Topic 9 - Chemistry of the Atmosphere

Question 1

1) How is carbon dioxide produced?
2) What’s the effects? (1)

Answer 1

1) Produced by complete combustion of hydrocarbon fuels such as the complete combustion of methane.
methane + oxygen = carbon dioxide = water
2) it has an enhanced greenhouse effect which causes global warming.

Question 2

1) How is water vapour produced?
2) What’s the effect? (1)

Answer 2

1) Produced by complete combustion of hydrocarbon fuels such as the complete combustion of methane.
methane + oxygen = carbon dioxide = water
2) it has an enhanced greenhouse effect which causes global warming.

Question 3

1) How is carbon monoxide produced?
2) What are the effects? (2)

Answer 3

1) Produced by incomplete combustion of hydrocarbon fuels which occurs when fuel is burnt in insuffucient oxygen.
2) It’s a toxic ga which is colourless and odurless so it cannot be easily detected.
It binds to the haemoglobin in the red blood cells instead of oxygen. So when there’s** less oxygen, less respiration** takes place which leads to health problems.

Question 4

1) How is sulfur dioxide produced?
2) Name 3 effects.

Answer 4

1) When most fuels (mainly coal) contain carbon and hydrogen and may also contain sulfur. Sulfur reacts with oxygen during combustion to produce SO2.

2) Effects:
* respiratory problems
* causes acid rain
* kills wildife
* damages buildings
* erodes limestones

Question 5

1) How is nitrogen oxide?
2) Name 3 effects.

Answer 5

1) The high temperatures of the engine causes nitrogen in the air to react with oxygen in the air.

2) Effects:
* respiratory problems
* causes acid rain
* kills wildife
* damages buildings
* erodes limestones

Question 6

1) How are solid particulates produced?
2) What are the effects? (2)

Answer 6

1) If diesel doesn’t burn completely (incomplete combustion) then tiny particulates of carbon (soot) and unburnt fuels are produced. Together these are called particulates.

2) It can cause lung cancer and global dimming as particulates in upper atmosphere reflect sunlight back into space and less light reaches the earth.

Question 7

1) What is the test for oxygen?
2) What are the observations to show that it’s a positive result?

Answer 7

Test:
1) Use a light-glowing splint.
2) Blow it
3) Put it into a tube of oxygen

Positive result:
* The splint re-ignites