OZ - Chemistry Of The Air Flashcards
What is a radical?
A species with an unpaired electron
What is the role of NO in the process of breaking down ozone?
A catalyst
Describe and explain how the concentration of ozone in the stratosphere is maintained
The reaction is reversible
O3 = O2 + O
Some scientists are more concerned about carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas than methane. Why?
More CO2 is being made
Describe ways that research chemists are trying to minimise climate change resulting from global warming caused by the release of greenhouse gases (5)
Developing carbon capture and storage
Eg. Fertiliser production
Or strong CO2 under the sea bed
Providing evidence to governments
Educating society
Monitoring atmospheric changes
Do graphs provide reliable evidence that an increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration will result in global warming?
No
As it is impossible to measure with certainty the average temperature years ago
And there are lofts of other factors that may cause a greenhouse effect
Write an equation for the reaction between CO and NO in a catalytic converter
2CO + 2NO -> 2CO2 + N2
Outline the stages that take place in a catalytic converter to allow CO to react with NO
CO & NO are adsorbed
Which weakens their bonds
And CO2 and N2 desorb
State 2 factors that affect the contribution of a greenhouse gas to global warming
- Atmospheric concentration
- residence time
Outline 2 method that could be developed to achieve carbon capture and storage (CSS)
Storage under the sea-beds
By reaction to form carbonates
Catalyst reaction involving chlorine radicals
How is nitrogen oxide formed?
Nitrogen and oxygen in the air
Describe how chlorine free radicals are formed in the upper atmosphere
UV radiation
On CFCs
State one undesirable result of ozone depletion in the upper atmosphere for life on earth
Increase skin cancer
The catalyst is a heterogeneous catalyst. Describe how it works.
Reactants are adsorbed
Bonds within the molecule are weakened
Then they are desorbed
