Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Chemistry GCSE > Chemistry of the Atmosphere > Flashcards

Chemistry of the Atmosphere Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
Periodic Table flashcards Chemistry 101 flashcards GCSE Religious Studies - Edexcel Route A flashcards GCSE Religious Studies - Eduqas Route A flashcards GCSE Geography - AQA flashcards AP® Chemistry flashcards Organic Chemistry 101 flashcards GCSE Religious Studies - Edexcel Route B flashcards GCSE Religious Studies - Eduqas Route B flashcards
1
Q

% of gases in atmosphere today:

A

approx. 80% nitrogen
approx. 20% oxygen
less than 1% other gases, e.g. carbon dioxide, water vapour, noble gases

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What was the first phase of the evolution of the atmosphere?

A

Volcanic activity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What did intense volcanic activity release?

A

Carbon dioxide, steam, ammonia and methane

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What was the early atmosphere when volcanic activity took place like?

A

Mostly carbon dioxide and no oxygen gas

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What was the second phase of the evolution of the atmosphere?

A

Oceans, algae and green plants absorb carbon dioxide

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

How where oceans formed?

A

Water vapour condensed and rained

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

How do oceans remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere?

A

Carbon dioxide dissolves in the oceans

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What did dissolved carbon dioxide in oceans do?

A

Went through a series of reactions and formed carbon precipitates that formed sediments on the seabed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How do algae and green plants reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?

A

Through photosynthesis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What do marine animals’ shells and skeletons contain?

A

Carbonates from the oceans

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What happened to the carbon that organisms took from the atmosphere and oceans?

A

They became locked up in rocks and fossil fuels after the organisms died

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

How are fossil fuels formed?

A

Plants, plankton and marine animals die, fall onto seabed, get buried by layers of sediment, become compressed and form sedimentary rocks, oil and gas, trapping carbon within them

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

How is crude oil and natural gas formed?

A

From deposits of plankton - form reservoirs under seabed when trapped inside rocks

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is coal made from?

A

Thick plant deposits

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is limestone?

A

A sedimentary rock

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is limestone made of?

A

Calcium carbonate deposits from the shells and skeletons of marine organisms

17
Q

What was the third phase of the evolution of the atmosphere?

A

Green plants and algae produce oxygen

18
Q

What evolved first to produce oxygen?

A

Algae

19
Q

What did the percentage increase of oxygen allow?

A

More complex life, like animals to evolve

20
Q

What is released into the atmosphere during combustion of fossil fuels?

A

Carbon dioxide and water vapour

21
Q

When does incomplete combustion take place?

A

When there isn’t enough oxygen present

22
Q

What does incomplete combustion release?

A

Carbon monoxide and particulates

23
Q

What are particulates?

A

Solid particles of soot or unburnt fuel

24
Q

What can happen if particulates are inhaled?

A

They can cause respiratory problems - they are small enough to access the airways to the lungs are some are small enough to penetrate the alveoli

25
Q

Why are particulates bad for the environment?

A

Because they or the clouds they produce reflect sunlight back into space, meaning less light reaches Earth - causes global dimming

26
Q

How can carbon monoxide be reduced?

A

By a catalytic converter

27
Q

Why is carbon monoxide dangerous in the body?

A

It can stop your blood from carrying oxygen by binding to the haemoglobin so less oxygen can be transported around the body - lack of oxygen - lead to fainting, coma, death

28
Q

Why is carbon monoxide hard to detect?

A

It has no colour or smell

29
Q

When is sulfur dioxide released?

A

During combustion of fossil fuels that contain sulfur impurities

30
Q

How is nitrogen oxide created?

A

From nitrogen and oxygen in the air reacting because of the heat of burning

31
Q

What happens when sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxide mix with clouds?

A

They form dilute sulfuric acid or dilute nitric acid

32
Q

What does dilute sulfuric acid or dilute nitric acid (formed when mixed with clouds) do?

A

It falls as acid rain - kills plants, damages buildings and statues, makes metal corrode

33
Q

How is sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide bad for human health?

A

If breathed in they can cause respiratory problems

34
Q

How can the production of sulfur dioxide be reduced?

A

Removal of sulfur from the fuel prior to combustion

Using scrubbers in power stations to remove SO2

35
Q

How can the production of nitrogen oxide be reduced?

A

Using a catalytic converter to convert the nitrogen oxide into nitrogen gas

Chemistry GCSE (10 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions