Environmental Chemistry

Question 1

What proportion of the modern atmosphere is made of nitrogen?

Answer 1

78%

Question 2

What proportion of the modern atmosphere is made of oxygen?

Answer 2

21%

Question 3

Which gases make up the other 1% of the atmosphere?

Answer 3

Carbon dioxide, methane, water vapour and noble gases

Question 4

How was the early atmosphere formed?

Answer 4

Volcanoes released gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia, nitrogen and water vapour

Question 5

How were the oceans formed?

Answer 5

As the earth cooled water vapour condensed

Question 6

Explain why the percentage of oxygen gradually increased in the atmosphere

Answer 6

Early algae photosynthesised

then plants evolved and also photosynthesised

Question 7

Give the word and symbol equation for photosynthesis

Answer 7

Carbon dioxide + water –> Glucose + oxygen

6CO₂ + 6H₂O –> C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O_{<span>2</span>}

Question 8

Explain why the percentage of carbon dioxide decreased in the early atmosphere

Answer 8

Plants and algae photosynthesised locking carbon dioxide up in glucose

Plants and animal life died locking up carbon in coal, oil and natural gas

Carbon dioxide was locked up in limestone (Calcium Carbonate)

Question 9

Name the 3 major green house gases

Answer 9

Carbon dioxide, Methane, water vapour

Question 10

State the environmental impact of carbon dioxide

Answer 10

Increases global warming

Causing rising sea levels

Question 11

State the environmental impact of carbon particulates

Answer 11

Causes global dimming

Question 12

State the environmental impact of sulfur dioxide

Answer 12

Causes acid rain

Question 13

State the environmental impact of nitrogen oxides

Answer 13

Acid rain

Question 14

State the impact of carbon monoxide on health

Answer 14

Colourless and odourless

Toxic to humans

Question 15

State the of carbon particulates on health

Answer 15

Respiratory problems

Question 16

State the of nitrogen oxides on health

Answer 16

Respiratory problems

Question 17

State the effect of sulfur dioxide on health

Answer 17

Respiratory problems

Question 18

Name the products of incomplete combustion

Answer 18

Carbon dioxide and water

Question 19

Name the products of incomplete combustion

Answer 19

Carbon monoxide and water

Question 20

Explain how sulfur dioxide is produced in a car engine

Answer 20

Sulfur in the fuels

Reacts with oxygen

Question 21

Explain how carbon particualtes are produced in a car engine

Answer 21

Incomplete combustion

due to insufficient oxygen

Question 22

Describe how carbon dioxide keeps the earth warm

Answer 22

Carbon dioxide allows short wavelength radiation through

to the Earth’s surface

carbon dioxide absorbs long wavelength radiation

Question 23

Name the human activities that have increased green house gases in the atmosphere

Answer 23

Combustion of fossil fuels

Deforestation

use of landfills

breeding more cattle

Question 24

Name the reasons which make it difficult to model future climate change

Answer 24

Complex systems

Many different variables

Many different theories

Question 25

Name the 4 major effects of climate change

Answer 25

Animals moving from their habitats

Global flooding

Extreme weather events

Oceans becoming warmer and more acidic

Question 26

Describe actions that can be used to reduce carbon dioxide

Answer 26

Increased use of renewable energy

carbon capture and storage

use of carbon neutral fuels

carbon off setting (tree planting)

carbon taxes

Question 27

What is a carbon footprint?

Answer 27

The total amount of carbon dioxide and other green house gases emitted over the life cycle of a process