Chemistry of the atmosphere

Question 1

What are the gases and the % they take up in the atmosphere?

Answer 1

Nitrogen- 78
oxygen- 21
other gases- 1

Question 2

What is the theory of the creation of the atmosphere in the first billion years of the earth?

Answer 2

The surface of the earth was molten, then cooled to form land masses with volcanoes, these volcanoes erupted with CO2, water vapor. The water vapor condensed, forming oceans with CO2 dissolved in them.

Question 3

What did the CO2 dissolved in the oceans form into?

Answer 3

Carbon precipitates turned into sediments, therefore reducing the CO2 in the atmosphere

Question 4

How did oxygen increase in the atmosphere 2.7 billion years ago?

Answer 4

Primitive plants and algae photosynthesized which took in CO2 and released oxygen, this meant for complex life could form.

Question 5

How did CO2 in the atmosphere decrease?

Answer 5

Water vapor and CO2 erupted from volcanoes, the water condensed with CO2 dissolved in them, forming oceans.
Primitive plants took in CO2. Dead organisms turn into fossil fuels, such as crude oil + coal which ‘locked up’ the carbon.

Question 6

What are examples of greenhouse gases?

Answer 6

Methane, CO2 and water vapor

Question 7

Define atmosphere.

Answer 7

A protective layer of gases around the earth

Question 8

Describe the greenhouse effect (how greenhouse gases cause global warming).

Answer 8

greenhouse gases allow short wavelength radiation to enter the atmosphere, they absorbed by the earth and re-emitted as longer wavelength radiation

Question 9

What is the problem with the greenhouse effect?

Answer 9

Humans are producing more greenhouse gases and the concentration of them is increasing, causing temps to rise

Question 10

What are humans doing to increase the greenhouse effect?

Answer 10

1- Cutting down trees (reduces CO2 intake)
2- Burning fossil fuels
3- Farming, animal release methane

Question 11

What are the impacts of global warming?

Answer 11

Droughts, hurricanes, and floods become more common. Ice melts, causing sea levels to rise. Species adapted to their home environment may not survive.

Question 12

What is meant by carbon footprint?

Answer 12

Total amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, emitted throughout a product’s lifetime.

Question 13

How can carbon footprint be decreased?

Answer 13

Carbon capture technology, gov placing laws, renewable energy

Question 14

What is meant by complete combustion?

Answer 14

when there is enough oxygen to burn the hydrocarbon, producing water and CO2

Question 15

What is meant by incomplete combustion and what are the products?

Answer 15

there isn’t enough oxygen for the hydrocarbon to burn in, carbon particulates (soot) and carbon monoxide

Question 16

What are the dangers of carbon particulates (soot)?

Answer 16

Can form smog, reflects sunlight back into space causing global dimming, can cause lung issues

Question 17

What are the dangers of carbon monoxide?

Answer 17

Its colourless, if inhaled, it diffuses into our blood and binds to hemoglobin instead of oxygen. Less oxygen flows in the body.

Question 18

Where are nitrogen oxides formed?

Answer 18

are a product of the combustion of fuels in car engines

Question 19

What are the dangers of nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxides?

Answer 19

They dissolve into clouds forming acid rain, which damages metals, building and statues. Also, acid makes it harder for soil to grow plants