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GCSE Chemistry > Earth's Atmosphere > Flashcards

Earth's Atmosphere Flashcards

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1
Q

Composition of the Earth’s Atmosphere today?

A
  1. nitrogen (78%)
  2. oxygen (21%)
  3. Argon (0.93%)
  4. carbon dioxide (0.035%)
  5. water vapor + traces of other gases (noble gases)
    Our current atmosphere has been roughly the same for nearly 200 million years
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2
Q

Composition of the Earth’s Atmosphere billions of years ago?

A
  1. Carbon dioxide (95%)
  2. Water vapour (4%)
  3. Traces of other gases - nitrogen, ammonia and methane
    The atmosphere about 3,500 million years ago would’ve been similar to mars atmosphere today
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3
Q

What happened to the nitrogen and why?

A

The level of Nitrogen increased because it was

  1. Released by volcanoes
  2. Ammonia reacted with the oxygen to form nitrogen
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4
Q

What happened to the oxygen and why?

A

The level of oxygen increased because it was

  1. Produced due to photosynthesis of early organisms (cyanobacteria)
  2. Later plants alro released oxygen
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5
Q

What happened to the carbon dioxide and why?

A

The levels of carbon dioxide decreased because it was

  1. Dissolved in the oceans
  2. Photosynthesis of early organisms + plants absorbed the carbon dioxide
  3. marine organisms used it to make shells
  4. shells formed sedimentary rocks like limestone that locked up carbon dioxide
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6
Q

What happened to the water vapour and why?

A

The levels of water vapour decreased because water vapour condensed into clouds when the earth cooled and then formed our oceans

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7
Q

List the greenhouse gases

A
  1. Water
  2. Carbon dioxide
  3. methane
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8
Q

How does the greenhouse gas effect work?

A

Short wavelengths of radiation from the sun (UV or Visible Light) enter the earth’s atmosphere
Radiation is absorbed by the Earth’s surface and then re-emitted when the earth cools at a higher wavelength
Some radiation is transmitted into space and some is absorbed by greenhouse gases
This means the heat cannot escape and lead to global warming

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9
Q

What is the difference between climate and weather?

A

weather is the change in atmospheric conditions and climate is the weather pattern

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10
Q

what is combustion?

A

burning - usually in air/oxygen

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11
Q

What kind of reaction is combustion?

A

exothermic

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12
Q

What happens when you burn a fuel? Name an example

A

natural gas/ methane - fuel stores potential energy which is released as heat when burnt

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13
Q

What is the difference between complete and incomplete combustion?

A

Complete combustion takes place in the presence of a sufficient amount of oxygen while an incomplete combustion reaction takes place when there is an insufficient amount of oxygen supply.

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14
Q

What is complete combustion?

A

fuel + excess oxygen → carbon dioxide + water vapor

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15
Q

Complete combustion gas flame colour?

A

blue

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16
Q

What is incomplete combustion?

A

fuel + not enough oxygen → carbon monoxide + water

+ soot can be produced (&/or)

17
Q

Incomplete combustion gas flame colour?

A

yellow

18
Q

methane complete combustion?

A

CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O

19
Q

methane incomplete combustion?

A

2CH4 + 3O2 → 2CO + 4H2O

CH4 + O2 → C + 2H2O - less oxygen

20
Q

What are the products of combustion and their effects?

A
  1. water vapour - harmless
  2. CO2 - greenhouse gas = global warming
  3. CO - toxic
  4. unburnt carbon - particulate (pollutant)
  5. SO/SO2 - acid rain
  6. NO/NO2 - acid rain
21
Q

Complete combustion for propane?

A

C3H8 + 5O2 → 3CO2 + 4H2O

22
Q

Incomplete combustion for propane?

A

2C3H8 + 7O2 → 6CO + 8H2O

C3H8 + 2O2 → 3C + 4H2O

23
Q

Possible products of burning fossil fuels?

A
  1. Sulphur dioxide
  2. Water
  3. Carbon dioxide
  4. Carbon monoxide
  5. Soot/particulates
  6. Unburned fuels
  7. Nitrogen oxides
24
Q

Sulphur dioxide

  1. How is it formed?
  2. Problems?
  3. Solutions?
A

SO2

  1. Combustion of fuels containing S (sulphur)
  2. Causes acid rain
  3. Remove S before burning; react fumes with CaO/CaO3 - flue gas desulphurisation
25
Q

Water

  1. How is it formed?
  2. Problems?
  3. Solutions?
A

H20

  1. Combustion of fuels containing H (hydrogen)
  2. None - H2O is a greenhouse gas but not a problem as it is naturally maintained
26
Q

Carbon Dioxide

  1. How is it formed?
  2. Problems?
  3. Solutions?
A

CO2

  1. Complete combustion of fuels containing C (carbon)
  2. Greenhouse gas - causes global warming
  3. Burn less fossil fuels
27
Q

Carbon Monoxide

  1. How is it formed?
  2. Problems?
  3. Solutions?
A

CO

  1. Incomplete combustion of fuels containing C (carbon)
  2. Toxic
  3. Ensure good oxygen supply (air) when fuel is burning
28
Q

Soot / particulates

  1. How is it formed?
  2. Problems?
  3. Solutions?
A

C

  1. Incomplete combustion of fuels containing c (carbon)
  2. Global dimming + blackens buildings
  3. Ensure good oxygen supply (air) when fuel is burning
29
Q

Unburned Fuels

  1. How is it formed?
  2. Problems?
  3. Solutions?
A
  1. Some fuel may not burn
  2. Wastes fuel and some fuels might be greenhouse gases (CH4)
  3. Make sure engine is well tuned
30
Q

Nitrogen oxides

  1. How is it formed?
  2. Problems?
  3. Solutions?
A

NO / NO2

  1. Reaction between N2 and O2 in the air at high temps
  2. Causes acid rain
  3. Use a catalytic converter in cars
31
Q

What is carbon footprint?

A

The total amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emitted over a full life cycle

32
Q

What are the 5 methods for reducing CO2 levels

A
  1. Carbon capture and storage
  2. Decrease demand for meat
  3. Biofuels which are carbon neutral
  4. Insulate homes
  5. Replacing cut down trees - offsetting
33
Q

What does carbon neutral mean

A

Carbon-neutral fuel is fuel which produces no net-greenhouse gas emissions or carbon footprint.

GCSE Chemistry (5 decks)

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