Unit 14: Environmental Chemistry I(Atmosphere)

What is Environmental Chemistry I (Atmosphere)?

Environmental Chemistry I focuses on the chemistry of the atmosphere, exploring the composition, structure, and chemical processes that occur in Earth’s atmosphere. This unit provides students with an understanding of how human activities and natural phenomena influence air quality and climate. Key topics include the chemical reactions that drive atmospheric changes and the impact of pollutants on the environment.

Key Topics in Environmental Chemistry I (Atmosphere):

• Composition of the Atmosphere: Understanding the different layers of the atmosphere and the gases that make up each layer.
• Ozone Layer: Learning about the importance of the ozone layer, its role in protecting life from harmful UV radiation, and the causes and consequences of ozone depletion.
• Air Pollutants: Exploring common atmospheric pollutants like carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter, and their sources and effects.
• Greenhouse Effect and Climate Change: Studying how greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, leading to global warming and climate change.
• Acid Rain: Examining the chemical reactions that cause acid rain, its environmental impact, and measures to reduce it.

Benefits of Studying Environmental Chemistry I (Atmosphere):

• Environmental Awareness: Increases understanding of the chemical processes affecting the atmosphere and the importance of protecting air quality.
• Global Challenges: Provides insights into global environmental issues like climate change, ozone depletion, and air pollution, and the scientific principles behind them.
• Sustainable Solutions: Encourages critical thinking about sustainable practices and the role of chemistry in developing solutions to environmental problems.

This unit is essential for students to understand the complex interactions within the Earth’s atmosphere and the impact of human activities on air quality and climate. Mastering Environmental Chemistry I is crucial for those interested in environmental science, policy, and sustainability.

1. About 99% atmosphere’s mass lies within

a. 30km
b. 35km
c. 15km
d. 11km

2. Depending on temperature variation, atmosphere is divided into

a. one region
b. two region
c. three region
d. four region

3. Just above the earth’s surface is

a. mesosphere
b. stratosphere
c. thermosphere
d. troposphere

4. A group of gases that maintains temperature of atmosphere is

a. carbon dioxide and water vapours
b. oxygen and water vapours
c. nitrogen and carbon dioxide
d. nitrogen and oxygen

5. The earth’s atmosphere is getting hotter because of

a. increasing concentration of CO
b. increasing concentration of CO2
c. increasing concentration of O3
d. increasing concentration of SO2

6. Which one of the followings is not a green house effect

a. increasing atmospheric temperature
b. increasing food chains
c. increasing food risks
d. increasing sea-level

7. Normally rain water is weakly acidic because of

a. SO3 gas
b. CO2 gas
c. SO2 gas
d. NO2 gas

8. Buildings are being damaged by acid rain because it attacks

a. calcium sulphate
b. calcium nitrate
c. calcium carbonate
d. calcium oxalate

9. Acid rain effects the aquatic life by clogging fish gills because of

a. lead metal
b. chromium metal
c. mercury metal
d. aluminium metal

10. Ozone is beneficial for us as it

a. absorbs infrared radiations
b. absorbs ultraviolet radiations
c. absorbs chloroflorocarbons
d. absorbs air pollutants

11. Which one of the following is not an air pollutant

a. nitrogen
b. carbon monoxide
c. nitrogen dioxide
d. ozone

12. Iron and steel structures are damaged by

a. CO
b. SO2
c. CH4
d. CO2

13. Infrared radiations emitted by the earth are absorbed by

a. CO2 and H2O
b. N2 and O2
c. CO2 and N2
d. O2 and CO2

14. Global warming causes rising of sea level. The cause of global warming is

a. CO2 gas
b. SO2 gas
c. NOx gases
d. O3 gases

15. Which gas protects the earths’s surface from ultraviolet radiations?

a. CO2
b. CO
c. N2
d. O3

16. Effects of ozone depletion are except the following one

a. increases infectious diseases
b. increases crop production
c. can cause skin cancer
d. can cause climatic changes

17. Which one of these pollutants is not found in car exhaust fumes?

a. CO
b. O3
c. NO2
d. SO2

18. The process by which atmospheric nitrogen is turned into nitrates in the soil is called

a. nitration
b. fixing
c. oxidation
d. reduction

19. Global warming is caused by

a. absorption of infrared radiation emitted by earth’s surface
b. absorption of infrared radiation coming from the sun
c. absorption of ultraviolet radiation coming from the sun
d. emission of ultraviolet radiation coming from the sun

20. carbon monoxide is harmful to us because

a. it paralyses the lungs
b. it damages the lungs tissues
c. it reduces oxygen carrying ability of haemoglobin
d. it makes the blood coagulate