Unit 9 - Environmental Chemistry Flashcards
Gases which are essential to our existence and which absorb IRR with high wavelength
Carbon Dioxide
Methane
Water Vapour
Nitrous Oxide
Greenhouse effect
Gasses which absorb IRR cant hold them forever, and hence after some time they release it, essentially releasing heat and increasing global temrperatures
Advanced greenhouse effect
increased concentration of Methane and Carbon dioixde which furtehr increase global temperatures
Carbon cycle
Process in which carbon atoms moves through our atmosphere, biosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere
lithosphere
the solid, outermost layer of the Earth, made of the crust and upper mantle
Key process of the carbon cycle
Photosynthesis - Plants absorb CO2
Animal Respiration - Rleasing CO2 back into the atmosphere
Decomposition - Relases carbon into the lithosphere
Combustion - Rleases COs into atmosphere
Water cycle
Continious movement of water molecules in, under and above the earths surface
Key processes of the water cycle
- Evaporation of water from water bodies into the atmoshphere
- Condensation of water in the atmoshpere to form clouds
- Precipatationof clouds to give us rain and refill earth’s water sources
- Infiltration of water into the lithosphere are groundwater
- Transpiration - Plant releasing water vapour into the air
What is a catalytic convertor and how does it work?
Def - Situated inside car’s exhaust systems which reduces harmful emissions.
First there is REDUCTION CATALYST, a honeycomb arranged pattern made of Rhodium. Whenever a Nitrogen Oxide or Nitrogen Dioxide moleucles hits the plate, it the nitrogen bond sbreak and only O2 or N2 harmful molecules are given out
Then following it is the OXIDATION CATALYST. This oxidises unburned hydrocarbons and carbon mono oxide by burthing them over a platnium catalyst and releases H2O and CO2
What 3 main ingredients do plant fertilizers contain and why and what are fertilziers containing these 3 called
Known as NPK fertilizers
Nitrogen (genreally as ammonia or a salt of nitrogen) - used for growth of leaves due to it being rich in amino acids and proteins which help make new cells
Phosphorus - Essential for root growth
Potassium - used for flowering and essential nutrient for plants
Pneumonic to remember Nitride, Nitrite, Nitrate and all formulas of it
n*ga ATE more oxyegn
Nitride = N³⁻
Nitrite = (NO₂⁻
NitAte = NO₃⁻
Pneumonic to remember Sulfide, sulfite, sulfate and all formulas of it
2 Suckers ATE more oxygen
Sulfide = (S²⁻)
Sulfite = (SO₃²⁻)
Sulfate = (SO₄²⁻)
