Atmospheric Pollution

Key Definitions:
1. Pollutants – A pollutant is defined as undesirable matter present in excess in the
environment.
2. Environmental pollution: It is defined as the effect of undesirable changes occurring in
our surroundings which have harmful effects on plants, animals, and human beings.
3. Air pollution: It is defined as the presence of a contaminant in the atmosphere in a
concentration large enough to injure human, plant and animal life.
4. Smog: A pollutant which is a combination of oxides of sulphur and nitrogen, partially
oxidized hydrocarbons and their derivatives produced by industries and automobiles from
a dark, thick dust and soot-laden as smog.
5. Photochemical smog: Smog which is formed by photochemical reaction in the atmosphere
is known as photochemical smog.
Types of Pollutants in the Atmosphere:
Acid Rain:
Acid rain is a result of air pollution. Acid rain is caused by a chemical reaction that begins
when compounds like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the air. These
substances can rise very high into the atmosphere, where they mix and react with water,
oxygen, and other chemicals to form more acidic pollutants, known as acid rain.
Equations involved in acid rain formation:
1. N2 + O2 →2NO
2. 2NO + O2 → 2NO2 (oxidation in atmosphere)
3. 2NO2 + H2O → HNO2 + HNO3 (oxides combine with rain water)
4. S + O2 → SO2
5. 2SO2 + O2 → SO3 (burning of fuels)
6. SO2 + ½ O2 soot dust or metal oxide → SO3 (catalytic oxidation)
7. SO3 + H2O → H2SO4 (sulphur oxides combine with rain water)
Global warming:
Global Warming is the increase of Earth's average surface temperature due to the effect of
greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels or from
deforestation, which trap heat that would otherwise escape from Earth. This is a type
of greenhouse effect.
Effects of greenhouse gases:
Higher temperatures, global warming, damage to aquatic life. Melting of glaciers and ice
caps, change in climate, reduction in crop yield, decrease in rainfall etc.
Ways of reducing greenhouse effect and global warming:
1. Healthier lifestyle- use of bicycles or walk whenever possible
2. Use of car pool or public transport
3. Use of sustainable forms of energy and alternative energy sources like solar energy, hydro
energy or ocean thermal energy
4. Planting of more trees
5. Do not burn leaves, wood, paper etc
6. Educating and creating awareness among people about greenhouse effect and global
warming.
Ozone:
 Ozone (O3), triatomic allotrope of oxygen (a form of oxygen in which the molecule
contains three atoms instead of two as in the common form) that accounts for the distinctive
odour of the air after a thunderstorm or around electrical equipment.
 It occurs naturally in small amounts in the Earth’s stratosphere, where it absorbs solar
ultraviolet radiation, which otherwise could cause severe damage to living organisms on
the Earth’s surface.
Formation of Ozone:
Ozone is formed by action of UV rays of the sun on oxygen
O2 + UV → O + O
O + O 2 → O3
Net reaction: 3O2 (g) + UV → 2O3 (g)
Function of ozone:
Ozone is a poisonous gas but serves a useful purpose in the upper reaches of the atmosphere
where it absorbs harmful UV radiation from the sun
O3 → O2 + O
UV radiation can cause skin pigmentation and even skin cancer, eye cataracts, and genetic
and immune system damage.
Causes for ozone depletion:
Chemicals like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are released from excessive use of aerosols,
propellants, refrigerants. These act with ozone and break it down to oxygen and chlorine
monoxide
NO2 released from burning of fuels in planes react with ozone to form NO3 and oxygen
This has resulted in depletion of ozone layer and the formation of an ozone hole in the
region above Antarctica. UV radiations can enter the earth’s atmosphere through the ozone
hole and cause several harmful effects.