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GCSE Chemistry paper 2 > Chemistry of the Atmosphere > Flashcards

Chemistry of the Atmosphere Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the gases in the atmosphere today? (with percentages)

A

Nitrogen - 78%
Oxygen - 21%
Other gases - 1%:
CO2 is 0.04% of this.

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2
Q

What gases made up the early atmosphere?

A

Mostly CO2 with little amounts of nitrogen.

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3
Q

How do scientist believe the early atmosphere was created?

A
  • There was intense volcanic activity early on in Earth,
  • This released lot of gases, such as water vapour, nitrogen and CO2
  • As the Earth cooled, the water vapour condensed and formed the oceans,
  • CO2 from the atmosphere dissolved in the water vapour and went into the water as well,
  • So the oceans are massive carbon sinks.
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4
Q

What planets do the early atmosphere of the Earth resemble today?

A

Mars and Venus.

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5
Q

What are the differences in the early atmosphere and the current?

A
  • The early atmosphere had a very high amount of CO2, but today contains a very small amount,
  • The early atmosphere contained very little oxygen, whereas today 21% of our atmosphere is oxygen.
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6
Q

What happened to the CO2 when it was dissolved in water vapour and stored in the ocean?

A
  • When it dissolved in the water a weak acid was formed,
  • This reacted with minerals in the sea to form precipitates,
  • Over time, this formed sediments of carbonate rock on the sea bed,
  • Some carbon was used to create shells and coral, when they died they created the sedimentary rock limestone.
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7
Q

How did oxygen enter the atmosphere?

A
  • Around 2.7 bil years ago, photosynthetic algae first evolved in the oceans,
  • These algae photosynthesised and released oxygen into the atmosphere,
  • Plants then evolved and increased the oxygen in the atmosphere.
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8
Q

What caused the decrease in CO2 in the atmosphere?

A
  • Photosynthesising plants took in and stored CO2,
  • The sedimentary rocks in the sea and ocean acted as carbon sinks,
  • Formation of fossil fuels from dead plants which were already taking in carbon.
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9
Q

What is the word equation for photosynthesis?

A

Water + Carbon dioxide → Oxygen + glucose

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10
Q

What is the symbol equation for photosynthesis?

A

6H2O + 6CO2 → 6O2 + C6H12O6

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11
Q

How is coal formed?

A
  • Formed from the remains of ferns and trees,
  • Some die and do not decompose due to lack of oxygen or acidic conditions,
  • This often happens in marshy areas,
  • These conditions prevent bacteria from decomposing the plant,
  • Over time, the plant remains are covered with sediment and compressed,
  • High temps and pressures create coal.
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12
Q

How is crude oil formed?

A
  • Plankton die and settle in mud on the sea bed,
  • If there is no oxygen, they do not decompose,
  • Over time they are compressed by sediment and heat and pressure then convert them into crude oil.
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13
Q

How is natural gas formed?

A
  • Mainly the hydrocarbon methane,

- Found near crude oil because they are made very similarly form compressed plankton.

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14
Q

What are three greenhouse gases?

A
  • Water vapour,
  • CO2,
  • Methane.
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15
Q

How does the greenhouse effect work?

A
  • Short wavelength radiation comes from the sun to Earth,
  • Most of it passes through the greenhouse gas layer because short wavelength radiation (UV or visible light) don’t interact with gases a lot,
  • Some is reflected back to space tho,
  • The Earth then absorbs this radiation and emits it as long wavelength radiation,
  • This gets trapped by the greenhouse effect in the atmosphere and causes a rise of temp in the atmosphere.
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16
Q

Why do we need the greenhouse effect?

A

It traps enough heat so that life can live, if it did not exist, all the radiation would reflect of earth and no heat would be trapped to heat up the planet. So most living organisms would die.

17
Q

Why are levels of CO2 rising in our atmosphere?

A
  • Burning fossil fuels,
  • Deforestation, so trees don’t absorb CO2
  • Burning the deforested trees.
18
Q

Why is methane levels rising in our atmosphere?

A
  • Growing rice in flooded paddy fields,

- Cows letting one rip.

19
Q

What are the effects of climate change?

A
  • Ice caps melt and raise the sea levels,
  • So more floods of low lying areas,
  • Also, climate change can lead to sever weather like storms,
  • Change the distribution of animals like insects, as they want to move to optimal conditions,
  • It may also change the distribution of diseases that use insects as vectors, like malaria,.
20
Q

What is peer review?

A

When multiple scientists compare data and criticise each other evidence. This makes sure all data is valid, this prevents false claims.

21
Q

What the carbon footprint?

A

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

22
Q

How do we reduce our CO2 emissions?

A
  • Insulating our homes/ turning down the heating,
  • use public transport b/c it produced less CO2 per passenger,
  • Produce energy using renewable resources,
  • Use less energy at home so there is less demand for burning fossil fuels,
  • Like turning of lights/ using energy efficient light bulbs.
23
Q

What are the issues in deducing your CO2 emissions?

A
  • Most solutions are expensive and people are reluctant to pay
  • Some are inconvenient, some people like driving a lot more than having to rely on public transport.
24
Q

How do we reduce methane emissions?

A
  • Eat less beef and dairy because then there is less demand for cows,
  • Trap methane from landfills and burning it for electricity, but trapping methane costs P.
25
Q

What are examples of fuel?

A
  • Coal,
  • Hydrocarbons,
  • Oil,
  • Natural gases.
26
Q

What fuel is often used for electricity generation in power stations?

A

Coal.

27
Q

What fuel is often used for powering cars?

A

Hydrocarbons.

28
Q

What is complete combustion?

A
  • When all the fuel reacts with oxygen,
  • Oxygen must be in excess in the reaction.
  • CO2 is formed as a byproduct along with Water vapour
29
Q

What is incomplete combustion?

A
  • When there is not enough oxygen for complete combustion,

- So CO is formed instead, a lethal gas.

30
Q

How is sulfur dioxide produced?

A
  • When coal is burned, sulfur atoms are oxidised,

- They react with oxygen and produce Sulfer Dioxide.

31
Q

How are nitrogen oxides produced?

A
  • Cars engines produce Nitrogen Oxides

- High temperatures cause nitrogen and oxygen from the air to react.

32
Q

What are the issues with sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides?

A
  • Cause human breathing problems,

- Can dissolve in water and create acid rain, this causes corrosion of limestone and damages trees.

33
Q

What are particulates?

A

Particles of carbon and unburned hydrocarbons.

34
Q

What are issues with particulates and where does it come from?

A
  • Comes from diesel combustion,
  • Risk of heart disease and lung disease,
  • Reduces the amount of energy from the sun that gets to the Earth,
  • This is called global dimming, this also effects rainfall patterns.
35
Q

How are pollutants released into the atmosphere?

A

Combustion of fuels.

GCSE Chemistry paper 2 (5 decks)

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