Chemistry of the Atmosphere Flashcards
How were gas originally released in the atmosphere?
Volcanoes erupting
What happened to form the oceans?
Water vapour condensed and fell as rain and collected in hollows
How was lots of carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere?
Dissolved in the oceans and went through a series of reactions to form carbon precipitates that formed sediments on the seabed
How was CO2 taken in by plants?
Algae evolved and absorbed CO2 to carry out photosynthesis
How did carbon become trapped in fossil fuels and rocks?
Plants/animals die and fall to the seabed and get buried in sediment
Become compressed and form sedimentary rock, oil and gas- trapping carbon
How is crude oil and natural gas formed?
Deposits of plankton
These fossil fuels form reservoirs under the seabed
What is coal and limestone?
Sedimentary rocks
What is the symbol equation for photosynthesis?
6CO2 + 6H2O —–> 6O2 + C6H12O6
What are the three greenhouse gases?
Carbon dioxide
Methane
Water vapour
How does the greenhouse effect work?
Greenhouse gases are trapped in the earth’s atmosphere
They absorb long wavelength radiation
The re-radiate it in all directions
Reflected back off the earth
It is thermal radiation so it heats the earth’s surface
How does deforestation affect the amount of greenhouse gases?
Fewer trees means less C02 removed via photosynthesis
How does burning fossil fuels affect the amount of greenhouse gases?
Carbon that was locked up is now released
How does agriculture affect the amount of greenhouse gases?
More farm animals produce more methane
How does creating waste affect the amount of greenhouse gases?
More landfills and more waste from agriculture means more C02 and methane released by decomposition of waste
What is causing the global warming?
The extra CO2 from human activities is increasing global temperatures leading to climate change
What are the consequences of global warming?
Melting- sea levels rising, flooding
Changes in rainfall patterns- too much, too little
Frequency and severity of storms
Changes in temperature- amount of water, distribution of species
What are carbon footprints?
A measure of the amount of CO2 and other greenhouse gases released over the full life cycle of something
What are the ways of reducing carbon footprints?
Renewable or nuclear resources
Using efficient processes
Governments taxing companies on their CO2 emission
Governments put a cap on emissions
technology that captures carbon before released
Why is reducing carbon footprints difficult?
Carbon capture and storage is a new idea and at its development stage
Many renewable energy resources are expensive
Governments worry reducing CO2 could impact economic growth
Hard to get people to make changes
How does fossil fuels release gases?
Hydrocarbons are oxidised so CO2 and water vapour are released
How are particulates produced?
In incomplete combustion there isn’t enough oxygen so not all the fuel burns
So unburned hydrocarbons are released
Carbon monoxide can be produced
What can happen if particulates are inhaled?
Can get stuck in lungs and cause damage, leading to respiratory problems
How are particulates bad for the environment?
Reflect sunlight back into space so less light reaches earth causing global diming
How is carbon monoxide dangerous?
Can stop blood from carrying oxygen
Binds to haemoglobin so less oxygen can be transported
Lack of oxygen can lead to fainting, coma, death
