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CAPE CHEM Upper 6- Module 3 Objective 9- Atmosphere

1. Maintenance of Ozone in the Atmosphere
The troposphere is the layer of air up to 15km. The stratosphere is the layer of air from 15 km to
60 km.
There is a layer of ozone at 25 km over the surface of the earth that has an average
thickness of 15km.
a. The ozone is made by photodissociation of oxygen by ultraviolet radiation of
wavelength less
than 242nm.
i) O2 (g) + hν → O (g) + O*(g)
ii) O*(g) + O2 (g) + X → O3 (g) + X* [X is another molecule which takes away the
excess energy]

1. ozone formation in the atmosphere - YouTube

b. The ozone is destroyed by photodissociation by ultraviolet radiation of wavelength
between
290 nm and 330 nm.
i) O3 (g) + hν → O2 (g) + O (g)
ii) O3 (g) + O (g) → 2O2 (g)

2. Effect of CFCs on Ozone

Chlorofluorocarbons from aerosols, air-conditioning systems, refrigerants, and plastics,
diffuse
upward to the stratosphere where photodissociation by ultraviolet radiation results in
chlorine free
radicals which destroy ozone.
a. Initiation: RCl (g) + hν → R* (g) + Cl* (g)
b. Propagation: i) O3 (g) + Cl* (g) → ClO*(g) + O2 (g)
ii) ClO*(g) + O (g) → Cl* (g) + O2 (g)
How CFC's Deplete the Ozone Layer - YouTube

3. Effect of Ozone
a. In the Stratosphere
Ozone absorbs a significant amount of harmful ultraviolet radiation coming into the
earth and thus protects living organisms on the earth’s surface from damage e.g. skin cancer in
humans.
b. In the Troposphere
Ozone is produced in photochemical smog caused by car exhaust.
i) N2 (g) + O2 (g) → 2NO (g) [in internal combustion engine]
ii) 2NO (g) + O2 (g) → 2NO2 (g)
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iii) 2NO2 (g) + hν → NO (g) + O*(g)

iv) O*(g) + O2 (g) + X (g) → O3 (g) + X* (g)
Effects: irritation of respiratory tract, burning eyes, trigger for asthma, headaches,
nausea.

4. Maintenance of Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere

a. Carbon Cycle
i) Carbon dioxide removed by plants during photosynthesis in the formation of
carbohydrate.
ii) Carbon dioxide produced by plants and animals during respiration.
iii) Carbon dioxide produced by combustion of wood and fossil.
iv) CO2, dissolved in the oceans (in significant quantities), is in equilibrium with CO2
in the air.

b. Reforestation as a way of restoring balance to composition of atmosphere.

5. a. Green-house Effect
Energy in the infra-red region of the spectrum which is being radiated off the earth’s
surface
is absorbed by certain molecules and re-radiated back towards the earth.
Greenhouse gases include: CO2, CH4, NO2, SO2, O3, CFC’s
Human activity (combustion of wood and fossil fuel, and de-forestation) has resulted in
an
increase of greenhouses gases.
b. Global Warming
Average air temperature is rising because of greenhouse effect. This is causing melting of
the
polar ice-caps and rising sea-levels with potential flooding of low-lying land.
c. Photochemical Smog
A complex mixture of noxious gases result from motor vehicle exhaust under certain
conditions.
These include ozone, nitrogen dioxide and peroxyacetylnitrate (PAN)
CAPE CHEM U2 M3 9 Atmosphere
Photochemical smog occurs more often when there is
i) bright sunlight
ii) temperature inversion: cooler air at ground level is trapped by warmer air above
it,
iii) relatively static air mass – no breeze
iv) relatively high concentration of primary exhaust pollutants
6. Effect of Products of Combustion of Hydrocarbons

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a. Carbon monoxide – poisonous because it complexes more strongly than oxygen with
haemoglobin
in the blood thus preventing the transport of oxygen to the tissues.
b. Oxides of Nitrogen – NO is the primary pollutant, converted to NO2 a secondary
pollutant:
i) production of ozone in troposphere
ii) destruction of ozone in stratosphere
iii) production of acid rain –
1. destruction of plant life (forests)
2. soils become infertile
3. destruction of aquatic life
4. destruction of architecture: limestone statues, corrosion of metals
c. Volatile organic compounds – unburnt fuel, products of incomplete combustion – harmful
or toxic
d. Lead form leaded fuel – poisonous neurotoxin
7. Altering Atmospheric Concentrations of Oxides of Nitrogen
Nitrogen cycle
Acid rain

8. Methods of Prevention and Control of Atmospheric Pollution

a. Prevention:
i) alternative sources of energy (cleaner fuels): solar energy
ii) improved technology – more efficient vehicles
iii) mass transit systems rather than individuals in separate vehicles
b. Control:
i) filters: to reduce particulate matter eg dust filters
ii) washers/ scrubbers: reaction with chemical eg CO2 or SO2 with carbonate or
hydroxide
iii) Sequestering: enclosing a metal cation in a chelate complex using one or more polydentate
ligands
CO2 sequestration by
1. biological means – planting trees (reforestation)
2. physical means – stored in a ‘carbon sink’ eg subsurface aquifer, old oil and gas
reservoirs
3. chemical means – converted to carbonates