9chemistry of the atmosphere

Cards (26)

  • when was earth formed
    4.6 billion years ago
  • what was the earths early atmosphere made up of
    mostly carbon dioxide = 96% with virtually no oxygen and some ammonia and methane as well
  • what is earths atmosphere made up of now
    nitrogen= 80%
    oxygen=20%
    other gases=less than 1% (includes C02, noble gases, water vapour)
  • how were sediments on the seabed formed
    dissolved carbon dioxide went through a series of reactions to form carbon precipitates
  • what were marine animals evolved to do
    have their shells and skeletons contain carbonates from the oceans
  • how did carbon become locked up in rocks and fossil fuels
    the carbon that organisms took from the atmosphere and oceans became locked up after the organism died
  • what happens when plants, plankton and marine animals die
    -they fall to the seabed and get covered by layers of sediment
    -over millions of years they become compressed and form sedimentary rocks, oil and gas
    -this traps carbon within, keeping carbon dioxide levels down, fossil fuels are made by this process
  • what are crude oil and natural gas formed from
    deposits of plankton
  • what is coal formed by
    thick plant deposits
  • what is limestone formed by
    calcium carbonate deposits from the shells and skeletons of marine organisms
  • what are limestone and coal
    sedimentary rocks
  • what did the build up of oxygen in the atmosphere mean
    more complex life(animals) could evolve
  • what was earths early atmosphere similar to
    atmosphere of venus and mars
  • what acts as an insulating layer to the earths atmosphere
    greenhouse gases like co2, methane and water vapour
  • what is some human activity that effects the amount of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere
    -deforestation
    -burning fossil fuels
    -agriculture
    -creating waste
  • how does deforestation affect the amount of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere
    fewer trees, less co2 is removed from the atmosphere via photosynthesis
  • how does burning fossil fuels affect the amount of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere
    carbon that was ‘locked up’ in these fuels is released as co2
  • how does agriculture affect the amount of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere
    farm animals produce methane through their digestive process
  • how does creating waste affect the amount of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere
    more landfill sites and more waste from agriculture means co2 and methane released by decomposition of waste
  • why is it difficult to fully understand the earths climate
    because it is so complex and there are any variables so it is hard to make a model that isn’t oversimplified
  • what is carbon footprint
    amount of co2 and other greenhouse gases released over the full life cycle of something
  • why is it difficult to make reductions of carbon footprint
    -still a lot of work to be done on alternative technologie that lowers co2 emissions
    -governments are worried about changes impact on economic growth, especially in developing countries
    -not everyone is on board so difficult to make international decisions
    -individuals in developed countries dont want to change
  • what are the problems of particulates in the air
    -get inhaled an can get stuck in the lungs, causing damage and respiratory problems
    -the clouds they help produce reflect sunlight back into space meaning less light reaches earth casing global dimming
  • what are the problems of carbon monoxide which is produced in incomplete combustion
    -stops your blood from carrying oxygen around the body as it binds to haemoglobin so less oxygen is able to be transported round your body
    -can lead to fainting, a coma, or even death
    -doesn't have any colour or smell so very dangerous
  • how is acid rain formed
    the gases sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide mix with the clouds to form dilute sulfuric acid or dilute nitric acid, this then falls as acid rain
  • what does acid rain do
    -kills plants
    -damages buildings and statues
    -corrodes metal