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Air Quality & Climate

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Apuntes de la lección

Composition of Air

  • Clean, dry air is approximately 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen.
  • The remaining 1% includes carbon dioxide and noble gases (e.g., argon).
  • This composition has remained stable for about 200 million years.

Pie chart of the current atmosphere

Pie chart of the current atmosphere

Air Pollutants: Sources & Effects

  • Carbon dioxide (CO₂): from complete combustion of fossil fuels; causes global warming.
  • Carbon monoxide (CO): from incomplete combustion; toxic – binds to haemoglobin, preventing oxygen transport.
  • Particulates (soot): from incomplete combustion; cause respiratory problems and cancer.
  • Methane (CH₄): from animal digestion, decomposition, and landfill; a potent greenhouse gas.
  • Oxides of nitrogen (NOₓ): formed at high temperatures in car engines; cause acid rain and photochemical smog.
  • Sulfur dioxide (SO₂): from burning sulfur-containing fossil fuels; causes acid rain.

How acid rain is produced

How acid rain is produced

Complete vs Incomplete Combustion

  • Complete combustion (excess O₂): produces CO₂ and H₂O only.
  • Incomplete combustion (limited O₂): produces CO, H₂O, and sometimes carbon (soot).
  • Example (complete): CH₄ + 2O₂ → CO₂ + 2H₂O.
  • Example (incomplete): 2CH₄ + 3O₂ → 2CO + 4H₂O.

Greenhouse Effect & Global Warming

  • The greenhouse effect is natural: greenhouse gases (CO₂, CH₄) trap thermal energy, keeping Earth warm.
  • Enhanced greenhouse effect: increased greenhouse gas concentrations trap more heat, causing global warming.
  • Consequences: climate change, rising sea levels (glacier melt), species extinction, habitat loss, disease spread.

Diagram showing how the greenhouse effect occurs

Diagram showing how the greenhouse effect occurs

Reducing Climate Change

  • Reduce CO₂ emissions: use renewable energy (solar, wind), fuel-efficient vehicles, public transport, recycling, and plant trees.
  • Reduce methane emissions: reduce livestock farming (methane from digestion).
  • Reduce deforestation and promote reforestation to absorb CO₂ via photosynthesis.

Reducing Acid Rain

  • Acid rain is caused by SO₂ and NOₓ dissolving in rainwater.
  • Use low-sulfur fuels to reduce SO₂ emissions.
  • Flue gas desulfurisation: spray waste gases with lime slurry (CaO/CaCO₃) to remove 90–95% SO₂.
  • Catalytic converters in vehicles remove NOₓ by reducing them to N₂.

Sulfur dioxide scrubber

Sulfur dioxide scrubber

Catalytic Converters

  • Contain platinum and rhodium catalysts in a honeycomb to increase surface area.
  • Oxidise CO to CO₂: 2CO + O₂ → 2CO₂.
  • Reduce NOₓ to N₂: 2NO → N₂ + O₂; 2NO₂ → N₂ + 2O₂.
  • Overall reaction: 2NO + 2CO → N₂ + 2CO₂.
  • Unburned hydrocarbons are oxidised to CO₂ and H₂O.

Catalytic converter

Catalytic converter

Photosynthesis

  • Endothermic reaction using light energy absorbed by chlorophyll.
  • Reactants: carbon dioxide + water → Products: glucose + oxygen.
  • Word equation: carbon dioxide + water → glucose + oxygen.
  • Symbol equation (extended): 6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂.
  • Conditions: light and chlorophyll.

Word equation for photosynthesis

Word equation for photosynthesis

Diapositivas

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Preguntas de práctica

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  1. 1.What is the approximate percentage of nitrogen in clean, dry air?

    Easy
    • A78%
    • B21%
    • C50%
    • D1%
  2. 2.Which gas is produced by the complete combustion of methane?

    Easy
    • ACarbon dioxide
    • BCarbon monoxide
    • CSulfur dioxide
    • DNitrogen dioxide
  3. 3.Which of the following is a greenhouse gas?

    Easy
    • AMethane
    • BOxygen
    • CNitrogen
    • DArgon
  4. 4.What is the main cause of acid rain?

    Easy
    • AOxides of nitrogen and sulfur dioxide
    • BCarbon dioxide and methane
    • CCarbon monoxide and particulates
    • DOzone and water vapor
  5. 5.In a catalytic converter, what is the function of the honeycomb structure?

    Easy
    • ATo increase the surface area for catalytic reactions
    • BTo filter out particulates
    • CTo cool the exhaust gases
    • DTo store unburnt fuel
  6. 6.Which of the following is a product of photosynthesis?

    Easy
    • AGlucose
    • BCarbon dioxide
    • CWater
    • DChlorophyll
  7. 7.Which process produces carbon monoxide?

    Easy
    • AIncomplete combustion of fuels
    • BComplete combustion of fuels
    • CPhotosynthesis
    • DRespiration
  8. 8.What is the main strategy to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions from power stations?

    Easy
    • AFlue gas desulfurisation
    • BUsing catalytic converters
    • CPlanting more trees
    • DReducing livestock farming

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