Chemistry of the Atmosphere

Question 1

Name the 3 phases of how we think the the atmosphere evolved (since 4.6 billion years ago)

Answer 1

Phase 1) volcanoes gabe out gases

Phase 2) oceans, Algae and green Plants absorbed CO2

Phase 3) Green plants and Algae produced oxygen

Question 2

Explain phase 1 of the evolution of the atmosphere

Answer 2

The first billion years of the earths history were pretty explosive- the surface was covered in volcanoes that erupted and released lots of gases

We think this is how the early atmosphere formed

The atmosphere was probably made up of carbon dioxide with virtually no oxygen - like Mars or Venus today

Volcanic activity also released nitrogen which built up in the atmosphere overtime, as well as water vapour and small amounts of methane and ammonia

Question 3

Explain phase 2 of the evolution of the atmosphere

Answer 3

The water vapour in the atmosphere, condensed to form oceans

Lots of carbon dioxide was removed from the early atmosphere as it dissolved in the oceans . This is carbon dioxide then went through a series of reactions to form carbonate precipitates that formed sediments on the sea bed

Later, marine animals evolved. Their shells and skeletons contained some of these carbonates from the ocean.

Green plants and algae evolved and absorbed some of the carbon dioxide so that they could carry out photosynthesis .

Some of the carbon that organisms took in from the atmosphere and oceans became locked up and rocks and fossil fuels after the organism died

When plants, plankton and marine animals die, they fall to the seeded and get buried by lays of sediment.

Over millions of years they become compressed and form sedimentary rocks, oil and gas – trapping the carbon within them (helping to keep it out of the atmosphere)

Things like coal, and natural gas that are made by this process are called fossil fuels

Crude oil and natural gas are formed from deposits of plankton . These fossil fuels form reservoir under the sea when they get trapped in rocks.

Call as a sedimentary rock made from thick plant deposits

Limestone is a sedimentary rock . Mostly made of calcium carbonate deposits from the shells and skeletons of marine organisms.

Question 4

Explain phase 2 of the evolution of the atmosphere and how some carbon became trapped in fossil fuels and rocks

Answer 4

Some of the carbon that organisms took in from the atmosphere and oceans became locked up and rocks and fossil fuels after the organism died

When plants, plankton and marine animals die, they fall to the seeded and get buried by lays of sediment.

Over millions of years they become compressed and form sedimentary rocks, oil and gas – trapping the carbon within them (helping to keep it out of the atmosphere)

Things like coal, and natural gas that are made by this process are called fossil fuels

Crude oil and natural gas are formed from deposits of plankton . These fossil fuels form reservoir under the sea when they get trapped in rocks.

Call as a sedimentary rock made from thick plant deposits

Limestone is a sedimentary rock . Mostly made of calcium carbonate deposits from the shells and skeletons of marine organisms.

Question 5

Explain phase 3 of the evolution of the atmosphere

Answer 5

As well as absorbing the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, green plants and algae produced oxygen by photosynthesis-this is when plants use light to convert carbon dioxide and water into sugars

Ellie involved first around two .7 billion years ago

Then over the next billion years so green plants also evolved

As oxygen levels built up in the atmosphere over time more complex life like animals could evolve

Eventually, around 200 million years ago, the atmospherereached a composition similar to how it is today:

80% nitrogen
20% Oxygen

Less than 1% of the Earths atmosphere being carbon dioxide, noble gases and water vapour

Question 6

Give the word and symbol equation for photosynthesis

Answer 6

Carbon dioxide + water ➡️ (light) glucose + oxygen

6CO2 + 6H2O ➡️ (light) C6H12O6 + 6O2

Question 7

Approximately how much nitrogen is in the air?

Answer 7

80%

Question 8

Approximately how much oxygen is in the air?

Answer 8

20%

Question 9

Coal is what type of rock?

Answer 9

Sedimentary

Question 10

Things like cool, crude oil and natural gases are made by this process called

Answer 10

Fossil fuels

Question 11

Limestone is what kind of rock?

Answer 11

Sedimentary

Question 12

Carbon dioxide is what type of gas?

Answer 12

Greenhouse gas

Question 13

Name some greenhouse gases:

Answer 13

Carbon dioxide, methane and water vapour

Question 14

What type of radiation do greenhouse gases absorb?

Answer 14

Long wavelength radiation that gets reflected back off the Earth
(From the short wavelength radiation from the Sun that greenhouse gases do not absorb)

Question 15

What type of radiation is long wave radiation?

Answer 15

Thermal radiation as it results and warming of the surface of the Earth

Question 16

What is the greenhouse effect?

Answer 16

The thermal radiation from long wave radiation that results in the warming of the surface of the Earth

Question 17

What are forms of human activity that affect the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere:

Answer 17

Deforestation- fewer trees means less CO2 is removed from the atmosphere via photosynthesis

Burning fossil fuels – carbon that was ‘locked up’ in this fuels is released as CO2

Agriculture- more farm animals produce more methane through their digestive processes

Creating waste- more landfill sites and more waste from agriculture means more CO2 and methane released by decomposition of waste.

Question 18

What consequences could climate change have?

Answer 18

Increasing temperature could create polar ice caps to melt and create a rise in sea levels. This could also mean increased flooding in costal areas and costal erosion.

Changes in rainfall patterns may cause some regions to get too much or too little water . There along with changes and temperature may affect the ability of certain regions to produce food.

The frequency and severity of storms may also increase

Changes in temperature and the amount of water available and habitat may affect wild species leading to differences in the distribution

Question 19

What is carbon footprint?

Answer 19

A measure of the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases released over the full life cycle of something e.g a service (like a school bus) or event (like the Olympics) or a product (like a toaster)

Question 20

Name ways you can reduce the carbon footprint:

Answer 20

Using renewable energy sources or nuclear energy instead of fossil fuels

Governments could tax companies individuals based on the amount of greenhouse gases they emit

Preventing deforestation

Question 21

How can the individual reduce carbon footprint?

Answer 21

Choosing to cycle walk instead of using a car

Reducing how much they use our travel

Doing anything that saves energy at home like, turning heating down

Question 22

What do fossil fuels contain?

Answer 22

Hydrocarbons

Question 23

What happens if there’s not enough oxygen when the fuel burns?

Answer 23

Solid particles made up of soot (carbon) and unburned hydrocarbons are released and carbon monoxide can be produced as well as carbon dioxide. This is called incomplete combustion.

Question 24

During combustion, the carbon and hydrogen in these compounds (hydrocarbon) are ——- so that carbon dioxide water vapour are released back into the atmosphere

Answer 24

oxidised

Question 25

Why do you particulates ( solid particles ) in the air cause problems?

Answer 25

If inhaled, they can get stuck in the lungs and caused damage which can lead to respiratory problems

The bad for the environment , particulates; into the clouds they helped produce, Reflect sunlight back into space. This means that less light reaches the Earth and causes global dimming.

Question 26

Explain why carbon monoxide can be dangerous?

Answer 26

Carbon monoxide , CO, can be dangerous because it can stop your blood from doing its job of carrying oxygen around the body

It does this by binding to the haemoglobin in your blood that normally carries O2 - so less oxygen is able to be transported around your body

A lack of oxygen in the blood can need to fainting a coma or even death

Carbon monoxide doesn’t have any colour or smell, so it’s very hard to detect , making it even more dangerous.

Question 27

Explain why sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen can be dangerous if released

Answer 27

Sulphur dioxide is released during the combustion of fossil fuels such as that contains sulphur impurities- it becomes oxidised

Nitrogen oxides are created from reaction between the nitrogen and oxygen in the air caused by the heat of burning (Which can happen in the internal combustion engines of cars)

When these classes mix with water in clouds, they formed dilute suffer acid or dilute nitric acid . Then fall acid rain.

Acid rain kills plants and damages, buildings and statues. It also makes metal corroded.

Not only that but sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide can also be bad for human health - they cause respiratory problems if they’re breathed then

Question 28

What causes acid rain?

Answer 28

Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide which mix with water in clouds to form acid rain.