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21 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Greenhouse Effect |
Increasing levels of CO2 increase the amount of heat retained, causing the atmosphere and Earth’s surface to heat up. |
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How the Greenhouse Effect Works
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1. Sunlight passes through the atmosphere and warms the Earth.
2. Infrared Radiation (IR) is given off by the Earth 3. Most escapes to outer space, allowing the Earth to cool 4. ...But some infrared radiation is trapped by gases in the air (including CO2), keeping the Earth warm enough to sustain life |
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What are greenhouse gases |
Gases in the Earth’s Troposphere that cause the greenhouse effect. The main ones are Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), Nitrous Oxide (N2O) but some others are water vapour, and CFCs |
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What is global warming? |
The increase of the Earth’s average surface temperature due to a buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere |
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How have humans increased the greenhouse effect? |
- Through burning fossil fuels to create energy and power vehicles
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What are the local and global consequences of global warming? |
- Rising sea levels |
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How is acid rain formed? |
Through burning oil, gas, and coal in power stations Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) is released into the atmosphere along with Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) from burning oil/ gas in motor vehicles. These gases mix with water droplets in the atmosphere creating weak solutions of nitric and sulphuric acids. When precipitation occurs these solutions fall as acid rain.
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What are the formulas for acid rain? |
H2SO3 (aq) and H2NO3
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Write the equation that shows the formation of acid rain. |
SO2 (g) + H2O (g) ----> H2SO3 (aq) |
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What is the hydroxyl radical? |
The hydroxyl radical (OH•) is responsible for up to ½ of all O3 destruction in the lower stratosphere |
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How does the hydroxyl radical help with the production of acid rain? |
Natural process augmented by anthropogenic activities adding CH4 to the atmosphere (results in formation of more OH•) |
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What are the sources of pollution that cause acid rain?
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Through burning oil, gas, and coal in power stations Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) is released into the atmosphere along with Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) from burning oil/ gas in motor vehicles causing acid rain.
Ore smelting, coal-fired power generators and natural gas processing are the main contributors. |
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How can we reduce the pollutants that cause acid rain? |
- Reduce air pollution by improving energy efficiency
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What is the ozone layer? |
A layer of gaseous ozone (O3) in the lower stratosphere that protects life on Earth |
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Where is the ozone layer? |
Extends in the lower stratosphere; 17-26 km above sea level |
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What does the ozone layer do? |
The ozone layer protects life on Earth by filtering out about 95% of harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun from reaching the surface |
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What is Ozone? |
- Ozone is a blue coloured, strong smelling molecule
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How is ozone formed? |
- Solar radiation striking the Earth’s atmosphere is absorbed by air molecules Natural Cycle of breaking down and reconstructing in the atmosphere |
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reactions that form ozone and break it down.
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O2 (g) + UV = 2 •O
•O + O2 (g) = O3 (g) |
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What are CFCs? |
CFCs are chlorofluorocarbons that can interfere with chemical processes in the Earth’s atmosphere. |
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How do CFCs break down the ozone? |
The CFC molecules break down under the influence of high energy UV radiation releasing chlorine (Cl), Fluorine (F), and Bromine (Br) atoms and iodine (I) which accelerate the breakdown of ozone (O3) into O2 and O in a cyclic chain of chemical reactions
- The chlorine molecule is the main concern since the chlorine gas that is created by the sun breaking down the CFCs ends up destroying the ozone |
