Maintaining Air Quailty Flashcards

1
Q

Composition of air (%)

A

Nitrogen - 78%
Oxygen - 21%
Carbon dioxide & other noble gases (mainly argon) - 1%

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2
Q

Common air pollutants

A
  • carbon monoxide
  • sulcus dioxide
  • oxides of nitrogen (nitrogen monoxide & dioxide)
  • methane
  • unburnt hydrocarbons
  • ozone
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3
Q

Source of carbon monoxide

A

Incomplete combustion of carbon containing substances

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4
Q

Source of oxides of nitrogen

A
  • internal combustion engines
  • lighting activities
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5
Q

Source of sulfur dioxide

A
  • combustion of fossil fuels
  • volcanic eruptions
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6
Q

Harmful effects of carbon monoxide

A
  • it permanently binds with haemoglobin in red blood cells and reduces its ability to transport oxygen, thus causing death
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7
Q

How is acid rain formed and its harmful effects

A

Sulfur dioxide & nitrogen dioxide are acidic oxides and react with oxygen and water to form sulfur if acid and nitric acid respectively (acid rain)
Harmful effects;
- corrosion of metal structures
- corrosion of buildings containing carbonates
- acidification of lakes & rivers, which harm aquatic life
- leaching of nutrients from the soil, which affects the growth of plants

Sulfur dioxide causes irritation of lungs and eyes

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8
Q

How does the carbon cycle regulate the CO2 levels in the atmosphere?

A

Production:
- when living things respire (glucose -> CO2 + H2O)
- when fossil fuels containing methane are burnt (CO2 + H2O produced)
- when dead organisms are broken down by decomposers (CO2 released)
Removal;
- photosynthesis; when plants convert CO2 & H2O into glucose & O2 in the presence of sunlight & chlorophyll
- CO2 dissolves in Oceans & other water bodies to form carbonate ions, which are converted into calcium carbonate, which makes up the shells of marine organisms and builds up on the seabed when organisms die

  • heat waves
  • longer & more intense heat waves can cause forest fires and loss of lives. Forest fires destroy ecosystems
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9
Q

Describe the Potential effects of increased levels of greenhouse gases

A

Climate change
- melting of glaciers and polar ice caps;
- higher average global temperatures causes glaciers and polar ice caps to melt at a faster rate. This results in rising seawater levels, which lead to flooding of low-lying coastal areas.
- ocean currents are disrupted by the addition of large amounts of fresh water due to the melting of polar ice caps, thus worsening climate change

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10
Q

Human activities that increase the production of greenhouse gases

A
  • deforestation, or large-scale clearing for forests, results in an increased amount of carbon dioxide
  • combustion of fossil fuels releases CO2 into the atmosphere
  • increased breeding of cattle on farms and disposal of waste in landfills lead to an increased amount of methane in the atmosphere
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