Air and atmosphere

Question 1

Explain how nitrogen monoxide is produced in the car engine.

Answer 1

At high temperatures in the car engine, nitrogen in the atmospheric air reacts with oxygen in the air, to form nitrogen monoxide.

Question 2

Explain the effect of CFCs on the ozone layer.

Answer 2

CFCs are released by aerosol propellants into the atmosphere and they will then reach the stratosphere where the ozone layer is. In the presence of ultraviolet radiation from the sun that is absorbed by the ozone layer, the CFCs will decompose to form chlorine atoms. The chlorine atoms then react with the ozone molecules of the ozone layer to form oxygen and chlorine oxide. This then destroys the ozone layer, allowing ultraviolet radiation to enter the earth’s atmosphere through the holes in the ozone layer.

Question 3

Explain the importance of the ozone layer on human health.

Answer 3

The ozone layer filters out and absorbs some of the ultraviolet radiation from the sun and prevents too much ultraviolet radiation from reaching the earth’s atmosphere. Overexposure to ultraviolet radiation can lead to skin cancer, genetic mutations and eye damage.