A1: Whats in the air?

Troposphere Lowest, most dense atmospheric layer (human level)

Stratosphere above the troposphere
Ionosphere above the stratosphere.
Very intense UV radiation leads to ions being produced
Gasses which make up the air:
Concentration can be measured in ppm (parts per million by volume)
Converting % to ppm: 383ppm (/10,000) = 0.0383%
0.0673% (x10,000) = 673ppm
Oxygen is at a fixed concentration of 21% because it is being removed as fast as it is being
formed.
However, human activity not only produces man-made, unnatural gasses (e.g. CFCs) but also
increases the concentration of naturally occurring gasses.
A2: Screening the sun
Intense sunlight leads to skin cancer - UV radiation has the most damaging effect. It damages
DNA and therefore proteins for making the correct genes e.g. sunlight damages connective issue
beneath skin this is why it looks leathery and wrinkly.
Sunburns are caused due to irritation of blood vessels in the skin.
SOLUTIONS:
GAS Main source as a result of human activity EFFECTS
C
x
H
y
Incomplete combustion of fuels Causes irritation in lungs
Contributes to photochemical
smog
CO Incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons Toxic
CO
2
Complete combustion of hydrocarbon fuels Depletes ozone layer
CH
4
Cattle farming, land-fill sites, leakage Green house gas
N
2
O Fertilized soil, changes in land use (e.g.
ploughing)
NO
x
Combustion of hydrocarbon fuels
(also found naturally in air)
Acid rain leads to corrosion and
destroys lakes and forests
SO
x
Sulfur is found in fuels
(oxygen found naturally in air)
Acid rain leads to corrosion and
destroys lakes and forests
GAS PERCENTAGE COMPOSITION (%)
Carbon dioxide 0.04
Oxygen 21
Nitrogen 78
Argon 1
Chemicals in glass absorb the UV and prevent it from penetrating. However, visible light is allowed
through. Thus, you wont get sunburnt.
Sunscreens act in the same way as glass the cream absorbs the UV whilst allowing the visible
light through, this is why you will still get tanned.
APPLYING SCIENCE:
The atmosphere acts as a sunscreen by preventing harmful radiation reaching the troposphere
the ozone in the stratosphere mainly absorbs the UV. However, sometimes the UV can break
bonds in simple molecular structures when they are absorbed this forms radicals.
6.2: What happens when radiation interacts with matter?
EMR transfers energy and when molecules absorb this energy, it triggers chemical changes in the
molecular structures. Molecules behave differently depending on how much energy and what
TYPE of EMR they absorb. The EMR radiation can change the energy state (behavior) of
molecules.
DOWNWARDS =
increasing
amount of energy
needed
BEHAVIOUR Type of radiation absorbed
Translation (of molecule) Radiowaves
Rotation (of molecule) Microwaves
Vibration (of bonds) Infrared
Electrons (move between energy levels) Visible + UV
LINKING BEHAVIOUR AND TYPE OF EMR
The gaps between translational energy levels correspond to a photon of radio wave
radiation of specific frequency. So, radio waves can make molecules increase their
translational energies.
Changes in translational energy correspond to radio-waves.
The gaps between rotational energy levels correspond to a photon of microwave radiation
of specific frequency. So, microwaves can make molecules increase their rotational
energies.
Changes in rotational energies correspond to microwaves.
The gaps between vibrational energy levels correspond to a photon of infrared radiation of
specific frequency. So, infrared can make molecules increase their vibrational energies.
Changes in vibrational energies correspond to infrared.
The gaps between electronic energy levels correspond to a photon of visible or UV
radiation of specific frequency. So, visible or UV can make molecules increase their
electronic energies.
Changes in electronic energies corresponds to visible or UV.
Energy is quantized it exists as fixed, definite levels. A specific amount of energy is needed to
move electrons up a higher energy level. These changes between energy levels can be calculated
using:
E = h v
Energy (J) = Plancks Constant (6.63 x 10
-34
) x Frequency (Hz)