Topic 9 - Chemistry of the Atmosphere Flashcards
What percentage of the early atmosphere was CO2 and what did it decrease to?
70% in the early atmosphere to 0.04% today
What was produced by volcanoes in the early atmosphere?
Ammonia, methane and CO2
What percentage was ammonia, methane and water at in the early atmosphere?
10%
Give the balanced equation for ammonia reacting with oxygen
4NH3 + 3O2 –> 2N2 + 6H2O
How was oxygen first produced in the atmosphere?
Algae started to photosynthesise using the CO2 already present
Why did the amount of ammonia reduce in the atmosphere?
It reacted with oxygen to produce nitrogen and water and was no longer produced by volcanoes
What percentage of the atmosphere today is nitrogen?
78%
Give the balanced equation for methane reacting with oxygen
CH4 + 2O2 –> CO2 + 2H20
How long did it rain for when the water vapour in the atmosphere condensed?
20 million years
What percentage of the atmosphere today is oxygen?
21%
Give four reasons why the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere decreased
- Dissolved into oceans
- Used by plants in photosynthesis
- Trapped in fossil fuels
- Trapped in hydrocarbons
Name the five main atmospheric pollutants
- Carbon dioxide
- Carbon monoxide
- Sulphur dioxide
- Nitrogen oxides
- Carbon particulates
How is carbon dioxide produced and what problems does it cause?
Produced by complete combustion of hydrocarbons or fossil fuels and it contributes to the enhanced greenhouse effect
How is carbon monoxide produced and what problems does it cause?
It is produced by incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons and it causes serious health repercussions for humans, it binds to haemoglobin in a person’s bloodstream and does not unbind causing respiratory distress
How is sulphur dioxide produced and what problems does it cause?
Caused by sulphur impurities in fossil fuels which are burnt, it can bind with water and oxygen in the atmosphere to form acid rain
What repercussions does acid rain have?
It destroys crops and has a bad effect on humans health
How are nitrogen oxides produced and what problems do they cause?
They are produced in car engines when nitrogen and oxygen react in the high temperatures of a car engine and they also form acid rain in the atmosphere
How are carbon particulates produced and what problems do they cause?
Produced at the same time as carbon monoxide and they cause global dimming and also lung cancer amongst other health problems in humans
Give five ways in which we can reduce the production of atmospheric pollutants
- Plant more trees
- Use electric cars
- Remove sulphur impurities
- Reduce use of fossil fuels
- Reduce incomplete combustion
What is the average carbon footprint of a person in the UK?
10,000 kg per year
What is the international average carbon footprint in the UK?
4,000 kg per year
Give four ways we can reduce our carbon footprint?
- Insulation and smart metres to save energy
- Switch to electric cars
- Use sustainable methods of transport
- Buying local produce
