Unit 7

Question 1

What chemicals are released from the combustion of coal, oil and natural gas?

Answer 1

Carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx)

Question 2

What is the difference between primary and secondary air pollutants?

Answer 2

Primary air pollutants are emitted directly into the atmosphere from their source, while secondary air pollutants are formed in the atmosphere through chemical reactions between primary pollutants and other substances

Question 3

How is photochemical smog formed?

Answer 3

Smog is formed through chemical reactions between sunlight, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Question 4

How does the amount of sunlight effect formation of smog?

Answer 4

It starts chemical reactions between pollutants like nitrogen oxides and VOCs, ultimately leading to the creation of ozone and other smog components

Question 5

What causes ozone depletion?

Answer 5

Ozone depletion is primarily caused by human-made ozone-depleting substances (ODS) like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which are released into the atmosphere

Question 6

What causes VOC’s indoors?

Answer 6

VOCs indoors are primarily caused by the use of everyday products like cleaning supplies, paints, and building materials, as well as activities like smoking and cooking

Question 7

What are the steps leading to acid rain?

Answer 7

1. A chemical reaction that begins when compounds like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the air
2. The substances rise very high into the atmosphere, where they mix and react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form more acidic pollutants, known as acid rain

Question 8

What is thermal inversion and why is it bad?

Answer 8

When the temperature increases with altitude instead of decreases which can cause pollutants to get trapped closer to the ground.