CHAPTER 7

The Composition of Air

1. The layer of air surrounding the Earth consists of a mixture of gases. This layer is called the atmosphere.
2. Air is a mixture of nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, inert gases and others (dust, water vapour and microorganisms).
3. One fifth of air consists of oxygen

Importance of the Gases in the Air

1. Oxygen is needed for respiration, burning, rusting and decay.
2. Carbon dioxide is needed by green plants for photosynthesis.
3. Nitrogen dilutes the oxygen in the air and thus slows down its action.
4. Inert gases are filled in advertisement lamps and landing lamps at the airport.
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The Carbon Cycle and Oxygen Cycle
1. The carbon cycle maintains the content of carbon dioxide in the air.
2. Processes that release carbon dioxide into the air include respiration or breathing, combustion and decay
(decomposition).
3. Photosynthesis removes carbon dioxide from the air.
4. The oxygen cycle maintains the content of oxygen in the air.
5. Processes that use oxygen include respiration or breathing, combustion, decay (decomposition) and rusting.
6. Photosynthesis is the only process that releases oxygen into the air.

The Greenhouse Effect

1. Massive deforestation increases the carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere and eventually forms a carbon
dioxide layer in the atmosphere.
2. The carbon dioxide layer prevents part of the heat energy of the Sun in the air from escaping into space. This effect
is known as the greenhouse effect.
3. Heat that is trapped on the Earth causes the global temperature to increase. This phenomenon is known as global
warming.
4. An increase in global warming has resulted in the melting of the ice at the Poles, leading to rising sea levels. Low-
lying coastal areas are submerged in water.

The Conditions of Combustion

1. Combustion (burning) is a process of chemically combining substances with oxygen. This process gives out heat and
light.
2. Burning can only take place in the presence of a fuel, oxygen and heat.

3. If the supply of oxygen, fuel or heat is cut off, a fire will not occur. This principle is used in putting out a fire.
4. A small fire can be put out by splashing water or covering the fire with a wet cloth or fire blanket.
5. A big fire can be put out by splashing water and dry sand or using a fire extinguisher to block the oxygen supply to
the fire.
6. Besides blocking the oxygen supply and water, the substances in fire extinguishers also absorb and remove the heat
of the fire.

Air Pollution and their Effects

1. Air pollution is the addition of pollutants to the air which causes negative effects on the environment.
2. The effects of air pollution include the following.
(a) Smoke, haze, dust and soot blur vision, causes breathing difficulties, dirty buildings, cause smog and reduce the
process of photosynthesis.
(b) Acidic gases such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide dissolve in the rainwater to form acid rain that corrodes iron
objects, lowers the pH of the soil and sources of water, and causing the soil to be infertile.
(c) Carbon monoxide from the exhaust smoke of vehicles and the burning of fossil fuels, reduces the ability of the blood
to transport oxygen, resulting in death.
(d) Lead causes blood poisoning and damages the kidneys, brain or nervous system.
(e) Pesticides cause poisoning, sterility and deformities in foetuses.
(f) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) destroy the ozone layer of the Earth which will expose living things to ultraviolet rays of
the Sun that can cause skin cancer, cataracts, lower the body’s immune system and destroy aquatic organisms such
as plankton which is the main producer in food chains and the main supplier of oxygen. .
sources of pollution
3. The greenhouse effect can be reduced by planting more green plants which are able to remove carbon dioxide from
the air and prohibiting the open burning.
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