Chapter 15 Vocab

Question 1

air pollution

Answer 1

introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or mircroorganisms into the atmosphere at comcentrations high enough to harm plants animals and materials such as buildings or to alter ecosystems

Question 2

particulate matter (PM)

Answer 2

solid or liquid particles suspended in air

Question 3

haze

Answer 3

Reduced visibility when particulate matter from air pollution scatters light

Question 4

photochemical oxidant

Answer 4

class of air pollutants formed as a result of sunlight acting on compounds such as nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide

Question 5

ozone

Answer 5

a colorless unstable toxic gas with a pungent odor and powerful oxidizing properties, formed from oxygen by electrical discharges or ultraviolet light

Question 6

smog

Answer 6

, air pollution by a mixture of smoke and fog

Question 7

photochemical smog

Answer 7

dominated by oxidants such as ozone and is sometimes called Los Angeles type smog

Question 8

sulfurous smog

Answer 8

smog dominated by sulfur dioxide and sulfate compounds

Question 9

volatile organic compound (VOC)

Answer 9

organic compounds that become vapors at typical atmospheric temperatures

Question 10

primary product

Answer 10

A polluting compound that comes directly out of the smokestack, exhaust pipe, or natural emission source.

Question 11

secondary pollutant

Answer 11

primary pollutants that have undergone transformation in the presence of sunlight, water, oxygen, or other compounds

Question 12

thermal invasion

Answer 12

The temperature inversion in which warm air traps cold air and pollutants near the earth.

Question 13

inversion layer

Answer 13

traps emissions that then accumulate beneath it

Question 14

asbestos

Answer 14

a long thin fibrous silicate mineral with insulating properties

Question 15

sick building syndrome

Answer 15

from new or renovated building that gives off high levels of vocs hydrocarbons and other potentially toxic materials