Chemistry of the Atmosphere

Question 1

a protective blanket which nurtures life on the Earth and protects it from the hostile environment of outer space.

Answer 1

Atmosphere

Question 2

It is generally believed that three billion or four billion years ago, Earth’s atmosphere consisted mainly of

Answer 2

Ammonia
Methane
Water

Question 3

another important source of oxygen

Answer 3

photodecomposition of water

Question 3

Thinnest layer of the atmosphere

Answer 3

Troposphere

Question 4

the most active region of the atmosphere that contains 80% of the total mass of air and all of the atmosphere’s water vapor

Answer 4

troposphere

Question 5

attempt to define a boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer Space

Answer 5

Kármán line

Question 5

A layer above the troposphere which contains nitrogen, oxygen, and ozone.

Answer 5

Stratosphere

Question 5

In this layer , the concentration of ozone and other gases is low, and the temperature decreases with increasing altitude.

Answer 5

Mesosphere

Question 6

Uppermost region of Earth’s atmosphere as it gradually fades into the vacuum of space.

Answer 6

Exosphere

Question 6

it absorbs a lot of the UV radiation and X-ray given off by the sun.

Answer 6

Thermosphere or ionosphere

Question 6

Main components in the thermosphere

Answer 6

Helium
Atomic Nitrogen
Atomic Oxygen

Question 7

Layers of the Atmosphere (Bottom - Top)

Answer 7

Troposphere
Stratosphere
Mesosphere
Thermosphere
Exosphere

Question 7

substance present in greater than natural concentration as a result of human activity. This has detrimental effect in the environment.

Answer 7

Pollutant

Question 8

These are not classified as pollutants unless they have some detrimental effect and cause deviations from the normal composition of an environment.

Answer 8

Contaminants

Question 8

it is generally the logical place to eliminate pollution.

Answer 8

source

Question 9

It is anything that is affected by the pollutant.

Answer 9

receptor

Question 10

most abundant pollutant

Answer 10

Carbon Dioxide

Question 11

level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

Answer 11

360 parts per million

Question 12

It is one of the least reactive atmospheric hydrocarbons and is produced by diffuse sources, so that its participation in the formation of pollutant photochemical reaction products is minimal.

Answer 12

Methane

Question 12

can be a serious health threat because it prevents blood from transporting oxygen to body tissues.

Answer 12

Carbon Monoxide

Question 13

It is particularly significant in atmospheric chemistry because of its photochemical dissociation by light with a wavelength less than 430 nm to produce highly reactive O atoms.

Answer 13

Nitrogen dioxide

Question 14

it is released from underground sources as natural gas and produced by the fermentation of organic matter

Answer 14

Methane

Question 14

Most abundant hydrocarbon in the atmosphere

Answer 14

Methane

Question 14

serve as bodies for atmospheric water vapor to condense upon and are essential for the formation of rain drops.

Answer 14

Condensation nuclei

Question 15

Colloidal-sized particles in the atmosphere

Answer 15

aerosols

Question 16

formed by grinding up bulk matter

Answer 16

dispersion aerosols

Question 17

particles from chemical reactions of gases, smaller than dispersion aerosols

Answer 17

condensation aerosols

Question 18

The most widely practiced means of air pollution control.

Answer 18

removal of particulate matter from gas streams

Question 19

These consist of fabrics that allow the passage of gas but retain particulate matter.

Answer 19

Fabric filters

Question 20

These are used to collect dust in bags contained in structures called baghouses.

Answer 20

Fabric Filters

Question 21

Although simple, these are generally effective in removing particles from exhaust gas.

Answer 21

baghouses

Question 22

Collected particulate matter is removed from bags by

Answer 22

• mechanical agitation
• blowing air on the fabric,
• rapid expansion and contraction of bags.

Question 23

It passes gas through a device which leads the gas stream through a converging section, throat, and diverging section.

Answer 23

venturi scrubber

Question 23

In addition to removing particles, these may serve as quenchers to cool exhaust gas, and as scrubbers for pollutant gases.

Answer 23

venturi scrubber