Unit C Section 2.2

Question 1

What elements is our air made out of?

Answer 1

nitrogen (78%) 
oxygen (21%),
argon (less than 1%),
carbon dioxide (0.03%), 
traces of hydrogen and neon.

Question 2

Air quality can be determined in two ways:

Answer 2

• by measuring the levels of pollutants in the air

* by estimating the amount of emissions from pollution sources

Question 3

Which technique for determining air quality is more accurate?

Answer 3

Measuring the amounts of chemicals in the air is more
accurate.

-Measurements of chemicals in the air include chemicals produced by natural sources such as forest fires.

• This provides a more complete picture of air quality
• Monitoring chemicals in the air over a period of many years provides information about seasonal variations, as well as long-term trends.

Question 4

What Sulfur dioxide?

Answer 4

Sulfur dioxide (SO2(g)) is a major air pollutant

Question 5

What does sulfur dioxide form?

Answer 5

Smog and Acid rain

Question 6

How can sulfur dioxide affect you?

Answer 6

It can affect your respiratory system (throat and lungs) and irritate your eyes.

Question 7

How does sulfur dioxide form and what is the major source for sulfur dioxide? (4)

Answer 7

• Sulfur dioxide and other oxides of sulfur form when oxygen combines with sulfur
• The major source of sulfur dioxide is industrial processes.
• In Alberta, the major source of sulfur dioxide is the oil and gas industry.
• Sulfur dioxide and other oxides of sulfur are also formed by burning fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas.

Question 8

What are scrubbers?

Answer 8

Industrial and electrical generating plants use devices called “scrubbers” to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions by up to 99%.

Question 9

How are scrubbers used?

Answer 9

-Scrubbers use limestone (calcium carbonate) to convert the pollutant sulfur dioxide into a useful product.
-The sulfur dioxide reacts with the calcium carbonate
in the scrubber to produce gypsum (calcium sulfate). The gypsum is recovered and can be used in manufacturing.

Question 10

Scrubber: sulfur dioxide and limestone reaction:

Answer 10

sulfur dioxide + water + limestone + oxygen → gypsum + carbon dioxide

Question 11

is there bad air only in the outdoors?

Answer 11

it can also be indoors, For example, a smoke-filled
the party room can be a health hazard. Other substances that contribute to indoor air pollution include paints,
glues, and cleaning supplies.

Question 12

What are Nitrogen oxides (NOx(g)?

Answer 12

Nitrogen oxides (NOx(g)) are also major air pollutants

Question 13

What do Nitrogen oxides form?

Answer 13

smog and acid rain

Question 14

How do nitrogen oxides affect humans?

Answer 14

They affect the respiratory system and eyes.

Question 15

What does the x in Nitrogen oxides (NOx(g) represent?

Answer 15

The “x” in the chemical formula NOx(g) indicates that nitrogen oxides are mixtures of NO(g) and NO2(g) and sometimes other oxides of nitrogen.

Question 16

What is the source of nitrogen oxide?

Answer 16

• mainly from combustion in vehicles.
• also form by combustion in generating plants
• industrial processes, such as oil refining.

Question 17

What are the stages for Nitrogen oxide to form as a gas?

Answer 17

• The nitrogen formed by burning fuels first combines with oxygen to form nitrogen monoxide gas (NO(g)).
• then combines with oxygen in the atmosphere to form nitrogen dioxide (NO2(g)), a brownish gas.

Question 18

What is the main concern for pollution?

Answer 18

the main concern is with pollution from vehicles.

Question 19

What is Carbon monoxide?

Answer 19

Also a major air pollutant.

Question 20

What is Carbon monoxide known as?

Answer 20

the silent killer because it is a colorless and

odorless gas

Question 21

What is the process for carbon monoxide to be produced:

Answer 21

-When chemicals containing carbon burn, they produce carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide.

• Carbon monoxide (CO(g)) forms if there is not enough oxygen to produce carbon dioxide (CO2(g)).
• If there is enough oxygen during combustion, carbon dioxide is produced

Question 22

What is the main source of carbon monoxide?

Answer 22

• from human activities is motor vehicles.
• combustion of wood (e.g., fireplaces, wood stoves)
• natural gas,
• industrial processes,
• airplanes,
• cigarette smoking.

Question 23

Why is there more of a danger of carbon monoxide during the winter?

Answer 23

it can be a problem during the colder months when many people burn wood for heating.

Question 24

What effect does carbon monoxide have on our bodies?

Answer 24

If inhaled, carbon monoxide reduces the amount of oxygen carried by the blood.

As a result, it can cause headaches, sleepiness, chest pains, brain damage, and death.

Question 25

What are catalytic converters?

Answer 25

-Technologies such as catalytic converters in
vehicles and industry convert carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide

• is a device that uses platinum and palladium catalysts
  to remove pollutants from vehicle exhaust.

Question 26

What is non-ground level ozone?

Answer 26

• a layer of ozone protects Earth’s surface from harmful ultraviolet light.
• This layer is located high above Earth in the upper atmosphere.

Question 27

What is ground-level ozone?

Answer 27

• It is the same ozone but found on Earth’s atmosphere.
• But at ground level, ozone is a harmful pollutant.
• Ozone (O3(g)) is an odorless, colorless gas composed of three oxygen atoms.

Question 28

What are the three oxygen atoms that form ground-level ozone?

Answer 28

reactions between oxygen, nitrogen oxides, and compounds called volatile organic compounds (VOCs), in the presence of heat and sunlight.

Question 29

What are volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Answer 29

VOCs are organic chemicals that evaporate

easily.

Question 30

How are VOCs formed?

Answer 30

-Some plants and trees emit VOCs, but most of the VOCs come from human-made products such as solvents and gasoline.

Question 31

The major source of ground-level ozone:

Answer 31

-is fuel combustion in vehicle engines and industry.

Question 32

During which setting is Ozone pollution mainly a problem?

Answer 32

mainly in larger cities, especially during the summer.

Question 33

Ground-level ozone may be harmful to which kinds of people?

Answer 33

• Ozone is especially harmful to people who have lung diseases such as asthma, and anyone with a cold.
• All children are at a higher risk of developing lungs.
• Anyone who exercises outside in air containing high levels of ozone

Question 34

Which crops can ground-level ozone damage?

Answer 34

-wheat, soybeans, and onions

Question 35

What effect does ozone have on plastic?

Answer 35

Ozone can also cause materials such as plastics to

deteriorate more rapidly.