REY STEPHEN ARBOLERAS BSCE 1

Earth’s Atmosphere

1. Describe the regions of Earth’s atmosphere .

-The atmosphere is made up of layers based on temperature. These layers are
Trophosphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere and Thermosphere. Another region at an
altitude of 500 km above the earth's surface is called the exposure.

2. Briefly outline the main processes of the nitrogen and oxygen

cycles.
-combination with oxygen or other elements, nitrogen is available to organisms as a
nutrient. The nitrogen cycle can be described as the circulating stream of nitrogen from
nitrogen gas in the atmosphere to nitrate in the soil and finally to nitrogen in the
atmosphere.

3. Explain why, for maximum performance, supersonic airplanes need

to fly at a high altitude(in the stratosphere).
- Commercial Airplane fly in the lower stratosphere to avoid the disruption considered
normal in the lower tropical region. For this reason, Airplane and weather balloons
reach their maximum operating alt altitude within the Stratosphere

4. Jupiter’s atmosphere consists mainly of hydrogen(90%) and

helium(9%). How does this mixture of gases contrast with the
composition of Earth’s atmosphere? Why does the composition
differ?
-The atmospheric composition of Jupiter and Earth varies from one another.
Jupiter consists primarily of hydrogen and helium, where the hydrogen content is about
90 percent, the helium content is about 9 percent, and nitrogen, ammonia and a dense
layer of metallic hydrogen are the remaining gases.Planet, on the other hand consists of
almost 78% ofnitrogen, 21% of oxygen, about 1% of argon and some amount of carbon
dioxide (CO2) and water vapor (H2O) in its atmosphere

Phenomena in the Outer Layers of the Atmosphere

1.What process gives rise to aurora borealis and aurora australis?

-When the charged particles from the sun strike atoms and molecules in Earth’s
atmosphere, they excite those atoms, causing them to light up

2.Why can astronauts not release oxygen atoms to test the

mechanism of shuttle glow?
-It is assumed that oxygen atoms combine to form electronically excited nitrogen dioxide
with nitric oxide adsorbed on the surface of the shuttle.

Depletion of Ozone in the Stratosphere

1. Briefly describe the absorption of solar radiation in the

stratosphere by O2 and O3 molecules.
-By a twostep reactive process, ozone is naturally formed in the stratosphere. In the first
step, an oxygen molecule is broken apart by solar ultraviolet radiation (sunlight) to form
two separate oxygen atoms. Three oxygen molecules plus sunlight react in the over -all
phase to form two ozone molecules.

2.Explain the processes that have a warming effect on the

stratosphere.
-In the stratosphere, temperatures increase with rising altitude. In the stratosphere,
ozone molecules absorb ultraviolet radiation coming from the Sun. The energy obtained
from UV radiation is converted into heat. Near the top of the stratosphere, the heating is
most intensive, so that is where the stratosphere is warmest.

3. List the properties of CFC’s, and name four major uses of these
compounds.
-Freons are colorless, odorless, nonflammable, and non-toxic in essence. Their low
boiling points, low surface tension, low viscosity, water insolubility and overall chemical
inertness are very remarkable: they remain stable in hot mineral acid concentrations
and are not impaired by molten sodium. And the four major uses of these compounds
are Freon 11, Freon 12, Freon 113 and Freon 114.

4. How do CFC’s and nitrogen oxides destroy ozone in the

stratosphere?
-When in the atmosphere, CFCs travel slowly upward to the stratosphere, where
ultraviolet radiation breaks them down, releasing chlorine atoms that can kill ozone
molecules.

5. What causes polar ozone holes?

-Every season, the Antarctic ozone hole is a smoothing or loss of ozone over the
Antarctic in the stratosphere. This damage happens because of the occurrence in the
stratosphere of chlorine and bromine from ozone depleting compounds and the specific
meteorological conditions over the Antarctic.

6. How do volcanic eruptions contribute to ozone destruction?

-The chemical conversion of chlorine to more reactive forms that kill ozone is enabled
by explosive volcanic eruptions that inject massive volumes of sulfur dioxide into the
stratosphere. When CFC chlorine levels are low, volcanic eruptions will potentially
increase the ozone layer's thickness.

7. Describe the ways to curb the destruction of ozone in the

stratosphere.
-Stop the use of gases that are harmful to the ozone layer due to their content or the
method of processing. CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons), halogenated hydrocarbons, methyl
bromide, and nitrous oxide are some of the most harmful gases. Minimize car use.

8. Discuss the effectiveness of some of the CFC substitutes.

-The Montreal Protocol led to a global phase-out of most substances that

deplete the ozone layer, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). A happy
side-effect of the gradual ban of these products is that Earth's climate has
also benefited because CFCs are also potent greenhouse gases. However,
now a "rebound effect" threatens to accelerate the rate of global warming.

Volcanoes
1. What are the effects of volcanic eruptions on the climate?
-Injected ash easily falls from the stratospheremost of it is removed from the
stratosphere within a few days to weeks and has little effect on climate change. Yet
global cooling can be caused by volcanic gases like sulfur dioxide, while volcanic
carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, has the ability to encourage global warming.

2. Classify the reaction between H2S and SO2 that leads to the
formation of sulfur at the site of a volcanic eruption.
-During various phases of the lifetime of a volcano, volcanic gases escape through
fumaroles, porous ground surfaces, and active vents,when magma rises toward the
surface as it erupts, and also when it cools and crystallizes below ground. The water
serves as a filter and "scrubs" the gas of certain chemicals when growing gases reach
groundwater, thus altering the water's chemistry.

The Greenhouse Effect

1.What are the greenhouse effect? What is the criterion for classifying
a gas as a greenhouse gas?
-The greenhouse effect is the mechanism by which the earth's surface is warmed by
radiation from the atmosphere of a planet to a temperature above what it would be
without this atmosphere. Greenhouse gases are gases in Earth's atmosphere that trap
heat. The main greenhouse gases are Water vapor, Carbon dioxide, Methane.

2.Why is more emphasis placed on the role of carbon dioxide in the

greenhouse effect than on that of water?
-If water vapor is extracted, before the Earth can freeze, a lot more evaporates easily.
So, yes, today's water vapor blocks more energy than carbon dioxide. But to alter the
atmosphere, carbon dioxide is much more necessary than water vapor.

3.Describe three human activities that generate carbon dioxide.

-Both natural and human sources of emissions of carbon dioxide exist. Decomposition,
ocean release and respiration require natural sources. Activities such as cement
manufacturing, deforestation as well as the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and
natural gas are human sources.

4. List two major mechanism for the uptake of the carbon dioxide.
-Two mechanisms are responsible for this feature: the “physical carbon pump”, where
CO2 taken up from the atmosphere by the ocean is transported to the deeper layers
through “vertical deep mixing” and the “biological carbon pump”, where CO2 taken up
by plants is converted to organic matter, a portion of which is transported to the deep as
a result of decay.

5. Deforestation contributes to greenhouse effect in two ways. What

are they?
-When forests are cleared and trees burned, carbon dioxide is released into the air. 3. In
addition, termites flourish in places where forests have been burned to make way for
farms and cattle ranches. Rice paddies on lands converted from forests produce
methane gas which also contributes to the greenhouse effect.
6. How does an increase in world population enhance the greenhouse
effect?
-More people means more demand for oil, gas, coal and other fuels mined or drilled
from below the Earth's surface that, when burned, spew enough carbon dioxide (CO2)
into the atmosphere to trap warm air inside like a greenhouse. During that time
emissions of CO2, the leading greenhouse gas, grew 12-fold.

7. What effects do CFC’s and their substances have on Earth’s

temperature?
-Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and halons destroy
the earth's protective ozone layer, which shields the earth from harmful ultraviolet (UV-
B) rays generated from the sun. CFCs and HCFCs also warm the lower atmosphere of
the earth, changing global climate.

8. Why are CFC’s more effective greenhouse gases than methane and
carbon dioxide?
-On a molecule-by-molecule basis, CFCs have a much higher global warming potential
than carbon dioxide. For example, CFC-13 (also known as Freon 13), which cools some
industrial freezers, is 16,400 times as warming as carbon dioxide over a 500-year
period.

Acid Rain

1.Name the gas that is largely responsible for the acid rain
phenomenon.
-sulfur dioxide

2. List three detrimental effects of acid rain .

-As it flows through the soil, acidic rain water can leach aluminum from soil clay
particles and then flow into streams and lakes.

3. Briefly discuss two industrial processes that lead to acid rain.

-In order to generate electricity, power plants emit the bulk of sulfur dioxide and most of
the nitrogen oxides as they burn fossil fuels such as coal. Additionally, nitrogen oxides
and sulfur dioxide are emitted into the air by exhaust from vehicles, trucks and buses.
Acid rain is aused by these contaminants.

4. Discuss ways to curb acid rain.

-Energy production without using fossil fuels is a perfect way to decrease acid
rain.People may use renewable sources of energy, such as solar and wind power,
instead. Acid rain is minimized by renewable energy sources because they contain
much less emissions.

5. Water and sulfur dioxide are both polar molecules and their
geometry is similar.
Why is SO2 not considered a major greenhouse gas?
-Sulfur dioxide is not considered a direct greenhouse gas because sulfur dioxide does
not absorb and trap infrared radiation as it attempts to return

Photochemical Smog

1. What is photochemical smog? List the factors that favor the

formation of photochemical smog.
-Photochemical smog happens when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds
react together in the presence of sunlight as a catalyst and form ozone at lower levels.
The nitrogen oxides come from vehicle exhausts, and volatile organic compounds come
from many chemicals, such as paint and cleaning agents.

2. What are primary and secondary pollutants?

-Primary pollutants include ammonia, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and carbon
monoxide. Secondary pollutants include ground-level ozone, acid rain and nutrient
enrichment compounds.

3. Identify the gas that is responsible for the brown color of

photochemical smog.
-Nitrogen dioxide is a deep red-orange gas that is poisonous but not flammable.

4. The safety limits of ozone and carbon monoxide are 120 ppb(parts
per billion) by volume and 9 ppm(parts per million) by volume
respectively. Why does ozone have a lower limit?
-In the Earth's lower atmosphere, near ground level, ozone is formed when
pollutants emitted by cars, power plants, industrial boilers, refineries,
chemical plants, and other sources react chemically in the presence of
sunlight. Ozone at ground level is a harmful air pollutant.

5. Suggest two ways to minimize the formation of photochemical

smog.
-Avoid products that release high levels of VOCs and Avoid gas-powered yard
equipment, like lawn mowers.

6. In which region of the atmosphere is ozone beneficial? In which

region is it detrimental?
-In the stratosphere, which extends from about 10 to 50 km above the Earth's surface,
ozone is 'good' as it protects life on Earth from the sun's ultraviolet rays.

Indoor Pollution
1. List the major indoor pollutants and their sources.
-Carbon Monoxide (CO) Formaldehyde/Pressed Wood Products. Lead (Pb) Nitrogen
Dioxide (NO2)

2. What is the best way to deal with indoor pollution?

-Avoid smoking indoors (but quitting smoking is the best answer for overall health).Use
craft supplies in well-ventilated areas, Make sure your gas stove is well-ventilated,
Minimize clutter, Remove carpeting if possible, Use a dehumidifier and/or air conditioner
to reduce moisture.

3. Why is it dangerous to idle a car’s engine in a poorly ventilated

place, such as the garage?
-CO can increase to dangerous levels when combustion fumes become trapped in a
poorly ventilated or enclosed space (such as a garage). Inhaling these fumes causes
CO to build up in your bloodstream, which can lead to severe tissue damage. CO
poisoning is extremely serious and can be life threatening.

4. Describe the properties that make radon an indoor pollutant. Would

radon be more hazardous if 222Rn had a longer half-life?
-Being exposed to radon for a long period of time can lead to lung cancer. Radon gas in
the air breaks down into tiny radioactive elements that can lodge in the lining of the
lungs, where they can give off radiation. This radiation can damage lung cells and
eventually lead to lung cancer