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Chemistry GCSE > Chemistry of atmosphere > Flashcards

Chemistry of atmosphere Flashcards

1
Q

How long ago did the atmosphere form

A

4.6 billion years ago

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2
Q

explain the volcano theory on how the atmosphere formed

A
  • Intense volcanic activity released the gases that form the atmosphere
  • similar to Mars and Venus
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3
Q

how would the sea have formed

A
  • Water vapour in the Earths atmosphere cools and condenses to form the oceans
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4
Q

what is the % Nitrogen in the atmosphere

A

78%

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5
Q

what is the % of oxygen in the atmosphere

A

21%

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6
Q

what is the % of other gases including argon in the atmosphere

A

1%

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7
Q

How did levels of oxygen increase in the early atmosphere

A
  • algae produced oxygen – due to photosynthesis
  • then population of algae slowly increased, producing more algae
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8
Q

when did algae first produce oxygen

A

2.7 billion years ago

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9
Q

How did levels of carbon dioxide decrease in the early atmosphere

A
  • when the oceans formed, carbon dioxide dissolved in the water
  • plants in the oceans (algae) also absorbed carbon dioxide for phtotsynthesis
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10
Q

what happened wen carbon dioxide dissolved in the sea

A
  • this produced carbon compounds
  • reducing the amount of Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
  • Carbon compounds were then precipitated
  • an example of this would be limestone
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11
Q

How is crude oil formed

A
  • Aquatic plants and animals die
  • fall to bottom of sea, trapped under sand and mud
  • overtime they’re buried deeper
  • due to rising heats and pressure the lower they go
  • they are turned into crude oil or natural gas
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12
Q

How is coal formed

A
  • from giant plants that lived in swamps
  • they die and sink beneath mud,water and soil
  • over time, increased pressure and temps force the remains to undergo chemical and physical changes
  • oxygen is pushed out and all that remains is coal
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13
Q

what has caused an increase in methane

A
  • farming cattle
  • farming rice
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14
Q

what causes an increase in carbon dioxide

A
  • burning fossil fuels
  • deforestation
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15
Q

what are the main greenhouse gases

A
  • Carbon dioxide
  • water vapour
  • methane
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16
Q

How is global warming different to climate change

A
  • global warming is how the Earth’s atmosphere has warmed up in the past 200 years
17
Q

what is a carbon footprint

A

total amount of CO2 and other greenhouse gases over the full life cycle of a product

18
Q

what might contribute to an individuals carbon footprint

A
  • travelling abroad by plane
  • driving cars or using public transport
  • Heating a home
  • food such as beef or rice
19
Q

How are Nitrogen oxides produced

A
  • in car engines
  • when high temps and pressures
  • forces nitrogen to react with oxygen
  • producing Nitrous oxides
20
Q

what do Nitrogen oxides cause

A
  • acid rain
  • photo chemical smog
  • impacts on human health
21
Q

why is acid rain bad

A
  • erodes buildings
  • damages plants
  • kills fish
22
Q

how is photochemical smog produced

A

nitrogen oxides in atmosphere react with ultra violet light from the sun

23
Q

what is the problem of photochemical smog

A
  • it impacts our health
  • particularly affecting people who suffer with asthma
24
Q

what is complete combustion

A
  • when there’s enough oxygen for a fuel to burn
  • a hydrocarbon will react with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide an water
25
Q

what is incomplete combustion

A
  • occurs when there isn’t enough oxygen for a fuel to burn
  • it produces carbon monoxide and water and carbon particulates
  • the reactants remain the same as complete combustion when you look the equation. It’s just the products that change
26
Q

Why is carbon monoxide dangerous

A
  • colourless
  • odourless
  • binds to haemoglobin in the red blood cells, preventing them from taking oxygen around the body
27
Q

Why are carbon particulates bad

A
  • irritates lungs
    —> making asthma worse
    —> increasing risk of cancer
28
Q

What is global dimming caused by

A

Carbon particulates blocking out the sun’s rays + may reduce rainfall

29
Q

How is sulfur dioxide produced

A

Burning fossil fuels

30
Q

How does carbon dioxide harm the planet

A
  • dissolve in rain water and form acid rain
  • damage forests, plants, aquatic environments
  • slowly erodes buildings + statues

Chemistry GCSE (33 decks)

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