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Chemistry > Chemistry Of The Atmosphere > Flashcards

Chemistry Of The Atmosphere Flashcards

1
Q

What is the current composition of Earth’s atmosphere?

A
  • 80% nitrogen
  • 20% oxygen
  • less than 1% other gases (like carbon dioxide, water vapor, and noble gases).
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2
Q

What gases was the Earth’s early atmosphere mainly made of?

A
  • Carbon dioxide, with smaller amounts of water vapor
  • nitrogen
  • methane
  • ammonia
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3
Q

What gases did volcanic activity release in Earth’s early history?

A
  • Carbon dioxide
  • Water Vapor
  • Nitrogen
  • Methane
  • Ammonia
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4
Q

How were Earth’s oceans formed?

A

Water vapor in the atmosphere condensed into liquid water

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5
Q

How was carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere in Earth’s early history?

A

It dissolved into the oceans and formed carbon precipitates, which became sediments on the seabed

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6
Q

How did photosynthesis change the atmosphere?

A

It decreased carbon dioxide levels and increased oxygen levels

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7
Q

How are crude oil and natural gas formed?

A

From dead plankton buried under layers of sediment over millions of years

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8
Q

What is coal made from?

A

Thick deposits of dead plant material compressed over millions of years

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9
Q

What is limestone made of?

A

Calcium carbonate from the shells and skeletons of marine organisms

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10
Q

How do sedimentary rocks trap carbon?

A

Dead organisms become buried and compressed, forming rocks like coal, oil, and limestone that store carbon

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11
Q

What is a carbon footprint?

A

The total amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emitted over the entire life cycle of a product, service, or event

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12
Q

Give three examples of things with a carbon footprint

A
  • A product (e.g., a phone)
  • A service (e.g., plane travel)
  • an event (e.g., a festival)
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13
Q

Why is it useful to measure carbon footprints?

A

It helps
- Identify the most polluting activities
- Compare emissions
- Make plans to reduce them

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14
Q

Why is measuring carbon footprints difficult?

A

It requires considering raw materials, manufacturing, energy use, disposal, and transportation, which are complex and hard to track

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15
Q

What are two ways to reduce carbon footprints?

A
  • Use renewable energy sources (e.g., wind, solar, nuclear)
  • Adopt efficient manufacturing processes
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16
Q

Why is reducing waste important in reducing carbon footprints?

A

Waste is broken down by decomposers, which can release methane, a potent greenhouse gas

17
Q

How can governments help reduce emissions?

A

By introducing new laws, taxing companies based on emissions, and promoting carbon capture technology

18
Q

What is carbon capture technology?

A

A method to capture carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels and store it underground to prevent it from escaping into the atmosphere

19
Q

Why is reducing emissions difficult?

A

Renewable energy is more expensive, economies rely on fossil fuels, and international agreements are hard to enforce

20
Q

What can individuals do to help reduce carbon footprints?

A

Be mindful of their consumption and make lifestyle changes to reduce emissions

21
Q

What are the products of complete combustion of a hydrocarbon?

A
  • Water (H₂O)
  • Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
22
Q

What happens during incomplete combustion, and what does it produce?

A

Occurs when there is not enough oxygen

23
Q

What does Incomplete Combustion produce?

A

Produces carbon monoxide (CO) and particulates (soot)

24
Q

What are two problems caused by particulates?

A
  • They can get stuck in the lungs and cause respiratory problems
  • They cause global dimming by reflecting sunlight back into space.
25
Q

Why is carbon monoxide dangerous?

A

It binds to hemoglobin, reducing oxygen transport in the blood,
which can lead to fainting, coma, or death

26
Q

Why is carbon monoxide hard to detect?

A

It is colorless and odorless

27
Q

How is sulfur dioxide formed?

A
  • By burning hydrocarbons that contain sulfur impurities
  • The sulfur is oxidized to form sulfur dioxide gas
28
Q

When are nitrogen oxides formed?

A

When nitrogen and oxygen from the air react at high temperatures, such as in car engines

29
Q

What are the effects of acid rain?

A
  • It damages buildings and statues by corroding metals and stones.
  • It harms plants by making the soil acidic and directly damaging leaves.
30
Q

What is global dimming?

A

A process where particulates in the atmosphere reflect sunlight back into space, reducing the amount of light reaching the Earth’s surface

31
Q

Which pollutants can cause respiratory problems?

A
  • Particulates
  • Sulfur Dioxide
  • Nitrogen Oxides

Chemistry (8 decks)

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