Unit 7: Air Pollution Review

Question 1

what are all of the air pollutants from burning coal?

Answer 1

Hg, Pb, SO2, NOx, PM

Question 2

Nitrogen oxides are primary air pollutants. However, they can mix with other compounds in the air to
make photochemical smog and acid rain. Smog and acid rain are examples of what type of pollutants?

Answer 2

secondary pollutants

Question 3

The burning of diesel fuel releases what type of outdoor air pollutant?

Answer 3

PM, NOx, HC, CO2

Question 4

what are different chemical reactions to create tropospheric ozone in photochemical smog?

Answer 4

NO2 from cars is emitted and combines with oxygen in air to create ozone

Question 5

What is a VOC? What are their main sources?

Answer 5

chemicals used in products that easily vaporize, enter air, and irritate
adhesives (formaldehyde), cleaners, plastics, fabrics

Question 6

In what seasons do we see increases in smog concentration? Why?

Answer 6

summer, temperatures are warmer and sunlight is present, allowing for higher concentrations of ozone

Question 7

Why are there high levels of smog in urban areas?

Answer 7

there tends to be higher levels of ground level ozone in urban areas

Question 8

what are normal conditions of atmospheric temperatures?

Answer 8

warm air > cool air > cold air

Question 9

what are the atmospheric temperatures in a thermal inversion?

Answer 9

cool air > warm air > cold air

Question 10

why do thermal inversion layers trap pollutants?

Answer 10

the warmer air layer traps the pollutants from moving above the surface

Question 11

What are natural sources of particulate matter in the air?

Answer 11

smoke, dust, pollen, ash, sea salt

Question 12

What’s the difference between PM 2.5 and PM 10?

Answer 12

PM 10 < 10 micrometers in diameter
PM 2.5 < 2.5 micrometers in diameter

Question 13

What are some natural sources of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?

Answer 13

cellular respiration, aerobic decomposition

Question 14

identify significant sources of formaldehyde

Answer 14

adhesives

Question 15

identify significant sources of radon

Answer 15

decaying uranium, combustion, mining, found underground and can enter homes with cracked foundations

Question 16

identify significant sources of mercury

Answer 16

weathering of rocks, forest fires, volcano eruptions, burning of fossil fuel

Question 17

identify significant sources of lead

Answer 17

exhaust fumes, metal smelting

Question 18

identify significant sources of carbon monoxide

Answer 18

incomplete combustion of fuel, combustion of waste

Question 19

identify significant sources of asbestos

Answer 19

home insulation

Question 20

what are three specific health effects of lead on humans?

Answer 20

impairs central nervous system, affects ability to concentrate, hearing problems

Question 21

what is sick building syndrome?

Answer 21

development of sickness from certain buildings being occupied

Question 22

what is a baghouse filter?

Answer 22

filters out PM in industrial settings to prevent pollutants from entering the workplace and atmosphere

Question 23

what is an electrostatic precipitator?

Answer 23

removes suspended dust particles from a gas or exhaust by giving an electrostatic charge and attracting the particles to charged plates

Question 24

what is a wet scrubber?

Answer 24

chemical agents that absorb or neutralize oxides while spraying mist

Question 25

what is a dry scrubber?

Answer 25

large containers filled with chemicals that absorb or neutralize oxides

Question 26

what is a vapor recovery nozzle?

Answer 26

capture pollutants on gas pumps to prevent them from entering the atmosphere

Question 27

what does a catalytic converter do?

Answer 27

binds to NOx and CO, converts hydrocarbons into CO2, N2, O2, and H2O

Question 28

What does the Clean Air Act of 1970 mandate? What are NAAQS? Why were they created?

Answer 28

clean air act mandates regulations on pollutants in the atmosphere, NAAQS set standards on major air pollutants in the atmosphere, created to regulate air pollution

Question 29

What is the pH of the following substances?: orange juice normal rain ammonia lime (calcium carbonate)
sulfuric acid acid rain human blood

Answer 29

sulfuric acid - 2
orange juice - 3
acid rain - 4
normal rain - 5.5
human blood - 7.4
calcium carbonate - 10
ammonia - 11

Question 30

Write a series of chemical reactions that leads to the formation of acid rain from sulfur oxides and nitrous oxides.

Answer 30

SOx + O2 + H2O = H2SO4
NOx + O2 + H2O = HNO3

Question 31

Write the chemical equation for the formation of carbonic acid from the reaction of water with carbon dioxide.

Answer 31

CO2 + H20= H2CO3

Question 32

identify two places in the environment where CO2+ H20= H2CO3 occurs naturally

Answer 32

rocks, volcanoes

Question 33

what are some environmental effects of acid rain/deposition?

Answer 33

Acidification of soil and water, corrosion of man made structures

Question 34

how can limestone neutralize acid rain?

Answer 34

Sulfuric acid reacts with the limestone and limestone dissolves and crumbles then leaves off acid

Question 35

How does noise pollution affect human health?

Answer 35

Stress, poor concentration, loss of hearing

Question 36

What are sources of noise pollution?

Answer 36

transportation, construction, industry

Question 37

How does noise pollution affect organisms in the environment?

Answer 37

hearing loss, infertility, rapid increase in heart rate