Chemistry Of The Atmosphere

Question 1

The earth formed

Answer 1

4.6 billion years ago

Question 2

Intense volcanic activity releases

Answer 2

Mainly carbon dioxide
Water vapour which condensed to form the oceans
Small proportions of methane and ammonia
Nitrogen which builds up

Question 3

Green plants and algae evolve and

Answer 3

Carbon dioxide is reduced and oxygen increased photosynthesis
Lots of oxygen-microorganisms that can’t cope are killer off
Carbon becomes trapped in sedimentary rock formed from the shells and skeletons of marine organisms
Other gases react with oxygen to form nitrogen
Nitrogen also produced by bacteria removing nitrates from decaying plant material

Question 4

Proportion of gases now

Answer 4

78% nitrogen
21%oxygem
Small amounts of carbon dioxide and other noble gases

Question 5

Water vapour

Answer 5

Present in varying quantities

0-3%

Question 6

Oxygen increased due to

Answer 6

Algae and plants photosynthesis

Question 7

Photosynthesis equation

Answer 7

*

Question 8

Algae first started producing

Answer 8

Oxygen

2.7 billion years ago

Question 9

As plants evolved

Answer 9

Amount of oxygen increased

Question 10

When the amount of oxygen increased enough

Answer 10

To allow animals to evolve

Question 11

Carbon dioxide decreased

Answer 11

As plants and algae evolve
Photosynthesis
Becomes Locked in sedimentary rocks and fossil fuels
Limestone formed from skeletons and shells etc
Coal formed from plant deposits that were buried and compressed
Reaction between CO2 and sea water
-insoluble carbonates that are deposited as sediment
-soluble hydrogen carbonates
Too much CO2 in ocean can harm sea life such as corals

Question 12

Sun gives out

Answer 12

High energy
Short wavelength
Infrared radiation

Question 13

Radiation from the sun

Answer 13

Passes through the atmosphere and reaches the earths surface

Question 14

Some radiation is absorbed by

Answer 14

The earths surface

Question 15

Lower energy longer wavelength infrared radiation is

Answer 15

Reflected by earths surface

Question 16

Greenhouse gases absorb

In earths atmosphere

Answer 16

Absorb the outgoing infrared radiation which increase the earths temperature

Question 17

Without greenhouse gases

Answer 17

The earth would be too cold for water to be liquid and would not be able to support life

Question 18

Greenhouse gases include

Answer 18

Carbon dioxide
Water vapour
Methane

Question 19

Human activities can

Answer 19

Increase the level of greenhouse gases

Question 20

The amnout of CO2 has

Answer 20

Increased over the last 100 years

This correlated with the amount of fossil fuels being burned

Question 21

Fossil fuels contain

Answer 21

Carbon that has been locked up for millions of years

Question 22

Burning fossil fuels

Answer 22

Releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere

Question 23

Déforestation also leads to

Answer 23

An increase in CO2 as there are fewer trees to take in the gas during photosynthesis

Question 24

Activities that increase methane

Answer 24

Décomposition of rubbish in landfills

Increase of animal farming - during digestion and the decomposition of their waste

Question 25

Many scientists believe

Answer 25

Increase in greenhouse gases will increase the earth surfaces temperature and could result in global climate change

Question 26

It is difficult to produce

Answer 26

An accurate model for such a complicated system So people use simplified models So people think it is only part the evidence

Question 27

Some people’s viewed are

Answer 27

Biased | People being paid by companies

Question 28

If the global temperature increases

Answer 28

This could cause global climate change

Question 29

A rise in sea level could cause

Answer 29

Floods and coastal erosion

Question 30

More frequent severe storms

Answer 30

Change in the amount of timing and rainfal | Some receive more and some much less

Question 31

An increased number of heatwave

Answer 31

Harmful to people and wildlife | Droughts

Question 32

Changes in plants and animals

Answer 32

Becomes too hot for somenew habitats were it becomes warmer

Question 33

Food shortages

Answer 33

Too hot for some countries to produce

Question 34

Carbon footprint is

Answer 34

Is the amount CO2 and other greenhouse gases that are emitted over its fulllife cycle

Question 35

Carbon footprint can be reduced through

Answer 35

``` Using alternative energy Wasting less energy Carbon capture and storage Carbon taxes Carbon off setting- planting trees Encouraging carbon neutral products ```

Question 36

Problems with reducing the carbon footprint

Answer 36

``` Disagreements between scientists Lack of info and knowledge Reluctant people Economic considerations- alternative energy supply’s Disagreements between countries ```