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CHEMISTRY
ATMOSPHERE
Pure air is described as a mixture of
the following gases:
78.0% N2, 20.1% O2, 0.9% Ar, 0.03%
CO2, 0.002% Ne, 0.005% He plus
other gases. Such pure air does not
exist but it serves as a reference for
clean air.
80
70
55
Heating via ozone
Mesosphere 45
60
35
50
40
30
Stratosphere
25
Altitude (miles)
Altitude (kilometers)
90
Highlights:
Pressure decreases
with altitude until it
reaches zero
Troposphere is the
layer we live in;
mostly N and O;
weather; colder as
you go up
Stratosphere: has the
ozone layer; warmer
as you go up
15
Ozone
layer
20
Heating from the earth
Troposphere
10
5
Environmental science
Pressure = 1,000
0
0
40 80 120 millibars
at
(Sea 80 40
focuses
mostly on
Temperature (C)
ground level
Level)
ATMOSPHERE
Stratospheric ozone absorbs 95%
of UV radiation
3O2 + UV 2 O3
Tropospheric ozone is harmful to
plants, animals, and humans.
Tropospheric ozone is made when air
pollutants undergo chemical
reactions because of UV exposure.
ATMOSPHERE
The oxygen atom generated from the
initial reaction reacts with
atmospheric, diatomic oxygen, to
form ozone.
This polluting ozone of the
lithosphere, traps heat and
contributes to thermal inversion.
O O2 O3
Smog
Photochemical: brown air smog
Caused by UV reacting with
chemicals (NOx, VOCs in the
atmosphere) Found in modern cities,
especially in warm, sunny areas.
Industrial smog: gray air smog
Caused by burning of fossil fuels,
adds sulfur to air. Rare in developed
countries now as soot is removed by
PHOTOCHEMICAL SMOG
Nitrogen oxide is an essential
ingredient of photochemical smog
that is produced during the high
temperatures associated with
combustion of vehicles engines.
N 2 O2 Energy 2 NO
Grasshopper Effect
In a phenomenon
scientists call the
grasshopper effect,
toxic pollutants
released thousands of
miles to the south
evaporate in the
warm climate. They
then ride the winds
until they reach the
cold air of the Arctic,
where they
ACID RAIN
The pH of rainwater is normally
slightly acidic, at about 5.6, due
mainly to reaction of carbon dioxide
with water to form carbonic acid.
CO2 H 2O H 2CO3
SO2 H 2O H 2 SO3
SO3 H 2O H 2 SO4
Wind
Transformation to
sulfuric acid (H2SO4)
and nitric acid (HNO3)
Acid fog
Dry acid
deposition
(sulfur dioxide
gas and particles
of sulfate and
nitrate salts)
Farm
Ocean
Lakes in
deep soil
high in limestone
are buffered
Lakes in shallow
soil low in
limestone
become
acidic
Wind
X
Z
Y
Farm
Ocean
Wind
Transformation to
sulfuric acid (H2SO4)
and nitric acid (HNO3)
Y
Farm
Ocean
Wind
X
Z
Dry acid
deposition
Farm
Ocean
Wind
X
Wet acid deposition
Y
Farm
Ocean
PRECIPITATION!
Temperature Inversion
Increasing altitude
Warmer air
Inversion layer
Cool layer
Mountain
Mountain
Valley
Decreasing temperature
Temperature Inversion
Increasing altitude
Mountain
range
Decreasing temperature
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION means the presence in
the outdoor atmosphere of one or more
contaminants
in
quantities
with
characteristics and of durations such as
to be injurious to human , plant, animal
life and property or which unreasonably
interfere
with
the
comfortable
enjoyment of life and property.
Engineers Joint Council (USA)
AIR POLLUTION
METHODS OF IDENTIFYING AIR
POLLUTION:
Sensory recognition
Physical measurement of
pollution
Effects on plants, animals and
buildings
Identification Methods
1. Sensory Recognition
-
Identification Methods
2. Physical Measurement
- testing/ detection of trace
quantities of many air-borne toxic
substances
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