Global warming and environmental chemistry

Question 1

Explain why there would be an environmental problem if the gas sulphur dioxide from were allowed to escape into the atmosphere. (2 marks)

Answer 1

• sulphur dioxide causes acid rain
• consequence of acid rain eg kills fish / plants
ignore other comments
eg global warming / ozone / global dimming / greenhouse effect

Question 2

Excess carbon dioxide should be prevented from entering the atmosphere. Explain why. (2 marks)

Answer 2

• it’s a greenhouse gas or increase greenhouse effect
• causes global warming or increase in the Earth’s temperature
• sea-levels rise or flooding
• climate change
• (polar) ice-caps melt
• extension of deserts

Question 3

Carbon dioxide is produced when fossil fuels burn in power stations. How can carbon dioxide can be prevented from entering the atmosphere. (2 marks)

Answer 3

• idea trap / store / lock the carbon dioxide

- in the oil reservoir or under the sea bed

Question 4

Coal contains carbon and small amounts of sulpur. A steam train would cause
environmental problems if coal were used as the fuel. Explain why. (4 marks)

Answer 4

any two environmental problems with linked explanations

• global warming (1) caused by (formation of) carbon dioxide / greenhouse gas (1)
• acid rain (1) caused by ( formation of) sulphur dioxide (1)
• global dimming (1) caused by ( formation of) particles / particulates / fires / smoke / carbon / pm 10 (1)
• scarring of landscape (1) caused by mining / quarrying of coal (1)

Question 5

A steam train would be considered as ‘carbon neutral’ if wood, from the surrounding forest, were used as the fuel. Suggest why. (3 marks)

Answer 5

any three from:

• replant the trees / renewable /sustainable
• carbon dioxide is used by the trees / photosynthesis
• it’s a (continuous carbon) cycle
• no new carbon (dioxide) is produced or no locked up carbon (dioxide) is released

Question 6

Many human activities result in carbon dioxide emissions. Our carbon footprint is a measure of how much carbon dioxide we each cause to be produced. Why should we be concerned about our carbon footprint? (1 mark)

Answer 6

(thought to cause) global warming / green house (effect) / climate change
ignore other consequences of global warming
do not accept acid rain / ozone layer / global dimming

Question 7

Most power stations in the UK burn coal. Coal was formed from tree-like plants over millions of years. Suggest why burning wood instead of coal would help to reduce our carbon footprint. (3 marks)

Answer 7

any three from:
• replant trees / renewable / sustainable
• carbon (dioxide) used by trees / photosynthesis
• it is a (continuous / carbon) cycle
or
carbon (dioxide) goes back into the air
• no new carbon (dioxide) is produced
or
no locked up carbon (dioxide) is released
or
the carbon (dioxide) was absorbed millions of years ago
ignore reusable
accept trees absorb carbon (dioxide) as they grow
ignore respiration
accept burning wood is carbon neutral

Question 8

In the UK copper is produced from imported blister copper (98% pure), which has been extracted from copper ores. In the first stage of purification, air is blown into molten blister copper to remove any sulphur. The sulphur reacts to form a gas that should not be allowed to escape into the atmosphere. Explain why. (2 marks)

Answer 8

sulphur dioxide
(forms) acid rain
allow sulphur oxide
accept acidic lakes / seas
ignore consequences
do not accept global warming / global dimming / ozone layer

Question 9

Why does the release of this carbon dioxide cause an environmental problem? (1 mark)

Answer 9

any one from:

• (increases / enhances) global warming
• is additional carbon dioxide or not able to be absorbed by oceans / seas or used by (green) plants
• acidification of sea water