Vocab 80-102 (Pollution and Air) Flashcards
Particulate matter:
- Source: burning fossil fuels and diesel exhaust
- Effect: reduces visibility
- Reduction: filtering, electrastic precipitators,alternative energy
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)
- Source: 50% from transportation, 50% from industry
- Effects: acidification of lakes, respiratory irritation, leads to photochemical smog and ozone formation
- Equation for acid formation: NO + O2 + H2O –> HNO3
- Reduction: selective catalytic reduction unit, more efficient combustion processes like FBC (fluidized bed combustion), lower combustion temps, find alternatives to fossil fuels
Sulfer Oxides (SOx)
- Source: coal burning
- Effects: acid deposition, respiratory irritation, damages plants
- Equation for acid formation: SO2 + O2 = SO3 + H2O = H2SO4
- Reduction: scrubbers, burn low sulfur fuel
Carbon Oxides (CO and CO2)
- Source: auto exhaust, incomplete combustion
- Effects: CO binds to hemoglobin, reducing blood’s ability to carry O2 –> contributes to global warming
- Reduction: Catalytic converter, emissions testing, oxygenated fuel, mass transit, increase efficiencies, find alternatives to FF
Ozone (O3)
- Formation: secondary pollutant
- NO2 + uv –> NO + O^*
- O^* + O2 –> with VOCs
- Effects: respiratory irritant and plant damage
- Reduction: reduce
NO and VOC emissions - Tropospheric ozone is BAD, stratospheric ozone is GOOD
Radon (Rn)
- naturally occurring colorless, odorless, radioactive gas
- found in some types of soil and rock, can seep into homes and buildings, formed from the decay of uranium
- causes cancer
Photochemical smog
formed by chemical reactions involving sunlight (NO, VOC, O^*); associated with automobile traffic
Acid deposition
caused by sulfuric and nitric acids (H2, SO4, HNO3), resulting in lowered pH of surface waters, soil acidification and destruction of building materials
Greenhouse gases
- Examples: H2O, CO2, O3, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), methane (CH4)
- Effect: trap outgoing infrared energy causing Earth to warm
Effects of global warming
rising sea level (thermal expansion), extreme weather, drought, famine, extinctions
Stratospheric Ozone depletion
caused by ozone-depleting chemicals (ODCs) such as CFCs; the Cl or Br atoms “attack” the ozone molecules and cause the thinning of this layer
Effects of ozone depletion
increased UV light that results in skin cancer, cataracts, decreased plant growth, impairs immune system
Primary air pollutants
produced by humans and nature (CO, CO2, SOx, NOx, Hydrocarbons, particulates)
Secondary Air Pollutants
produced as a result of reactions that primary air pollutants undergo
Sources of mercury:
burning coal, and compact fluorescent bulbs
