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Flashcards in Chemistry Of The Atmosphere Deck (21)
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1
Q

Proportions of gases in the atmosphere

A

78% nitrogen
21% oxygen
0.04% carbon dioxide
0.96% other gases

2
Q

How old is the earth

A

4.543 billion years

3
Q

How has oxygen and CO2 changed over time?

A

It was mainly CO2 with very little oxygen, mainly due to photosynthesis where plants absorb CO2 and release oxygen

4
Q

How is it believed that the early atmosphere was formed?

A

Gases from volcanoes because it is believed that the earth was mainly volcanic

5
Q

How did the CO2 level decrease 3.8 billion years ago

A

The water from the atmosphere condensed as the earth temperature decreased. CO2 dissolved in water

6
Q

Timeline

A

4 billion years ago- hydrosphere was formed
3.8 billion years ago- water from the atmosphere condensed
2 billion years ago- first oxygen in the atmosphere
1 billion years ago- first organisms started to photosynthesise
600 million years ago- ozone is strong enough to stop potentially lethal UV

7
Q

Limestone
Where does carbon in it come from
Carbon containing compound in it
Conditions to make sedimentary rocks like limestone

A

Shells and sediment cement together over time and store carbon in stone
Calcium Carbonate
Clear, warm, shallow waters

8
Q

Crude Oil
Where carbon comes from
Carbon containing compound
Conditions to make

A

Hydrocarbons- hydrogen and carbon have bonded
Hydrocarbons
Higher pressure causes more complex organisms to decompose

9
Q

Coal
Where carbon comes from
How long to form coal and oil
Conditions needed to make

A

Tissues of plants
Millions of years
Needs pressure and heat to turn ferns, plants and trees to coal

10
Q

Greenhouse effect

A

Where the warmth of the sun is trapped inside the atmosphere increasing the temperature of a planet

11
Q

Effect of greenhouse gases on wavelength

A

Earth absorbs radiation of most wavelengths then absorbs the radiation with short wavelengths and releases the wavelengths with long wavelengths. Some is absorbed by greenhouse gases and consequently the atmosphere increases temperature

12
Q

Methane and CO2 are released by

A

CO2- follow fuels, breathing

Methane- breakdown of organic matter

13
Q

Results of global warming

A

Increased temperature, average increased by over a degree since 1860s
Drought, has and will lead to inconsistent weather conditions
Polar icecaps melting, increase in temperate can lead to polar icecaps melting
Rising sea levels, melting of polar ice caps leads to rising sea levels and flooding of low level land, including cities

14
Q

Carbon footprint

A

The amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere because of the actions of a person or group

15
Q

Complete combustion

A

Fuel + oxygen —> CO2 and water

16
Q

Incomplete combustion

A

Fuel + insufficient oxygen —> carbon monoxide + carbon particulates + water

17
Q

Carbon dioxide

A

Formed through anaerobic respiration in plants and combustion
Causes greenhouse effect to trap heat and increase the overall temperature of the planet

18
Q

Carbon monoxide

A

Formed through the incomplete combustion of carbon

Affects the atmospheres ability to remove polluting gases from itself

19
Q

Carbon particulates

A

Also released through incomplete combustion

Strongly absorb sunlight so less reaches the ground

20
Q

Sulphur dioxide

A

Formed from the burning of fossil fuels and the smelting of mineral ores
Combines with water and air to form acid rain, can cause deforestation

21
Q

Nitrogen oxides

A

Formed by nitrogen reacting with oxygen during combustion

Known to react to form smog and acid rain