As F322: Environmental Chemistry

Front 1

What is the greenhouse effect?

Back 1

The process in which the absorption and subsequent emission of infra-red radiation by atmospheric gases warms the lower atmosphere and the planet's surface.

Front 2

When infra-red radiation is absorbed by C=O, O-H and C-H bonds, it causes the bonds to...

Back 2

Vibrate. These absorptions contribute to global warming.

Important note: always be specific about the fact that it's the BONDS that vibrate.

Front 3

State the factors that affect the contribution of a greenhouse gas to global warming.

Back 3

Ability to absorb infra-red radiation.

Concentration in the atmosphere.

Residence time (how long it stays in the atmosphere).

Front 4

What are the effects of global warming?

Back 4

- Climate change
- Melting Arctic ice can affect the Gulf stream which keeps the UK relatively warm
- Polar ice caps and glaciers melt
- More severe and frequent storms and hurricanes, resulting in more destruction.

Front 5

What are the effects of climate change?

Back 5

More rainfall and flooding in some areas, but drought and desertification in other areas. Thus water supply and crop yields are affected.

Front 6

What are the effects of polar ice caps and glaciers melting?

Back 6

When polar ice caps and glaciers melt, the additional water goes in the ocean. This causes a rise in sea levels, flooding many coastal areas.

Front 7

What can chemists do to minimise climate change resulting from global warming?

Back 7

Provide evidence to governments, international conferences, reports to the UN, etc.
Educate society by writing in journals, producing documentaries, writing books, making posters, etc.
Monitor atmospheric changes.

Front 8

Other ways chemists can minimise climate change resulting from global warming include:
Developing alternative energy sources - fuel cells, solar power, fuels that don't produce CO2.
And...

Back 8

Develop more efficient engines for transport - hybrid engines, electric cars.
Find uses for CO2, such as dry leaning, making decaffeinated coffee, fizzy drinks, etc.
CCS: CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE

Front 9

What is CSS?

Back 9

Carbon Capture and Storage is the removal of waste CO2 from power stations so that it does not go into the atmosphere.

Front 10

Methods that could be developed to achieve Carbon Capture and Storage include:

Back 10

CO2 is compressed and stored in deep geological formations.
CO2 being injected as a liquid into the deep ocean.
CO2 can be reacted with metal oxides to form stable solid carbonate minerals such as calcium carbonate, CaCO3.

Front 11

Green Chemistry: the principles of chemical sustainability.

- Using industrial processes that reduce or eliminate hazardous chemicals and which involve the use of fewer chemicals.

Back 11

Designing processes with a high atom economy that minimise the production of waste materials.

Using renewable resources such as plant based substances.

Front 12

Seeking alternative energy sources rather than consuming finite resources such as fossil fuels which will eventually be exhausted.

Back 12

Alternative energy sources include solar power, wind, tidal, etc.

Front 13

Ensuring that any waste products are non-toxic, and can be recycled or bio-degraded by being broken down into harmless substances in the environment.

Back 13

e.g. the use of catalysts makes processes more sustainable because the catalyst is not used up in the reaction, the reaction takes place at a lower temperature, have a lower energy demand so use less fuel, less CO2 emitted into atmosphere, better atom economy/less waste, catalysts and enzymes can generate very specific products,