CHEMISTRY OF THE ATMOSPHERE

OVERVIEW

This subject explores the chemical transformations in the Earth's atmosphere, which is
influenced by both natural processes and human activities. The subject will provide an
introduction into the chemistry of the atmosphere to explore some important problems,
such as acid rain, ozone depletion, photochemical smog, greenhouse gases and global
warming.

OBJECTIVES

Explain the structure of the atmosphere.

Define important chemical processes
Explore and have an increase of knowledge and understanding of chemical science

PRE-TASK

SCRAMBLED LETTERS!

Arrange the jumbled letters.

MTSOAHPREE- layers of gases surrounding a planet or other celestial body

PORTEROESHP- lowest region of the atmosphere

HEESMSPORE- coldest atmospheric layer surrounding the Earth

MRPESOHETEHR- where ultraviolet radiation causes photoionization/

photodissociation of molecules, creating ions

ROXPERHE- outermost layer of the Earth’s atmosphere

TOTPREEARSH- where you can find the ozone layer

CAID NRIA- any other form of precipitation

EOZON NOTIPEDLE- major environmental problem because it increases the amount of

ultraviolet radiation that reaches Earth’s surface
BLAGLO IMNGARW- long-term heating of Earth’s climate system caused by human
acitivity
Study Guide:

Atmospheric chemistry is the branch of atmospheric science focused on chemical

processes within the Earth’s atmosphere.
 Atmosphere refers to the gases surrounding a star or planetary body held in
place by gravity. The composition of the Earth's atmosphere is about 78 percent
nitrogen, 21 percent oxygen, 0.9 percent argon, with water vapor, carbon dioxide,
and other gases. Earth's atmosphere has a series of layers, each with its own
specific traits.
 It is a multidisciplinary approach of research and draws on:
o Environmental Chemistry
o Physics
o Meteorology
o Computer Molding
o Oceanography
o Geology
o Volcanology and other discipline
TROPOSPHERE

• The lowest layer of our atmosphere.

• Starting at ground level, it extends upward to about 10km (6.2 miles or
about 33,000 feet) above sea level.
• We humans live in the troposphere, and nearly all weather occurs in this
lowest layer.
• Most clouds appear here, mainly because 99% of the water vapor in the
atmosphere is found in troposphere
• Air pressure drops and temperature gets colder, as you climb higher in the
troposphere.

STRATOSPHERE

• This extends from the top of the troposphere to about 50km (31 miles) above
the ground
• The infamous ozone layer is found within the stratosphere
• Unlike the troposphere, the stratosphere gets warmer the higher you go.
• 75% of the atmospheric gases are present in the layer and all of the dust
particles and water vapors.
• All weather phenomenon like cloud formation, winds, rainfalls, snowfall takes
place in this layer.

MESOSPHERE

• Above the stratosphere

• The name derives from the Greek word ‘misos’ meaning middle.
• It extends upward to a height of about 85km (53 miles) above our planet
• Most meteors burn up in the mesosphere. Unlike the stratosphere,
temperature once again grow colder as you rise up through the mesosphere.
• The air is far too thin to breathe; air pressure at the bottom of the layer is well
below 1% of the pressure at sea level, and continues dropping as you go
higher

• The temperature of upper layer of the mesosphere is even less than – 100°C

• It is found that meteors generally burn up in the mesosphere.

 • Thus, this layer protects the surface of Earth from being pockmarked with
craters.

THERMOSPHERE

• Earth's atmosphere directly above the mesosphere and below the

exosphere
• It is the fourth and widest among all layers of the atmosphere.
• Within this layer of the atmosphere, ultraviolet radiation causes
photoionization/photodissociation of molecules, creating ions
• the thermosphere begins at about 80 km (50 mi) above sea level.
• The air is so thin in this layer, that is generally considered to be part of
outer space.
• This layer consists of many satellites and space shuttles orbits.
• Most of the X-rays and UV radiations emitted by the sun are absorbed in
the thermosphere.
• In this layer dissociation of the molecules into atoms, ions and free
electrons is done by high energy radiation.

EXOSPHERE

• Located directly above the thermosphere

• The exosphere is the uppermost layer, where the atmosphere thins out
and merges with outer space
• The Earth's exosphere is mostly hydrogen and helium, with some heavier
atoms and molecules near the base.

The composition of the Earth’s atmosphere changes as a result of natural processes

such as:

o Volcano Emissions
o Lightning and
o Bombardment by solar
particles
It has also been changed by human activities and some of these changes are harmful
to:

o Human health
 o Crops and Ecosystem

Examples of problems which have been addressed by atmospheric chemistry include:

o Acid rain
o Ozone Depletion
o Photochemical gases
smog
o Greenhouse gases and
o Global Warming

ACID RAIN
• Also called acid precipitation or acid deposition, precipitation possessing a
pH of about 5.2 or below primarily produced from the emission of sulfur
dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx; the combination of NO and NO2)
from human activities, mostly the combustion of fossil fuels.
• In acid deposition can reduce the pH of surface waters and lower
biodiversity. It weakens trees and increases their susceptibility to damage
from other stressors, such as drought, extreme cold, and pests. In
acidsensitive areas, acid rain also depletes soil of important plant nutrients
and buffers, such as calcium and magnesium, and can release aluminum,
bound to soil particles and rock, in its toxic dissolved form.
• Acid rain contributes to the corrosion of surfaces exposed to air pollution
and is responsible for the deterioration of limestone and marble buildings
and monuments.

OZONE DEPLETION

• Ozone depletion, gradual thinning of Earth’s ozone layer in the upper

atmosphere caused by the release of chemical compounds containing
gaseous chlorine or bromine from industry and other human activities. The
thinning is most pronounced in the polar regions, especially over
Antarctica.
• Ozone depletion is a major environmental problem because it increases
the amount of ultraviolet (UV) radiation that reaches Earth’s surface, which
 increases the rate of skin cancer, eye cataracts, and genetic and immune
system damage.

PHOTOCHEMICAL GASES SMOG

• Smog, community-wide polluted air. Its composition is variable. The term is

derived from the words smoke and fog, but it is commonly used to describe
the pall of automotive or industrial origin that lies over many cities.
• At least two distinct types of smog are recognized: sulfurous smog and
photochemical smog.
• Photochemical Smog. This type of smog has its origin in the nitrogen oxides
and hydrocarbon vapours emitted by automobiles and other sources, which
then undergo photochemical reactions in the lower atmosphere. The highly
toxic gas ozone arises from the reaction of nitrogen oxides with
hydrocarbon vapours in the presence of sunlight, and some nitrogen dioxide
is produced from the reaction of nitrogen oxide with sunlight. The resulting
smog causes a light brownish coloration of the atmosphere, reduced
visibility, plant damage, irritation of the eyes, and respiratory distress.
Surface-level ozone concentrations are considered unhealthy if they
exceed 70 parts per billion for eight hours or longer; such conditions are
fairly common in urban areas prone to photochemical smog.
GREENHOUSE GASES

• Greenhouse gas, any gas that has the property of absorbing infrared
radiation (net heat energy) emitted from Earth’s surface and
reradiating it back to Earth’s surface, thus contributing to the
greenhouse effect. Carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapour are
the most important greenhouse gases. (To a lesser extent,
surfacelevel ozone, nitrous oxides, and fluorinated gases also trap
infrared radiation.)
• Greenhouse gases have a profound effect on the energy budget of
the Earth system despite making up only a fraction of all
atmospheric gases. Concentrations of greenhouse gases have
varied substantially during Earth’s history, and these variations
have driven substantial climate changes at a wide range of
timescales. In general, greenhouse gas concentrations have been
particularly high during warm periods and low during cold periods.

GLOBAL WARMING

• The phenomenon of increasing average air temperatures near the surface

of Earth over the past one to two centuries. Climate scientists have since
the mid-20th century gathered detailed observations of various weather
phenomena (such as temperatures, precipitation, and storms) and of
related influences on climate (such as ocean currents and the
atmosphere’s chemical composition). These data indicate that Earth’s
 climate has changed over almost every conceivable timescale since the
beginning of geologic time and that the influence of human activities
since at least the beginning of the Industrial Revolution has been deeply
woven into the very fabric of climate change.

Long term heating of Earth’s climate system observed since the pre-
industrial period (between 1850-1900) due to human activities, primarily
fossil fuel burning, which increases heat-trapping greenhouse gas levels
in Earth’s atmosphere.

EVOLUTION OF THE ATMOSPHERE

1. PRIMITIVE OR FIRST ATMOSPHERE

2. REDUCING OR SECOND ATMOSPHERE
3. OXIDIZING OR PRESENT-DAY ATMOSPHERE

 PRIMITIVE OR FIRST ATMOSPHERE

 The formation of Earth took place about 5 billion years ago from the solar
nebula.
 The atmosphere at that time would have consisted of primarily hydrogen
(H2), water vapor (H20), nitrogen (N2), carbon dioxide (CO2), and carbon
monoxide (CO2).
 These gases deliver to the space because temperatures were too high
and Earth’s gravity was weak because Earth did not have a differentiated
core.

 REDUCING OR SECOND ATMOSPHERE

 This atmosphere existed from 3.5 to 2 billion years ago.
 The hydrosphere formed about 4 billion years ago resulting in huge
oceans from condensed water vapor.
 During this period, the Earth cooled down and differentiation of layers took
place into a solid core, liquid mantle and thin crust.
 The solid core resulted in a strong gravitational force.
 Gases dissolved in the molten magma were reduced while passing
through the mantle.
 Large amounts of N2 and CO2 were released into the atmosphere.
 Most of the CO2 dissolved in water and carbonate sediments built up.
  OXIDIZING OR PRESENT-DAY ATMOSPHERE
 Around 2.4 billion years ago, free O2 starts forming in the atmosphere.
 The atmosphere became oxidizing and O2 consuming life forms began
appearing in the oceans on Earth.
 O2 was being generated by photolysis of water from ultraviolet (UV)
radiation and also from photosynthesis of plants and cyanobacteria.
 Soon, an ozone layer was formed, which protects surface on the Earth
from high energy UV radiations making it feasible also for development of
life on land.
 As higher life forms emerged on land, plants added to the atmospheric O2
while animals used it up for breathing and the O2 level stabilized around
the 21% we knew today.

HOW IS THE CHEMISTRY RELATED TO ATMOSPHERE?

•The atmospheric chemistry studies the chemical composition of the natural atmosphere,
the way gases, liquids, and solids in the atmosphere interact with each other and with
the earth's surface and associated biota, and how human activities may be changing the
chemical and physical characteristics of the atmosphere.

•Atmospheric chemistry plays an important role in controlling climate change; for

example, aerosol particles impact climate through direct radiative forcing, by indirectly
modifying clouds, and by modifying carbon uptake.

POST –TASK

A W L O U A P I C J D B L K
V H B M A V B J G M O N A E
S T R A T O S P H E R E P C
P R K E M K S L J S W A D E
X A O C O L D C I O Q F N L
U E D C S N M X X P M I O M
Z Y T A P Y N H R H G H E D
W E V T H Y L O W E S T M O
F Q S B E R A I E R F C P E
G F W A R M E R G E J A K P
G R N U E O G P H U E G T F
S R U H Q T Z Y I S R S U Q
Fill in the missing word in the blank and circle that word that corresponds to your answer
in the puzzle above.

1. Troposphere is the ____________ of the atmosphere.

2. Series of a layer, each with its own specific traits.
3. Temperature get ________ as you climb higher in the troposphere
4. Stratosphere actually gets _________ the higher you go.
5. Above the stratosphere is the __________.
6. Extend from the top of the troposphere to about 50 km (31 miles) above the
ground.

REFERENCES:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/slideplayer.com/amp/782157/
https://www.google.com/search?q=atmospheric+chemistry+ppt&oq=atmospheric+che
mistry+&aqs=chrome.4.69i59j0l4.8281j0j9&client=ms-android-
opporev1&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8
https://www.britannica.com/science/ozone-depletion
https://www.britannica.com/science/acid-rain https://www.britannica.com/science/smog
https://www.britannica.com/science/greenhouse-gas
https://www.britannica.com/science/global-warming
https://www.google.com/search?q=what+is+global+warming+meaning&oq=what+is+glo&
aqs=chrome.2.69i57j0l3.3623j0j4&client=ms-android-oppo-rev1&sourceid=chrome-
mobile&ie=UTF-8
https://youtu.be/67DFR3pZEiY

GROUP MEMBERS TASK

John Paul Dimalibot
John Wendel Famadico Module Creator
Czarina Isabelle Ferias Power point Creator and reporter
Katherine Dennel Gamayo Module Creator
Meleth Gaarcia Module Creator
Cybelle Alexis Gayeta Power point Creator and reporter