chemistry of the atmosphere Flashcards

1
Q

What percentage of the earth’s gas composition is nitrogen?

A

78%.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What percentage of earth’s gas composition is oxygen?

A

21%.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Approximately how long has the earth’s gas composition been the same for?

A

200 million years.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What other planets was earth’s atmosphere similar to 1 billion years ago?

A

Mars and Venus (mainly CO2).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What produced nitrogen in the earth’s early atmosphere?

A

Intense volcanic activity.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What condensed to form oceans in the earth’s early atmosphere?

A

Water vapour.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Which gas was dissolved in water in the earth’s early atmosphere?

A

CO2.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

When carbonates were precipitated in the earth’s early atmosphere, what was produced and what was reduced?

A

Sediments were produced and it reduced CO2 levels.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

2.7 billion years ago, what did algae and plants produce and decrease?

A

Produced oxygen and decreased CO2 by photosynthesis.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What do greenhouse gases maintain?

A

Temperatures on Earth that are high enough to support life.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What passes through the earth’s atmosphere in the greenhouse gas effect?

A

Electromagnetic radiation from the sun.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What form of radiation is radiated out from the Earth as heat?

A

Infrared radiation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Some of ______________ is absorbed by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere…

A

The infrared radiation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are 4 human activities that contribute to increasing greenhouse gases?

A

~Driving
~Consuming electricity
~Raising livestock like cows
~Decay of organic waste in landfill sites

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What are 4 potential effects of climate change?

A

~Extinction of species
~Raising sea levels due to melting ice caps
~Migration
~Decrease in major crop yields

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is a carbon footprint?

A

The total amount of CO2 and other greenhouse gases emitted over the full life cycle of a product, service or event.

17
Q

What are 3 ways of reducing CO2 and methane emissions?

A

~Using less electricity
~Reducing use of transportation methods
~Planting more trees

18
Q

What is a problem with planting more trees to reduce emissions?

A

Could take away land for growing crops.

19
Q

What do most fuels contain?

A

Carbon and/or hydrogen.

20
Q

What 5 things are released into the atmosphere when a fuel burns?

A

~Water vapour
~Carbon monoxide
~Oxides of nitrogen
~Solid particles
~Unburned hydrocarbons

21
Q

What 3 things are released during incomplete combustion?

A

~Solid particles of soot
~Carbon monoxide
~Unburnt fuel

22
Q

During combustion, carbon and hydrogen fuels are…

A

Oxidised to form CO2 and water.

23
Q

Why is carbon monoxide not easy to detect?

A

It is colourless and odourless but very toxic.

24
Q

What do sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen cause?

A

Acid rain and respiratory problems in humans.

25
Q

What do particulates cause?

A

Global dimming and human health problems.