C9 Chemisty of the Atmosphere

Question 1

How was the early atmoshphere formed?

Answer 1

volcanoes erupted and released lots of gasses

Question 2

what was the early atmosphere made up of?

Answer 2

carbon dioxide, nitrogen, water vapor, methane, ammonia

Question 3

when did the earth form?

Answer 3

approximately 4.6 billion years ago

Question 4

condensed water vapor formed …….?

Answer 4

oceans

Question 5

how was carbon dioxide removed from the early atmosphere?

Answer 5

it disolved in the oceans

Question 6

what happened to disolved carbon dioxide?

Answer 6

it went through a series of reactions to form carbonate precipitates, that formed sediments on the sea bed

Question 7

what did marine animals shells and skeletons contain?

Answer 7

carbonates from the oceans

Question 8

why did green plants and algae absorb carbon dioxide?

Answer 8

so they could carry out photosynthesis

Question 9

what happens when plants, plankton and marine animals die?

Answer 9

they fall to the seabed and get buried by layers of sediment

Question 10

what happens after millions of years to layers of sediment?

Answer 10

they become compressed and form sedimentary rocks oil and gas, the carbon within them trapping

Question 11

Fossil fuels is when:

Answer 11

coal, crude oil and natural gas are made through a process which involves trapping carbon within compressed sedimentary rocks

Question 12

what are crude oil and and natural gas formed from

Answer 12

deposits of plankton

Question 13

what is coal made from?

Answer 13

thick plant deposits

Question 14

what is limestone made of?

Answer 14

calcium carbonate deposits from the shellls and skeletons made of marine organisms

Question 15

what is photosynthesis?

Answer 15

when plants use light to convert carbon dioxide and water into sugars.

Question 16

as well as absorbing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, green plants and algae produce ……….. by ………….

Answer 16

oxygen by photosynthesis

Question 17

what happened when oxygen levels built up in the atmosphere over time?

Answer 17

more complex life (like animals) could evolve

Question 18

what is the composition of our moden atnosphere?

Answer 18

78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 1% other gasses

Question 19

what are some greehouse gasses?

Answer 19

carbondioxide
methane
water vapour

Question 20

how do greenhouse gasses work?

Answer 20

1) greenhouse gasses like carbon dioxide, methane and watervapour act like an insulating layer in the earths atmosphere - this allows the earth to be warm enough to support life
2) greenhouse gasses dont absorb the incomming short wavelength radiation from the sun - but they do absorb the long wavelength radiation that gets reflected back off the earth.
3) then they re-radiate in all directions - including back towards the earth
4) the long wavelength radiuation is themal radiation, so it warms the surface of the earth.

Question 21

what are some human activities that affect the amount of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere?

Answer 21

deforestation - few trees means less photosynthesis removing CO2 from the atmosphere

buring fossil fuels - carbon that was locked up in these fuels is released as CO2

agricullture - more farm animals produce more methane through their digestive processes

creating waste - more landfil sites and wates from agriculture means more CO2 and methane released by decomposition of waste

Question 22

why is it difficult to fully understand the earths climate?

Answer 22

its complex, there are so mant variables, and its very hard to make a model that isnt oversimplified

Question 23

what are some consequences of climate change?

Answer 23

an increase in temp:
ice caps melting
flooding
costal erosion

changes in rainfall patterns:
too much/ too little water
affect ability to produce food
frequcency and serverity of storms

Question 24

what is a carbon foot print?

Answer 24

a measure of the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses relased over the full life cycle of something

Question 25

what can have a carbon footprint?

Answer 25

service eg buses
event eg olympics
product eg toastie maker

Question 26

why is it hard to measure the total carbon footprint

Answer 26

there are so many difrent factors to consider eg for a product: manufacturing, use and disposal

Question 27

what are someways of reducing our carbon footprint?

Answer 27

1) renewable energy sources
2) more efficient processes that concerve and cut waste
3) goverment taxing on the amount of greenhouse gasses emitted
4) goverments putting a cap on emmisions of all greenhouse gasses
5) using technology that captures the CO2 produced by fossil fuels before its releases into the atmosphere

Question 28

why is it hard to reduce our carbon footprint?

Answer 28

goverments are worried that chamges will impact economic growth.
not everyone is on board so its hard to make international agreements to reduce emmisions

Question 29

how can people reduce their carbon footprint?

Answer 29

cyle or walk instead of using a car
reducing air travel
doing anything at home that saves energy eg turing heating down

Question 30

what happens when theres not enough oxygen in combustion?

Answer 30

INCOMPLETE COMBUSTION -some of the fuel doesnt burn and particulates made of soot and unburned hydrocarbons are released and carbon monoxide can be produced as well as carbon dioxide

Question 31

what problems can particulates in the air cause?

Answer 31

if they are inhaled they can get stck in the lungs and cause damage, this can lead to respiratory problems

particulates reflect sunlight back into space, so less light reaches the earth causing globall dimming

Question 32

what happens when corbon monoxide stops your blood from carrying oxygen around the body?

Answer 32

it binds to the haemoglobin in your blood that normally carries oxygen, so less oxygen is able to be transported around your body. this can cause fainting, comas and even death.

Question 33

why is carbon monoxide so dangerous?

Answer 33

its colourless and ourdorless so its very hard to detect.

Question 34

when is sulfur dioxide released?

Answer 34

during the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, that contain sulfur impurities - the sulfur becomes oxidised

Question 35

when are nitrogen oxidies created?

Answer 35

a reaction between nitrogen and oxygen in the air caused by heat eg internal combusion engines of cars

Question 36

what happens when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides mix with water in clouds?

Answer 36

they form dilute sulfuric acid or dilute nitric acid. this then falls as acid rain

Question 37

what are the dangers of acid rain?

Answer 37

acid rain kills plants and damages buildings and limestone statues. it also makes metal corrode

sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides also causes risparotary problems if breathed in