Chemistry (5072) GCE O’ Level Syllabus Notes

Air and Atmosphere

1. Volume composition of gases in dry air:

Volume Composition of Dry Air

20% 1%

Nitrogen
Oxygen
Argon, carbon dioxide and
other gases

79%

2. Common atmospheric pollutants

 Global warming
o Unburned hydrocarbons
o Methane
o Ground-level ozone
 Acid rain
o Nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2)
o Sulfur Dioxide
 Others
o Carbon Monoxide
3. Sources of pollutants

 Carbon monoxide
o Incomplete combustion of carbon-containing substances
 Nitrogen oxides
o Lightning activity
o Internal combustion engines
 Sulfur dioxide
o Volcanoes
o Combustion of fossil fuels

4. Reactions used to combat possible problems arising from some atmospheric

pollutants.

 Redox reactions in catalytic converters

o 2 CO + 2 NO 2 CO2 + N2

Nitrogen monoxide (NOx in general), formed from the combustion of nitrogen and
oxygen in the air in internal combustion engines due to the high temperatures and
pressures achieved in internal combustion engines, is reduced by carbon monoxide,
formed from the incomplete combustion of carbon-based compounds (like petrol), to
form carbon dioxide and nitrogen gas.

1 y
o CxHy + (x + y) O2 x CO2 + H2O
4 2

Unburned hydrocarbons are oxidized by stored oxygen to form carbon dioxide and
water vapor. As unburned hydrocarbons are able to absorb more infrared than carbon
dioxide, they contribute more to global warming per mole of hydrocarbons than carbon
dioxide.

 Flue gas desulfurization

o CaCO3 + SO2 CaSO3 + CO2

Sulfur dioxide, formed from the combustion of sulfur-containing fossil fuels, is

neutralized by Calcium carbonate to form Calcium sulfite and carbon dioxide gas. As
sulfur dioxide is a major cause of acid rain, removing it from the atmosphere inhibits the
formation of acid rain which reduces the occurrence of acid rain. Thus, the effect of acid
rain is reduced.

5. Effects of pollutants on health and the environment.

  Carbon monoxide is poisonous in nature and binds strongly with hemoglobin in
the blood to form carboxyhemoglobin, thus inhibiting the body from transporting
oxygen. This can lead to dizziness, fatigue and asphyxia.
 Nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide both dissolve in atmospheric water to form
nitrous acid, nitric acid, sulfurous acid. Sulfur dioxide can be oxidized by
atmospheric oxygen to form sulfur trioxide which dissolves in atmospheric water
to produce sulfuric acid. These acids are then discharged together with rainfall,
producing acid rain. Acid rain damages buildings as metallic or marble structures
are corroded away. This can lead to structural failure. Nitrogen dioxide and sulfur
dioxide also irritate the lungs and eyes when present in concentrated amounts in
the atmosphere. They thus affect respiration as they cause tissue damage when
inhaled, inhibiting the body’s ability to take in oxygen.

6. The Ozone Layer

 Importance of the ozone layer

o Prevents overexposure to ultraviolet light from the sun by converting
harmful ultraviolet radiation into heat via the ozone-oxygen cycle.
 Depletion of the ozone layer
o Chlorofluorocarbons emit free chlorine radicals under ultraviolet light.
These chlorine radicals attack the ozone layer, depleting it. This
causes overexposure to ultraviolet light. This causes eye damage, skin
cancer and genetic mutations.

7. Carbon cycle

Carbon dioxide is introduced to the atmosphere through processes like combustion and
respiration. These are known as carbon positive processes. Carbon dioxide is removed
from the atmosphere through processes like photosynthesis. These are known as
carbon negative processes. The constant exchange of carbon dioxide in and out of the
atmosphere caused by the occurrence of these two competing processes is known as
the carbon cycle.
Increase Increase

Increase Decrease
8. Global warming

Greenhouse gases contribute to global warming when present in large volumes in the
atmosphere.

 Greenhouse gases
o Carbon dioxide
 From most industrial processes such as combustion of fuels
o Methane
 Decomposition of vegetable matter
 Effects of global warming
o Global climate change
 Higher global temperatures
 Melting of polar ice caps
 Increased sea levels
o Flooding in low-lying areas
 El Niño variations
 Droughts
 Deaths
 Famine
 Other weather abnomalies