C1 AIR QUALITY Flashcards

(38 cards)

1
Q

What are the relative proportions of the main gases in the atmosphere?

A

78% Nitrogen
21% oxygen
1% argon

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2
Q

What did earths early atmosphere consisted of?

A

Carbon dioxide and water vapour (formed by volcanic activity)

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3
Q

What is the atmosphere made of?

A

Nitrogen, oxygen, argon, small a mouths of water vapour, carbon dioxide and other gases

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4
Q

How was carbon dioxide removed and oxygen added to the atmosphere?

A

Because the evolution of photosynthesising organisms

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5
Q

Name another way carbon dioxide was removed from the atmosphere

A

By dissolving in the oceans and then forming sedimentary rocks, and by the formation of fossil fuels

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6
Q

How has human activity changed the composition of the atmosphere?

A

They added small amounts of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere. Extra carbon dioxide and small particles of solids (carbon).

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7
Q

Why is carbon monoxide harmful?

A

If reduces the amount of oxygen blood can carry

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8
Q

How is carbon dioxide and particulates added to the atmosphere?

A
  • Burning fuels
  • burning forests to make more farmland
  • particulates are also created naturally as ash in volcanoes
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9
Q

What’s harmful about sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide?

A

It creates acid rain, which damaged plants and animals

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10
Q

What can nitrogen oxide trigger?

A

(With sulfur dioxide) triggers asthma

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11
Q

What is coal mainly made of?

A

Carbon

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12
Q

Name compounds of hydro carbons

A

Petrol, diesel fuel and fuel oil - all fossil fuels

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13
Q

the equation when hydrocarbon fuel burns

A

hydro carbon + oxygen > carbon dioxide + water (+energy)

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14
Q

what is oxidation

A

oxygen is added to substance

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15
Q

what is reduction

A

oxygen is removed from substance

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16
Q

what is combustion

A

and oxidation reaction

17
Q

what is created when solid yellow sulfur burns?

A

a colourless gass called sulfur dioxide

18
Q

sulfur is insoluble but sulfur dioxide dissolves in water to make an…

A

acid solution

19
Q

Equation for when sulfur in fossil fuels burn

A

sulfur + oxygen > sulfur dioxide

20
Q

Name an indirect pollutant

A

Acid rain- does not affect humans directly

21
Q

How is sulfur dioxide made?

A

when the fuel contains sulfur

22
Q

what is always formed when fuel burns?

A

carbon dioxide

23
Q

What happens when not enough air is available to burn the fuel?

A
  • poisonous carbon monoxide is made

- particulares (soot) are formed - surface they labd on dirty

24
Q

How does car engines contribute to acid rain?

A

car engines make nitrogen oxide when nitrogen and oxygen from the air react at high temperatures - contributes to acid rain

25
what is made when theres a n incomplete combustion?
carbon monoxide and particulate carbon
26
How is nitrogen monoxide formed?
in furnaces and engines at a temperature of 1000C
27
What happens when nitrogen monoxide is released?
it cools. it then reacts with more oxygen to form toxic nitrogen dioxide.
28
how can pollutants be removed from the air?
- particulates can settle on surfaces - sulfur and nitrogen oxides react with water and oxygen to produce acid rain - carbon dioxide - photosynthesis - carbon dioxide - dissolves in rain water and oceans
29
Benefits of burning oil and gas instead of burning coal?
It makes less sulfur dioxide
30
How can power stations remove solid particulates?
using electrostatic filters
31
how can sulfur dioxide be removed from waste gases?
flue gas desulfurisation
32
What are the two 'wet scrubbing' methods used to remove sulfur dioxide from power station waste?
1. using alkaline slurry of calcium oxide (line) and water to make calcium sulfate - can be sold as plaster 2. using sea water, a natarul alkaline which absorbs sulfur dioxide
33
What are ways to reduce use of fossil fuels?
- using alternative energy resources - improving building insulation - reduce use of public transport
34
what is an alternative to fossil fuels
biofuels - made from plants. examples afe wood chips, palm oil and alcohol made from sugar
35
how can vehicles reduce air pollution?
- using cars less - using cleaner fuels - making public transport cheaper
36
What are catalytic converters and what do they do?
they contain platinum catalyst that allows pollutant gases to react with each other
37
what reaction (equation) happens inside a catalytic converter?
carbon monoxide + nitrogen monoxide > nitrogen + carbon monoxide
38
how long ago did earths atmosphere form?
4 billion years ago