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Chemistry > Chemistry Of The Atmosphere > Flashcards

Chemistry Of The Atmosphere Flashcards

1
Q

Phase 1 of evolution of atmosphere

A
  • surface of earth was covered in volcanoes that erupted and released lots of gases
  • the early atmosphere was probably mostly carbon dioxide, with virtually no oxygen. Quite like the atmospheres of mars and Venus today
  • volcanic activity also released nitrogen, which built up in the atmosphere over time, as well as water vapour and small amounts of methane and ammonia
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2
Q

Phase 2 of evolution of atmosphere

A
  • when the vapour in the atmosphere condensed, it formed oceans
  • lots of carbon dioxide as removed from the early atmosphere as it dissolved in the oceans
  • this dissolved carbon dioxide went through a series of reactions to form carbonate precipitates that formed sediments on the seabed
  • green plants and algae evolved and absorbed some of the carbon dioxide so that they could carry out photosynthesis
  • later marine animals evolved. Their shells and skeletons contained carbonates from the oceans
  • some of the carbon these organisms to in from the atmosphere and oceans became locked up in rocks and fossil fuels after the organisms died
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3
Q

What happens when plankton, plants and marine animals die

A
  • they fall to the sea bed and get buried by layers of sediment
  • over millions of years, they become compressed and form sedimentary rocks, oil and gas - trapping carbon within them and helping to keep carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere reduced
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4
Q

Where do coal, crude oil and natural gas come from

A
  • deposits of plankton
  • these fossil fuels form reservoirs under the seabed when they get trapped in rocks
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5
Q

Where does coal come from

A
  • its a sedimentary rock made from thick plant deposits
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6
Q

Where does limestone come from

A
  • its a sedimentary rock
  • mostly made out of calcium carbonate deposits from the shells and skeletons in marine organisms
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7
Q

Phase 3 of evolution of atmosphere

A
  • as well a absorbing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, green plants and algae produced oxygen by photosynthesis
  • algae evolved first (2.7 billion years ago) then over the next billion years or so, green pants also evolved
  • as oxygen levels built up in the atmosphere over time, more complex life could evolve
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8
Q

Atmosphere today

A
  • reached this level 20 million years ago
  • 80% nitrogen
  • 20% oxygen
  • carbon dioxide, noble gases and water vapour make up less than 1% of the atmosphere
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9
Q

Examples of greenhouse gases

A
  • carbon dioxide
  • methane
  • water vapour
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10
Q

What do greenhouse gases do

A
  • act as an insulating layer in the earths atmosphere
  • this, amongst other factors allows the earth to be warm enough to support life
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11
Q

What is the greenhouse effect

A
  • greenhouse gases don’t absorb incoming short wavelength radiation from the sun
  • they do absorb long wavelength radiation that gets reflected back off earth
  • they then re-radiate it in all directions - including back towards the earth
  • the longwave radiation is thermal radiation so it results in warming the surface of the earth
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12
Q

Human activity that affects the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

A
  • deforestation
  • burning fossil fuels
  • agriculture
  • creating waste
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13
Q

How does deforestation affect amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

A
  • fewer trees = less CO2 is removed from atmosphere via photosynthesis
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14
Q

How does burning fossil fuels affect amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

A

Carbon that was ‘locked up’ in these fuels is released as CO2

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15
Q

How does agriculture affect amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

A

More farm animals produce more methane through their digestive processes

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16
Q

How does creating waste affect amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

A

More landfill sites and more waste from agriculture means more CO2 and methane released by decomposition of waste

17
Q

Opinions about climate change

A
  • scientists agree that extra carbon dioxide from human activity is causing this increase and that this will lead to climate change
  • evidence for this has been peer-reviewed so the information is reliable
  • earth’s climate is hard to understand so this has led to speculation in the media, where stories may be biased or only some of the information given
18
Q

Why is it hard to fully understand the earth’s climate

A
  • its complex
  • there are so many variables
  • very hard to make a model that isn’t oversimplified
19
Q

Dangers of climate change

A
  • high global temperatures = polar ice caps melt = sea levels rise = increased flooding in coastal area and coastal erosion
  • changes in rainfall patterns causing some regions to get too much or too little water. This along with changes in temperature may affect the ability of certain regions to produce food
  • frequency and severity of storms may also increase
  • changes in temperature and the amount of water available in different habitats are affecting wild species, leading to changes in ecosystem and distribution
20
Q

What is a carbon footprint

A
  • a measure of the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases released over the full life cycle of something
  • it can be a service (school bus), an event (olympics), a product (toastie maker) basically anything
21
Q

Why is it hard to measure carbon footprint

A
  • so many different factors to consider
  • you would have to count the emissions released as a result of sourcing all the parts of your service, event or object and in making it
  • also the emissions produced when using it and dispose of it
22
Q

Ways to reduce carbon footprint

A
  • renewable energy sources or nuclear energy instead of fossil fuels
  • using more efficient processes could conserve energy and cut waste which prevents more decomposing and release of methane
  • governments could tax companies or individual based on the amount of greenhouses gases they emit
  • governments could put a cap on emissions of al greenhouse gases that companies make
  • theres also technology that captures CO2 produced by burning fossil fuels before its released into the atmosphere
23
Q

Why is making carbon reductions still difficult even when there are solutions

A
  • still a lot of work to be done on alternative technologies that result in lower CO2 emissions
  • lots of governments are also worried that making these changes will impact the economic growth of communities which could be bad for peoples well being
  • because not everyone agrees, its hard to make international agreements to reduce emissions
  • individuals also need to make changes to their lifestyles but it might be hard to get people to make changes if thy don’t want to and if there isn’t enough education provided about why the changes are necessary and how to make them
24
Q

What is incomplete combustion

A
  • when theres not enough oxygen so some of the fuel doesn’t burn
  • under these conditions, solid particles of soot and unburnt fuel are released and carbon monoxide can be produced as well as carbon dioxide
25
Q

Why do particulates in the air cause problems

A
  • if the particulates are inhale, they can get stuck in the lungs and cause damage, this can lead to respiratory problems
  • also bad for the environment, they or the clouds they help to produce reflect sunlight back into space. This means that less light reaches the earth, causing global dimming
26
Q

Why is carbon monoxide in the atmosphere bad

A
  • can stop blood doing its job by carrying oxygen around the body
  • it binds to the haemoglobin in the blood that normally carries O2, so less oxygen is able to be transported around the body
  • lack of oxygen in the blood can lead to fainting, a coma, or death
27
Q

Why is carbon monoxide around us so dangerous

A
  • colourless
  • odourless
  • therefore its very hard to detect which makes it even more dangerous
28
Q

When is sulphur dioxide released

A
  • during combustion of fossil fuels, such as coal, that contain sulphur impurities
  • the sulphur in the fuel becomes oxidised
29
Q

When is nitrogen oxide released

A
  • created from a reaction between nitrogen and oxygen in the air, caused by the heat of the burning
  • this can happen in the internal combustion engines of cars
30
Q

What happens when nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide mix with clouds

A

They form dilute sulphuric acid and dilute nitric acid
- this then falls as acid rain

31
Q

Why is acid rain bad

A
  • kills plants and damages buildings statues
  • makes metal corrode
  • changes pH of underwater ecosystems, damaging them
32
Q

Why are sulphur dioxide and nitric oxide bad for human health

A

Cause respiratory problems if breathed in

Chemistry (11 decks)

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