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Chemistry > Chemistry of the atmosphere and using resources > Flashcards

Chemistry of the atmosphere and using resources Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the proportion of gases in the atmosphere?

A

Around 80% nitrogen
Around 20% oxygen
Small proportion of other gases e.g. carbon dioxide, water vapour and noble gases

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2
Q

How long ago did the earth form?

A

4.6 billion years ago

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3
Q

What did the early atmosphere of earth consist of?

A

Mainly carbon dioxide
Small amounts of water vapour, methane and ammonia

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4
Q

How was water vapour produced in the early atmosphere?

A

By volcanoes which have often been used as evidence for theories of the early atmosphere

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5
Q

How were the oceans formed?

A

As the earth cooled, water vapour condensed to form the oceans

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6
Q

What was the early atmosphere of earth similar to?

A

The atmosphere today on planets like Mars and Venus

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7
Q

How much carbon dioxide does our atmosphere today contain?

A

0.04% of our atmosphere is CO2

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8
Q

How did carbon dioxide levels decrease so drastically from the early atmosphere?

A

Plants using it up in photosynthesis
The formation of sedimentary rock like limestone
Being locked up in fossil fuels

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9
Q

How was sedimentary rock formed?

A

When the oceans formed, carbon dioxide dissolved in the water and carbonates were precipitated producing sediments which then formed sedimentary rocks

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10
Q

How were fossil fuels formed?

A

Coal was formed from the remains of plants in swamps that decayed under heat and pressure
Oil and gas was formed from the bodies of sea creatures and algae that decomposed under the oceans and exist stored in porous rocks under the ground

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11
Q

How did today’s atmosphere form?

A

Algae first produced oxygen around 2.7 billion years ago and this caused plants to evolve over the next billion years. The percentage of oxygen now gradually increased and allowed animals to evolve

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12
Q

What is the process of the greenhouse effect?

A

Energy from the sun is absorbed by the Earth
The Earth radiated this energy back out into the atmosphere
The greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb the energy
The gases re-radiate the energy in all directions, including back down to Earth

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13
Q

What are the advantages of studies being peer reviewed?

A

It ensures it’s accurate and not bias

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14
Q

What are the main effects of climate change?

A

Melting of polar ice caps leading to rising sea levels and floods of coastal areas
Rise of mean surface temperature, making areas around the equator uninhabitable
Changing weather and extreme weather
Changing wildlife as some species will struggle to survive in new conditions
Less food production as fewer areas of land are still suitable to produce food

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15
Q

How is carbon footprint defined?

A

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

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16
Q

How can you reduce carbon footprint?

A

Use renewable energy resources rather than fossil fuels
Tax companies or individuals based on the amount of greenhouse gases they emit
Carbon capture and storage - capturing the carbon dioxide dioxide produced by burning fossil fuels before it’s released into the atmosphere

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17
Q

What are the three main pollutants from burning fossil fuels?

A

Carbon dioxide
Carbon monoxide (released from incomplete combustion)
Sulphur dioxide (causes acid rain)

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18
Q

What do oxides of nitrogen (nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide) cause?

A

Acid rain and respiratory problems in humans

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19
Q

What do unburnt hydrocarbons (particulates) and carbon particles (soot) cause?

A

Global dimming - cooling of the earth - and health problems for humans

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20
Q

What are the main uses of human resources?

A

Warmth, shelter, food and transport

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21
Q

What are examples of natural resources?

A

Sea of air

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22
Q

What is the definition of a renewable resource?

A

They can be reformed at a similar rate or faster than we use them e.g. timber, crops and fish

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23
Q

What does sustainable development mean?

A

That we can meet the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs

24
Q

What is water that is safe to drink called?

A

Potable water

25
Q

What is pure water?

A

Water that only contains H2O molecules

26
Q

What is fresh water?

A

Water that doesn’t have much dissolved in it

27
Q

How can fresh water be obtained?

A

Rainfall - runs off into rivers, lakes and reservoirs
Groundwater - water extracted from rocks and under the ground
Desalination (distillation) of sea water - water is evaporated by heating to produce fresh water

28
Q

What is the process of desalination by reverse osmosis?

A

The salty water is pushed through the partially permeable membrane under pressure and only the water molecules can pass through, leaving the salt behind

29
Q

Why is desalination not used in the UK?

A

Because it requires large quantities of energy

30
Q

What is the process of filtering / sedimentation?

A

A wire made of mesh screens out large twigs from water in tanks
The solid material sinks to the bottom and the clean water flows away from the top
The water is also passed through gravel and filter beds of sand to trap small solid particles
Aluminium sulphate can be added to the water to allow flocculation to occur. This causes the very small particles to stick together and sink to the bottom, removing them from the water

31
Q

What is the process of sterilising water?

A

Ozone and chlorine are added to the water to kill any harmful bacteria or microbes
The water is then stored in tanks with ultra-violet lights that kill bacteria and prevent any more from growing

32
Q

How is waste material treated before being released back into the environment?

A

Screening and grit removal - solid materials are separated using a large screen and the water flows into a tank to allow the solid materials to sink to the bottom
Sedimentation - the smaller particles of solid waste sink over time in a large tank, allowing the effluent (liquid waste) to float on top
Anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge - the sludge from the bottom is processed, squeezed dry and turned into ‘cake’ which is added to landfill
Aerobic biological treatment of effluent - the water is sprayed over beds of rock covered in bacteria which ‘eat’ the sewage which makes the water clean enough to be released back into the environment

33
Q

What is phytomining and how does it happen?

A

The use of plants to absorb metal compounds from the soil. The plants are harvested and burned to produce ash that has concentrated the metal compounds which can then be extracted from the ash using chemical reactions like electrolysis

34
Q

What is bioleaching and how does it happen

A

The use of bacteria to absorb metal compounds from the soil. The bacteria produce a leachate solution that contains metal compounds and the metal can then be extracted from the leachate using chemical reactions like electrolysis

35
Q

Why are life cycle assessments carried out?

A

They are carried out on consumer goods to measure their environmental impact from when the product is made to when it is disposed of

36
Q

What stages do life cycle assessments look at?

A

The extracting and processing of raw materials
Manufacturing and packaging
Use and operation during its lifetime
Disposal at the end of its life
(transport and distribution is also considered at each stage)

37
Q

Compare the resources of plastic and paper bags

A

Plastic -
Crude oil
Non renewable
Doesn’t require a lot of land

Paper -
Trees
Renewable resource
Needs a lot of land

38
Q

Compare the production of plastic and paper bags

A

Plastic -
CO2 released when distilling, burning, cracking etc

Paper -
CO2 released when harvesting trees and transporting wood

39
Q

Compare the transport of plastic and paper bags

A

Both are transported by rail / road / sea / air and CO2 is released from transport

40
Q

Compare the use of plastic and paper bags

A

Plastic -
Multiple uses
Causes serious litter problems

Paper -
Single use only
Breaks down easily

41
Q

Compare the end of life stage of plastic and paper bags

A

Plastic -
Decomposition which takes thousands of years

Paper -
Can be easily recycled

42
Q

Why is it important to reduce the use of resources?

A

Conserves scarce resources
Reduces energy use
Prevents landfill
Prevents damage to the environment

43
Q

What is corrosion?

A

The reaction of a metal with substances in the environment to form a stable compound which weakens the metal

44
Q

Give an example of corrosion

A

When iron rusts in which both oxygen and water are needed for this to take place

Iron + oxygen + water → iron oxide

45
Q

What is electroplating and give an example

A

It’s a way to prevent corrosion in which you cover the metal with another metal, paint or grease to stop the metal reacting with chemicals in the environment
For example, aluminium reacts with oxygen to form a layer or aluminium oxide on the surface which protects to metal

46
Q

What is galvanising and give an example

A

When metals are covered with a more reactive metal e.g. zinc being plated onto steel so that the zinc reacts with oxygen rather than the steel, protecting the steel (this is also called sacrificial protection)

47
Q

What are ceramics and their properties?

A

Non-metallic objects with high melting points and are excellent insulators of heat and electricity. They also tend to be brittle and stiff

48
Q

How is glass made?

A

By heating a mixture of sand, sodium carbonate and limestone

49
Q

How are pyrex dishes made?

A

(Borosilicate glass) is made from sand and boron trioxide which melts at higher temperatures

50
Q

How are clay ceramics made?

A

By shaping wet clay and heating them in a furnace

51
Q

What are composites made of and give an example of one

A

Composites are made of one material embedded in another. Most composites are made of a matrix (or binder) which surrounds and binds fibres together with the other material, called the reinforcement. An example of this is carbon fibre reinforced plastic (the plastic is the matrix and the carbon fibre is the reinforcement)

52
Q

What is bronze an alloy of?

A

Copper and tin

53
Q

What is brass an alloy of?

A

Copper and zinc

54
Q

What is 24 and 18 carat gold?

A

24 carat is 100% pure gold and 18 carat is 75% gold

55
Q

What is the hardness of a steel alloy related to?

A

Their carbon content; low carbon steel is softer and easily shaped and high carbon steel is very strong but brittle

56
Q

What is stainless steel made from?

A

Iron, carbon, chromium and nickel; it’s hard and resistant to corrosion

Chemistry (9 decks)

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