Questions and Problems

Last updated
Save as PDF

Page ID: 304919

\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

1. Give two examples each of Earth’s natural capital in terms of (1) protective function and (2) raw materials.

2. In what respect is the composition of gases in the troposphere not uniform (which atmospheric constituent varies widely in time and location)?

3. Other than avoiding turbulence due to lower altitude weather, suggest an advantage for commercial aircraft to cruise at a relatively high altitude of around 10 km.

4. Look up the tropopause? Where is it located? What function has it served in keeping Earth in a livable state?

5. What chemical species in the stratosphere is essential for life on Earth?

6. What starts a photochemical reaction? What is it called when a series of photochemical reactions continues?

7. What is a free radical?

8. In what two important respects may very small particles participate in atmospheric chemical processes?

9. In what respect does the radiation by which Earth loses energy differ from that by which it gets energy from the sun?

10. What are two catastrophic events that could cause a sudden cooling of Earth’s atmosphere?

11. How is water vapor involved in moving energy through the atmosphere?

12. Distinguish among the terms meteorology, weather, and climate.

13. What do clouds consist of? What must happen before rain falls from clouds?

14. Why is there essentially no atmospheric chemistry involving elemental nitrogen gas in the atmosphere?

15. Cite an atmospheric chemical condition or phenomenon that shows that the O2 molecule iseasier to break apart than the N2molecule.

16. In what respect are elemental nitrogen and oxygen green elements?

17. Give a chemical reaction that produces oxygen that can be used for emergencies.

18. What are two major classes of atmospheric particles based upon how they are produced?

19. In the earlier days of coal utilization, fly ash was not a major problem. What has changed that has resulted in much greater production of fly ash? What modern mode of coal combustion significantly reduces the production of fly ash and acid gases from coal combustion?

20. Suggest why lead has become less of a problem as an atmospheric pollutant in recent years.

21. What is a radioactive element that can get into indoor spaces from underground sources?

22. What is an atmospheric phenomenon caused most prominently by particles 0.1μm–1μm in size? Why are very small particles especially dangerous to breathe?

23. List six means of controlling particle emissions.

24. What is the major health effect of carbon monoxide?

25. What is a serious air pollution phenomenon resulting from an atmospheric reaction of sulfur dioxide?

26. In what form may approximately half of the sulfur in coal be physically separated before combustion?

27. What is a method used to separate sulfur dioxide from furnace stack gas?

28. Name two ways in which green chemistry can be applied to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions.

29. What is an important health effect of nitrogen dioxide? Why is it particularly important in atmospheric chemistry?

30. In 2008/2009 problems arose in newer houses due to toxic drywall. What was the cause of this problem and how does it relate to material covered in this chapter?

31. What are five categories of adverse effects from acid precipitation?

32. Chemically, what is distinctive about ammonia in the atmosphere?

33. What is the historic evidence for the toxicity of elemental chlorine in the atmosphere?

34. What are some sources of atmospheric hydrogen sulfide? Is it a health concern?

35. In what respect is atmospheric carbon dioxide essential to life on Earth? Why may it end up being the “ultimate air pollutant?”

36. What are some of the more harmful effects projected if global warming occurs to a significant extent?

37. What can green chemistry do about global warming?

38. What is a greenhouse gas other than carbon dioxide that is produced by microorganisms?

39. What are the ingredients and conditions leading to the formation of photochemical smog?

40. What substances are found in a smoggy atmosphere?

41. What are some harmful effects of smog?

42. What are some of the ways that green chemistry can help prevent smog?

43. The temperature of a specific number of moles of gas occupying initially 23.0 L was changed from 75 ̊C to -20 ̊C at constant pressure. Recalling the significance of 273 in such calculations, what was the volume of the gas after the temperature change?

44. The pressure on a specific number of moles of gas occupying initially 13.0 L was changed from 1.15 atm to 0.900 atm at constant pressure. What was the volume of the gas after the temperature change?