air and air pollutants

Question 1

air composition

Answer 1

78% nitrogen
21% oxygen
0.93% argon
0.04% carbon dioxide
varying amounts of water vapour

Question 2

carbon dioxide [CO2]

Answer 2

formed by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels

effect: global warming

Question 3

carbon monoxide [CO]

Answer 3

incomplete combustion of fossil fuels

effect: respiratory problems

Question 4

carbon particulates

Answer 4

incomplete combustion of fossil fuels

effects: global dimming

Question 5

methane

Answer 5

decomposition of vegetation

effect: can reduce the amount of oxygen in the air

Question 6

oxides of nitrogen[NOX]

Answer 6

formed when oxygen and nitrogen react under high temperatures.

effects: acid rain - when dissolved in rainwater, it forms nitric acid

Question 7

sulfur dioxide [SO2]

Answer 7

when fossil fuels containing sulfur are burnt

effects: acid rain [dissolves in rainwater to form sulfuric acid]

Question 8

how do greenhouse gases cause global warming

Answer 8

greenhouse gases trap heat from the suns radiation and raises the temperature of the Earth, resulting in global warming.

Question 9

ways to reduce climate change

Answer 9

plant trees
decrease use in fossil fuels
reduce in livestock farming

Question 10

ways to reduce acid rain

Answer 10

use of catalytic converters
reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide by using low-sulfur fuels
flue gas desulfurization with calcium oxide

Question 11

catalytic converters

Answer 11

catalytic converters change pollutants from incomplete combustion [carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen] to less harmful substances [carbon dioxide and nitrogen]

Question 12

equation for catalytic converters

Answer 12

2CO + 2NO –> 2CO2 + N2

Question 13

equation for photosynthesis

Answer 13

6CO2 + 6H20 –> C6H1206 + 6O2