Chemistry of the Atmosphere Flashcards
1
Q
Have the theories about the composition of the Earth’s early atmosphere stayed mostly the same over time?
A
no
2
Q
What is the chemical name for the main compound in limestone?
A
calcium carbonate
3
Q
What process removed carbon dioxide from the atmosphere millions of years ago?
A
photosynthesis
4
Q
photosynthesis:
________ _________ + water → glucose + oxygen
A
carbon dioxide
5
Q
photosynthesis:
carbon dioxide + _____ → glucose + oxygen
A
water
6
Q
photosynthesis:
carbon dioxide + water → _______ + oxygen
A
glucose
7
Q
photosynthesis:
carbon dioxide + water → glucose + ______
A
oxygen
8
Q
There is limited evidence of the early atmosphere because the time scale is very long, covering __________ years. Which number completes the sentence?
A
4.6 billion
9
Q
Which gas made up most of the Earth’s early atmosphere?
A
carbon dioixde
10
Q
Name the process that produced the oceans from the water vapour in Earth’s early atmosphere.
A
condensation
11
Q
In what form is the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
A
gas
12
Q
Earth’s atmosphere was formed billions of years ago. What gas is thought to have formed most of the atmosphere at first?
A
carbon dioxide
13
Q
One theory suggests that Earth’s early atmosphere was much like the atmosphere today on Mars and what other planet?
A
venus
14
Q
True or false? About 99% of the air in the Earth’s atmosphere is made up of nitrogen and oxygen.
A
true
15
Q
Earth’s atmosphere was formed billions of years ago. What released the gases into the atmosphere?
A
volcanoes
16
Q
What gas in our atmosphere is thought to have come from plants and algae alone?
A
oxygen
17
Q
What process do plants and animals perform that adds carbon dioxide to the atmosphere?
A
respiration
18
Q
_______ + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water
A
glucose
19
Q
glucose + _________ → carbon dioxide + water
A
oxygen
20
Q
glucose + oxygen →_________ _________ + water
A
carbon dioxide
21
Q
glucose + oxygen → carbon dioxide + _______
A
water
22
Q
The __________ is a natural ‘reservoir’ for dissolved carbon dioxide.
A
sea
23
Q
What sedimentary rock is made from the shells and skeletons of dead marine animals?
A
coal
24
Q
Over millions of years, plant deposits have been buried and compressed, forming a type of sedimentary rock. What do we call this rock?
A
coal
25
How do plants remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere? State the name of the process.
photosynthesis
26
What percentage of the air is made up of nitrogen?
78%
27
Algae first produced ________ about 2.7 billion years ago. Soon after that, ________ started appearing in the atmosphere.
oxygen
28
What percentage of the air is made up of oxygen?
21%
29
When plants began to evolve, oxygen levels in the atmosphere __________, which allowed animals to evolve.
increased
30
What sedimentary rock is made up of mainly calcium carbonate?
limestone
31
As the early atmosphere cooled, water vapour __________ to form the first oceans.
condensed
32
What percentage of the air is made up of carbon dioxide and the other noble gases?
1%
33
Coal and oil are two examples of fossil fuels. What is a third?
gas
34
Did carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere increase or decrease when sedimentary rocks and fossil fuels that contain carbon were formed?
decrease
35
What organisms removed carbon dioxide from the early atmosphere?
plants
36
Less than 10% of the Earth's early atmosphere was made up of the present day's most abundant atmospheric gas. What is the name of that gas?
nitrogen
37
What process do plants and animals perform that removes oxygen from the atmosphere?
respiration
38
What gas that is important for life today was NOT present in the early atmosphere?
oxygen
39
True or false? There was no oxygen in the early atmosphere
true
40
What process do plants perform that adds oxygen to the atmosphere?
photosynthesis
41
For approximately how many millions of years have the proportions of different gases in the atmosphere been much the same as they are today?
200 million years
42
One theory states that the Earth's early atmosphere was mainly carbon dioxide with small amounts of water vapour, ammonia and which other gas?
nitrogen
43
What biological process led to a fall in carbon dioxide and rise in oxygen levels of the early atmosphere?
photosynthesis
44
What type of rock is made from layers of ocean sediment cemented together?
sedimentary
45
We __________ fossil fuels, which releases the trapped carbon.
burn
46
There are gases in the Earth's atmosphere that prevent heat from radiating into space. This is known as the __________ effect.
greenhouse
47
As a result of burning fossil fuels, has the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increased or decreased?
increased
48
What environmental problem is the burning of fossil fuels contributing to?
global warming
49
Recycling metal directly results in less greenhouse gases such as __________ entering the atmosphere.
carbon dioxide
50
What gas is the burning candle producing during combustion?
carbon dioxide
51
It is thought that an increase in carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere could lead to a(n) __________ in global temperatures. What word completes the sentence?
increase
52
The percentage of CO2 in the atmosphere has increased over the last 100 years. This correlates with the increased use of what type of fuels?
fossil
53
True or false? Global climate change is a simple system to model and explain.
false
54
What effect does cutting down forests have on the carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere?
increase levels
55
What effect does the combustion of fossil fuels have on the carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere?
increases levels
56
Apart from carbon dioxide, name another gas produced by cows that causes global warming.
methane
57
True or false? All scientists agree that human activities are causing global warming.
false
58
During the combustion of fossil fuels, carbon dioxide is released into the ___________.
atmosphere
59
In the burning candle practical, what will happen to the oxygen levels in the sealed glass jar?
decrease
60
True or false? All of the greenhouse gases in the earth's atmosphere are there due to human activities.
false
61
Global warming is caused by carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which __________ heat energy back towards the earth.
reflects
62
Methane is produced by the decomposition of what?
plants
63
Which greenhouse gas is produced in the digestive system of cows?
methane
64
Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere ensure that temperatures on Earth stay __________ enough to support life.
high
65
Fossil fuels produce a gas when they are burned that adds to the greenhouse effect. What is this gas?
carbon dioxide
66
When biofuels are burned they release the same amount of carbon dioxide as was removed from the atmosphere by the plant. Biofuels are therefore described as being carbon __________.
neutral
67
What energy supply would be the best alternative to coal for reducing our carbon footprint?
renewables
68
What is the chemical symbol for carbon?
C
69
True or false? Biofuels are carbon neutral overall.
true
70
True or false? Global climate change could affect the times when rainfall occurs.
true
71
There is no net release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. That means that this system is... what?
carbon neutral
72
What is the benefit in taxing people for their carbon usage?
people drive cars less if cheaper forms of transport are available
73
What is the advantage of using carbon capture?
less carbon dioxide enter atmosphere, reducing global warming
74
What environmental problem do increased levels of carbon dioxide contribute to?
global warming
75
True or false? Global climate change can create temperature and water stress for wildlife, but not typically for humans.
false
76
An organisation with a large 'carbon __________' is an organisation that causes a lot of greenhouse gases to be given off.
footprint
77
Name a process that releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
combustion
78
The carbon footprint is the total amount of carbon dioxide and other __________ gases emitted over the full life cycle of a product, service or event.
greenhouse
79
what is one of the biggest impact in reducing our carbon footprint?
burning fewer fossil fuels
80
A region is experiencing more storms than it used to, and the storms are getting more severe. This is one of the potential effects of... what?
global warming
81
Give the formula for carbon monoxide.
CO
82
The picture below shows a limestone statue that has been damaged by acid rain because the acid rain contains __________ acid.
nitric
83
As well as hydrogen and sometimes sulfur, what element do most fossil fuels contain?
carbon
84
Name the toxic gas that is difficult to detect because it is odourless and colourless.
carbon monoxide
85
What is the name of the gas which forms by burning fuels and which contributes to global warming?
carbon dioxide
86
Carbon monoxide combines irreversibly with haemoglobin in red blood cells. This reduces the ability of the blood to transport which gas?
oxygen
87
Acid rain is caused by gases produced from burning _____ _______.
fossil fuels
88
If sulfur is present in a fuel, what can it combine with oxygen to form?
sulfur dioxide
89
_______ + oxygen → sulfur dioxide
sulfur
90
sulfur + ________ → sulfur dioxide
oxygen
91
sulfur + oxygen → ________ _________
sulfur dioxide
92
As well as diesel, the burning of what other hydrocarbon fuel in transport can contribute to acid rain formation?
petrol
93
What chemical do the gases combine with to form acid rain?
water
94
As well as oxides of nitrogen, what is the name of the other gas that when released into the atmosphere can cause acid rain?
sulfur dioxide
95
In the burning candle practical, what is the black smudge in the jar made from?
carbon
96
Name the substance in red blood cells that carbon monoxide from cigarette smoke combines with.
haemoglobin
97
What material do we get from trees that is burnt as a fuel and releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere?
wood
98
True or false? The burning candle practical proves that there is carbon in candle wax.
true
99
Which pollutant gas binds to haemoglobin and prevents it from carrying oxygen?
carbon monoxide
100
Particulate release can contribute to less sunlight reaching the Earth's surface. What is this process known as?
global dimming
101
__________ is formed when hydrogen is oxidised during combustion.
steam
102
True or false? Soot particles in the atmosphere can cause global dimming as they absorb/reflect some of the light from the Sun.
true
103
Whole forests can be damaged by sulfur dioxide pollution as the gas dissolves in atmospheric water vapour. This eventually falls to the ground in the form of ____ ____.
acid rain
104
When a fuel is burned, any carbon that does not undergo combustion can be released as particles. What do we call this product?
particulates (soot)
105
The products of __________ ___________ are carbon monoxide, carbon and water.
incomplete combustion
106
Particulates cause health problems because they damage what body part?
lungs (respiratory system)
107
Name the substance found in cigarette smoke that reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.
carbon monoxide
108
Oxides of nitrogen (NOx) are produced during the combustion of fuels because of the high __________ at which the fuels are burned.
temperatures
109
As well as hydrogen and carbon, what impurity do hydrocarbon fuels sometimes contain?
sulfur
110
Which gas produced by burning fossil fuels can cause acid rain?
sulfur dioxide
111
What gas must be present for burning to happen?
oxygen
112
True or false? Carbon monoxide is poisonous because it combines reversibly with haemoglobin in red blood cells.
false
113
Name a pollutant gas that produces respiratory problems.
carbon monoxide
114
In the case of incomplete or partial combustion, what is the name of the gas that might be formed instead of carbon dioxide?
carbon monoxide
115
During combustion what type of chemical reaction takes place?
oxidation
116
Burning fuels such as hydrocarbons is useful because it releases light and what kind of energy?
thermal energy
117
Hydrogen can be used as a fuel. Does hydrogen cause more or less pollution than petrol or diesel when it is burned?
less
118
Water is the only _______ ________ formed when hydrogen is burned.
waste product
119
When the sulphur in fuel is oxidised, what is the chemical name of the atmospheric pollutant that is produced?
sulfur dioxide
