Chemistry Of The Atmosphere Flashcards
What are the percentages of atmosphere of the Earth 
78% nitrogen
21% oxygen
small proportions of other gases including carbon dioxide water vapor and noble gases
What do volcanoes release
Nitrogen and a small amount of methane and ammonia
What is the difference between the early atmosphere of the Earth and the modern atmosphere today
The early atmosphere contains large amounts of carbon dioxide and very little oxygen
The modern atmosphere today contains 78% of nitrogen and 21% of oxygen and other gases
What do sediments reduce
The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
What happened when the ocean formed carbon dioxide devolved in the water
Carbonates were precipitated producing sediments (rocks)
What did sedimentary rock limestone remove
carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
What is one theory during the first billion years of earths existence
There was intense volcanic activity that released gases that formed the early atmosphere and water vapor that condense to form the oceans
At the start of earths atmosphere what was it like
Like the atmosphere of mars and Venus today consisting of mainly carbon dioxide with little or no oxygen gas
How oxygen increased
Algae and plants produce oxygen (Carbon dioxide + water >light > glucose + oxygen)
How carbon dioxide decreased
Algae and plants decrease the percentage of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by photosynthesis
Other than plants and algae how was carbon dioxide decreased
Carbon dioxide was decreased by formation of sedimentary rocks and fossils fuels that contain carbon
How is coal formed
From the remains of ferns and trees 
What does high temperature and pressure create
Coal
What is crude oil formed from
Plankton which are tiny plants and animals found in the Sea
If oxygen is not present what happens
They do not decompose
What is natural gas
The hydrocarbon methane 
How is natural gas formed
from plankton 
What do all fossil fuels contain
Trapped carbon
Name greenhouse gases
Water vapor
carbon dioxide
methane
What do greenhouse gases do in the atmosphere of earth
Maintain high temperatures
What are some human activities that increase the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
Carbon dioxide
methane
What’s the Short wavelength radiation and long wavelength radiation
Short wavelength radiation is from the sun
long wavelength radiation is from the Earth surface
How is methane released
For example growing rice in flooded Paddy Fields
When cows pass wind
What does peer review allow
Scientist to detect false claims
