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Chemistry > The atmosphere > Flashcards

The atmosphere Flashcards

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1
Q

name the gases in the atmosphere today

A

Nitrogen
Oxygen
other gases
(co2, water vapour, noble gases)

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2
Q

state the proportions of each gas - approximately

A

Nitrogen - 80%
Oxygen- 20%
other gases- small proportions
(co2, water vapour, noble gases)

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3
Q

name a noble gas present in the atmosphere

A

argon

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4
Q

how long has the gases in the atmosphere remained the same for

A

200 million years

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5
Q

how old is the earth

A

4600 million

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6
Q

the earth is very old. how does this affect theories about the early atmosphere

A

scientists cannot be certain about the early atmosphere

Theories about Earth’s early atmosphere and how it formed changed and developed

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7
Q

what happened during the first billion years

A

during first billion years of the Earth’s
existence there was intense volcanic activity

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8
Q

what did the volcanoes release

A

released other gases that formed the early atmosphere eg
water vapour
(large amount of CO2)
(smaller amount of nitrogren)
(tiny bit of methane and ammonia)

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9
Q

how were oceans formed

A

as earth cooled, water vapour (from volcano), condensed to form oceans

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10
Q

what did the early earths atmosphere consist of

A

mainly CO2
little/ no O2

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11
Q

what can you compare the earths early atmosphere to

A

mars + venus today

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12
Q

what can you say about nitrogen in the early atmosphere
2 points

A

. Volcanoes also produced nitrogen
. gradually built up in the atmosphere

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13
Q

describe the early atmosphere

A

mainly CO2
small but increasing amounts of nitrogen

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14
Q

differences between early atmosphere and the present one

A

much more nitrogen now (80%)
much less CO2 now
much more O2 now (21%)

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15
Q

how was the CO2 percentage decreased

A

some Co2 dissolved in ocean to form a weak acid
this reacted with minerals in the sea
Co2 preciptates are formed in the ocean
over time this formed sediments of carbonate rocks on the sea bed

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16
Q

what was some co2 in the sea used to create

A

corals and shells of organisms

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17
Q

how did O2 increase in the atmosphere . how did thisaffect CO2

A

algae and plants evolved,
they photosynthesised,
releasing O2 and taking in CO2

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18
Q

what happened 2.7 billion years ago

A

algae first produced oxygen

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19
Q

what happened a billion years after algae first produced oxygen

A

plants evolved and the % of oxygen increased- allowing animals to evolve

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20
Q

two ways CO2 % decreased

A

.by formation of sedimentary rocks and fossil fuels that contain carbon
.Plants photosynthesise

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21
Q

what is coal made from

A

from remains of ferns and trees
that haven’t decompose

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22
Q

how is coal formed

A

plant remains covered with sediment + compressed
high temp + pressure creates coal

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23
Q

what and how is oil formed

A

remains of dead biomass , plankton, under the sea bed, compressed by sediment.
heat + pressure convert it to crude oil

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24
Q

what is natural gas

A

mainly hydrocarbon methane

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25
Q

where is natural gas found

A

near deposits of oil

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26
Q

how is natural gas formed

A

from plankton in a similiar way to oil

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27
Q

what do all fossil fuels contain, and where did this come from

A

carbon.
came from CO2 taken in by photosynthesis

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28
Q

3 green house gases found in the atmosphere

A

water vapour
carbon dioxide
methane

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29
Q

Describe process wherein radiation gets trapped in atmosphere

A

.energy from sun travels to earth ( Short WL radiation)
.some reflected back into space
.most passes into atmosphere
.energy from radiation absorbed at earths surface
.earths surface radiates energy as (Long WL radiations)
.some Long WL radiation interferes with greenhouse gas molecules in atmosphere
.the energy in the Long WL radiation is absorbed / trapped

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30
Q

why does most of the sun energy pass easily into the earths atmosphere

A

because the sun energy is short wavelength radiation-
which does not react much with gas in atmosphere

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31
Q

2 examples of short wave radiation

A

ultraviolet
visible light

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32
Q

example of long wave radiation

A

infra red

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33
Q

why does the temp of atmosphere increase

A

because energy (Long WL radiation) is trapped in the atmosphere

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34
Q

how is the greenhouse effect helpful

A

keeps the temp on earth warm enough to support life.
(without it, too cold for most organisms to survive)

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35
Q

what are the two main gases in the atmosphere
how much of each

A

nitrogen 20
oxygen 80

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36
Q

2 human activities that increase CO2

A

as we burn fossil fuels

as we cut down trees- deforestation

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37
Q

what are
coal,
petrol, diesel
gas
burned for

A

coal, -electricity
petrol,diesel,- power cars
gas- heat homes

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38
Q

how and why is deforestation happening

A

forests burned
for more land to graze cattle

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39
Q

what are the two ways deforestation increases CO2 %

A

burning trees releases CO2

less trees to photosynthesise = less CO2 being taken in + less O2 out

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40
Q

what human activities release more methane into atmosphere

A

released in agriculture eg growing rice in flooded paddy fields

when cattle - cows- pass wind

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41
Q

what 4 human activities increase greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

A

agriculture, growing rice in flooded fields
cattle
deforestation
burning fossil fuels

42
Q

how does increased greenhouse gases increase temp

A

temp rises as more of the energy from the sun is trapped

43
Q

How can climate change lead to floods

A

increase melting of polar ice sheets/ glaciers
increases sea levels
could mean flooding of low lying areas

44
Q

what will climate change do to weather

A

more severe weather eg storms in uk

45
Q

how can climate change effect animals and disease

A

increasing temp change distribution of:
animals eg insects
+
insect borne disease eg malaria

46
Q

4 affects of climate change

A

increased floods
severe weather
change in distribution of
animals
insect borne disease

47
Q

what do many scientists believe about the cause of climate change

A

it is due to human activities that release greenhouse gases and thus increase the earths temp

48
Q

Based on …… …….evidence, many scientists believe that
….. activities will cause the temperature of the Earth’s
atmosphere to …….. at the …….and that this will result in
…… climate change.

A
49
Q

what type of evidence do scientists use when it comes to climate change.

A

peer reviewed evidence

50
Q

why is peer review process important

A

detect false claims based on poor evidence/bias

51
Q

what is peer reviewed evidence

A

when scientists can criticise the evidence and decide if its valid

52
Q

problem with our understanding of climate change

A

climate change is complex and difficult to model

53
Q

climate change is complex and difficult to model- what 3 things does this lead to

A

-simplified models of climate change
-speculation - based only on parts of evidence - biased
-biased media stories - opinions

54
Q

it is difficult to model such complex systems as global
climate change. This leads to simplified models, speculation and
opinions presented in the media that may be based on only parts of
the evidence and which may be biased.
what do scientists have to do due to this

A

scientists have to
work harder to communicate ideas to public

55
Q

example of an uncertainty about climate change

A

don’t know exact amount temp of atmosphere will increase

56
Q

what can uncertainty about climate change lead to

A

speculation in the media

57
Q

define carbon foot print.
LEARN the definition

A

The carbon footprint is the total amount of cO2 + other
greenhouse gases emitted over the full life cycle of a product,
service or event.

58
Q

3 ways we can reduce carbon dioxide emissions

A

insulating homes/ turning down heating
renewable power sources
public transport instead of cars

59
Q

where is the energy for heating homes from

A

from burning fossil fuels

60
Q

why is public transport more environmentally friendly

A

releases less CO2 per passenger

61
Q

why is it better to use renewable sources of electricity

A

renewable sources of electricity don’t burn fossil fuels- release CO2

62
Q

how can we save electricity on a personal level

A

energy saving lightbulbs
turn appliances off at the plug

63
Q

why may actions to reduce greenhouse gas emmisions and to save energy be limited

A

most of the solutions are expensive
+
inconvenient

64
Q

what is the biggest source of methane

A

agriculture

65
Q

how can we reduce methane emmisions( in agriculture)

A

eat less beef + dairy products
as grazing cattle ( their farts ) release methane

66
Q

why are actions to reduce methane emmissions limited

A

people like beef and dairy producrs, so wont eat less

trapping + burning methane for electricity costs money

67
Q

two sources of methane

A

landfills
grazing cattle

68
Q

how can we reduce methane emmitted from landfills

A

by trapping the methane
Burning it
to produce electricity

69
Q

why is it a good idea to trap methane from landfills and burn it for electricity

A

methane more powerful greenhouse gas then carbon dioxide

70
Q

what is a negative to trapping and burning methane

A

it costs money

71
Q

2 ways to reduce Methane emissions

A

eat less beef/ dairy products
trap + burn methane to make electricity

72
Q

what do fuels do

A

release energy when combusted (burnt)

73
Q

2 examples of fuels

A

coals and hydrocarbons

74
Q

what is coal often used for

A

to generate electricity in power stations

75
Q

what are hydrocarbons, like those in petrol and diesel, used for

A

to power vehicles

76
Q

what elements do most fuels contain

A

carbon and hydrogen
potentially some sulfur

77
Q

what happens when we burn most fuels

A

carbon and hydrogen elements are oxidised
-the atoms react with oxygen in the air

78
Q

where is methane found
what is it used for

A

found in natural gas
used to heat homes

79
Q

write balanced equation for complete combustion of methane

A

CH(4) + 2O(2) = CO(2) + 2H(2)O

80
Q

what is made from complete combustion of methane

A

co2 and H2O

81
Q

why does burning fuels contribute to climate change

A

because the complete combustion (burning) of fuels releases carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas

82
Q

what happens when methane is burned with reduced oxygen

A

carbon monoxide is produced
(instead of carbon dioxide)

83
Q

what is carbon monoxide

A

a toxic gas

84
Q

describe carbon monoxide gas
what do people have to tackle this

A

colourless
no smell
people have carbon monoxide detectors in homes

85
Q

what are the three products of combustion

A

carbon dioxide,
carbon monoxide
water vaour

86
Q

how can you tell that a reaction is complete combustion and not incomplete

A

carbon dioxide is formed in complete

87
Q

coal contains sulfur
what happens when coal is burned

A

the sulfur atoms are oxidised

88
Q

what is produced from combustion of coal

A

sulfur dioxide

89
Q

where are oxides of nitrogen produced

A

inside engines eg cars

90
Q

why / how are oxides of nitrogen produced in engines

A

the high temperatures cause nitrogen and oxygen from the air to react

91
Q

what 2 affects does sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen cause

A

breathing problems
dissolve in rain water- form acid rain

92
Q

what does acid rain do

A

damage trees
corrode buildings made of limestone

93
Q

how are particulates formed

A

from burning fuels eg diesel

94
Q

what are particulates

A

particles of carbon
+
unburned hydrocarbons

95
Q

what is soot

A

particles of carbon

96
Q

what is the affect of particulates on human health

A

increase risk of heart disease
increase risk of lung disease

97
Q

what 2 broad affects do particulates have

A

affect health
global dimming

98
Q

how do particulates cause global dimming

A

they reduce amount of sun energy that reaches earths surface

99
Q

what does global dimming affect

A

rainfall patterns

100
Q

In coal, why are the dead plants and organisms not decomposed

A

due to a lack of O2 / acidic condition

Chemistry (18 decks)

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