn’t enough oxygen from incomplete combustion, carbon monoxide is formed instead of Carbon dioxide.

45
Q

What effects does Carbon monoxide have on humans?

A

Blood carries less oxygen, meaning you can die from carbon monoxide poisoning

46
Q

How do Carbon particulates form?

A

Solid carbon bits are formed from incomplete combustion

47
Q

What effect does Carbon particulates have on humans?

A

Makes buildings dirty

It can reduce the amount of energy from the sun that reaches the earths surface causing global dimming.

48
Q

How is Sulphur dioxide formed?

A

When coal is burned, the Sulphur impurities are oxidized producing Sulphur dioxide

49
Q

What effect does Sulphur dioxide have on humans?

A

Can cause breathing problems

When dissolves in water it makes acid rain which damages trees, makes lakes acidic and kills fishes

50
Q

How is Nitrogen monoxide formed?

A

When fuels are burned in vehicle engines, high temperatures are reached. At these high temperatures nitrogen and oxygen from the air combine to produce nitrogen monoxide.

51
Q

What effect does Nitrogen monoxide have on humans?

A

Can cause breathing problems

Dissolve in rain water to make acid rain which kills makes lake acidic and kills fishes.

52
Q

How is Nitrogen dioxide formed?

A

When this nitrogen monoxide is released from vehicle exhaust systems, it combines with oxygen in the air to form nitrogen dioxide.

53
Q

What is the effect does Nitrogen dioxide have on humans?

A

Can cause breathing problems

Dissolve in rain water to make acid rain which kills makes lake acidic and kills fishes.

Chemistry C1-C6 revision (14 decks)

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