Chemistry Of The Atmosphere

Question 1

How old is the earth

Answer 1

4.6 billion years

Question 2

How long have the gasses is the atmosphere been approximately the same as they are today

Answer 2

200 million years

Question 3

What percentage of the atmosphere is nitrogen

Answer 3

80%

Question 4

What percentage of the atmosphere is oxygen

Answer 4

20%

Question 5

What are the other gasses in the atmosphere apart from oxygen and nitrogen

Answer 5

Carbon dioxide
Water vapour
Noble gases

Question 6

Why is evidence for the early atmosphere limited

Answer 6

Time scale of 4.6 billion years is too long

Question 7

How have volcanoes formed the earths atmosphere

Answer 7

Released gasses:
Water vapour
- condensed to form oceans
Produced nitrogen
Produce carbon dioxide
Release small proportions of ammonia and methane

Question 8

What other planet did the earths atmosphere use to be similar to

Answer 8

Venus and mars

Question 9

How did the oceans change the concentrations of gasses in the atmosphere

Answer 9

Carbon dioxide dissolved in them
Carbonates precipitated producing sediments

Question 10

How did oxygen in the early atmosphere increase

Answer 10

Photosynthesis by plants and algae

Question 11

How many years ago did algae first start producing oxygen

Answer 11

2.7 billion

Question 12

What caused animals to be able to evolve

Answer 12

Algae and plants increasing the amount of oxygen and decreasing the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by photosynthesising

Question 13

What is the equation for photosynthesis

Answer 13

Carbon dioxide + water —> glucose + oxygen

Question 14

Other than the oceans and photosynthesis how else was carbon dioxide reduced

Answer 14

Formation of sedimentary rocks and fossil fuels that contain carbon

Question 15

How is limestone made

Answer 15

Calcium carbonate deposits from the shells and skeletons of marine organisms

Question 16

What is coal

Answer 16

Fossil fuel
Sedimentary rock made form thick plant deposits

Question 17

How is carbon dioxide trapped in sedimentary rocks

Answer 17

Plants and animal die
Fall to sea bed
Buried in layers of sediment
Compressed and form sedimentary rocks
Oil and gas traps carbon

Question 18

What do greenhouse gasses do

Answer 18

Maintain temperatures of the atmosphere on earth high enough to support life

Question 19

What are the 3 greenhouse gasses

Answer 19

Water vapour
Carbon dioxide
Methane

Question 20

Describe the greenhouse effect

Answer 20

Short wavelength radiation from the sun enters the atmosphere
Reflected off of the earth
Greenhouse gasses re radiate this in all directions as long wavelength radiation
This warms the surface of the earth

Question 21

What are two human activities that increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

Answer 21

Deforestation
Burning fossil fuels

Question 22

What are two human activities that increase the amount of methane in the atmosphere

Answer 22

Agriculture
-cattle
-rice paddy’s
Decomposition of waste

Question 23

Why is it hard to make a model of climate change

Answer 23

Complex system
Too simplified models
Seculating opinions
Some parts of evidence for or against climate change are biased

Question 24

What are four potential effects of global climate change

Answer 24

Polar icecaps melting
- sea levels rise
- increase folding and erosion

Change in rainfall pattern
- more droughts or floods

Frequency and severity of storms could increase

Changes in temperature
- affect distribution of species

Question 25

What is a carbon footprint

Answer 25

Total amount of carbon dioxide and other GHGs emitted over the full cycle of a product, service or event.

Question 26

How can we reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide and methane

Answer 26

Renewable energy used instead of fossil fuels Tax company’s and people of how many green house gasses they emit Governments put a cap on all emissions that company’s make Increase use of technology’s that catch GHG before they are released

Question 27

Why are actions to reduce emotions of carbon dioxide and methane limited

Answer 27

A lot of work to be done on alternate tech May have an impact on economic growth Hard to make international agreements as not everyone agrees Hard to make people change their lifestyle if they dont want to

Question 28

What gasses are released into the atmosphere when a fuel is burned

Answer 28

Carbon dioxide Water vapour Carbon monoxide Sulphur dioxide Oxides of nitrogen

Question 29

What is a major source of atmospheric pollutants

Answer 29

Combustion of fuels

Question 30

What gasses are released

Question 31

What are released when burning fuels that form particulates in the atmosphere

Answer 31

Solid particles Unburnt hydrocarbons

Question 32

How is carbon monoxide released

Answer 32

Incomplete combustion

Question 33

What effect does carbon monoxide have

Answer 33

Binds to haemoglobin - less oxygen carried around body Doesn’t have any colour or smell do hard to detect

Question 34

How is soot released into the atmosphere

Answer 34

Incomplete combustion

Question 35

What effect does soot cause

Answer 35

Particulates inhailed and stuck in the lungs - respiratory problems Global dimming - less light reaches earth

Question 36

How is sulfur dioxide released

Answer 36

Combustion of fossil fuels

Question 37

How is nitrogen oxides released into the atmosphere

Answer 37

Internal combustion in the engines of cars

Question 38

How does acids rain form

Answer 38

Oxides of nitrogen, sulphur dioxide mixing with clouds Form dilute nitric or sulphuric acid

Question 39

How does acid rain effect the earth

Answer 39

Kills plants Damage structures Metal corrosion Respiratory problem