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Chemistry Air & Atmosphere Syllabus Notes

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5K views4 pages

Chemistry Air & Atmosphere Syllabus Notes

Uploaded by

David Sutanto
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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CHEMISTRY 5072/02 SYLLABUS

CHEMISTRY

10. Air

Volume composition of gases in dry air:


 Nitrogen (79%)
 Oxygen (20%)
 Carbon Dioxide (0.03%)
 Noble gases (0.97%)

Volume composition of gases in dry air


Nitrogen Oxygen
Carbon Dioxide Noble Gases (Mainly Argon)
20% 0%1%

79%

Common atmospheric pollutants:


 Carbon monoxide
 Methane
 Nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2)
 Ground-level Ozone
 Sulfur dioxide
 Unburned hydrocarbons

Sources of pollutants:
 Carbon monoxide
 Incomplete combustion of carbon-containing compounds
 Nitrogen oxides
 Lightning activity
 Internal combustion engines
 Sulfur dioxide
 Volcanoes
 Combustion of sulfur-containing fuels (Fossil fuels)

©David Sutanto
All rights reserved
2010
Possible solutions used to problems caused by pollutants:
 Catalytic conversions
 Reduces nitrogen oxides into nitrogen and oxygen
 Oxidises carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide
 Oxidises unburnt hydrocarbons into carbon dioxide and water
Reduction of nitrogen oxides (i.e. NO2): 2NO2→ N2 +2 O2
Oxidation of carbon monoxide: 2CO + O2→ 2CO2
In the catalytic converter, pollutants like nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and unburnt
hydrocarbons undergo redox reactions to produce harmless substances, hence removing
combustion pollutants.
Nitrogen oxides are reduced to form nitrogen and oxygen gas.
The oxygen produced from the reduction of nitrogen oxides oxidises carbon monoxides and
unburnt hydrocarbons.

 Flue gas desulfurization


Removal of Sulfur dioxide: CaCO3 + SO2 → CaSO3 + CO2
The sulfur dioxide produced due to burning of sulfur-containing fuels reacts with calcium
carbonate to form solid calcium sulfite and carbon dioxide. As the volume of sulfur dioxide
released is reduced, there would be a lesser occurrence of SO 2 forming acid rain.

Effects of pollutants on health and environment:


 Carbon monoxide poisoning
 Carbon monoxide is poisonous as it binds with the haemoglobin in red blood cells,
hence inhibiting its ability to transport oxygen.
 Leads to fatigue, dizziness and death
 Acid rain
o Nitrogen dioxide
 As they are acidic in nature, they react with moisture in the air to form
nitrous and nitric acids.
o Sulfur dioxide
 As they are acidic in nature, they react with moisture in the air to form
sulfurous and sulfuric acids.
o Effects:
 Environmental effects: Both leads to acid rain, which causes the damage of
buildings, lowering of the pH of the soil and water, leading to the
destruction of vegetation and marine life.
 Health effects: Eye irritation and lung damage
Importance of Ozone layer:
 Reduces the intensity of ultra-violet radiation from the sun

Problems:
 Depletion of ozone layer
 Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) contain chlorine. When exposed in ultra-violet light,
they emit chlorine atoms which reacts with the ozone molecule, destroying it in the
process.

©David Sutanto
All rights reserved
2010
 The depleting ozone layer increases the exposure of ultra-violet radiation. This
would lead to skin cancer, eye damage and genetic mutation.
The Carbon Cycle

n
Nutritio

osition Fossil fuels osition Plants


Animals
Decomp Decomp

on
Combusti
nthesis
ation Photosy
Respir Atmosphere
Atmosphere on
Carbon Dioxideinin
CarbonDioxide Respirati

 Animals
 Contribute to carbon dioxide levels in atmosphere by respiration
 Decomposes to form fossil fuels
 Feed on plants
 Plants
 Contribute to carbon dioxide levels in atmosphere by respiration
 Removes carbon dioxide from atmosphere by photosynthesis
 Decomposes to form fossil fuels
 Fossil Fuels
 Combusted to produce carbon dioxide
 Formed through the decomposition of plants and animals

Global Warming
 Causes
 Carbon dioxide
 From most industrial processes (Combustion)
 Methane
 Decomposition of organic matter

 Effects of global warming


 Higher global temperatures
 Polar ice caps melt
 Increase in sea level
 Floods
 Droughts
 Famine
©David Sutanto
All rights reserved
2010
©David Sutanto
All rights reserved
2010

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