APES: Chapter 18______/______/______

Worksheet

  1. In the space below, draw the layers of the atmosphere from the surface of the earth to 120 km altitude.

A. Label the layers and the “dividing line” between each layer.

B. Use a colored line to indicate generalized temperature profile through the layers.

C. Use a dotted line to indicate the generalized pressure profile through the layers.

D. Draw a big arrow with a smiley face  where ozone serves a beneficial purpose to humans.

E. Draw a big arrow with a frowney face  where ozone irritates human respiratory tissue and damages innocent plants.

  1. Greenhouse Gases
  1. EPA Criteria Air Pollutants—Use your book and the following website to complete the chart.

EPA’s six “criteria pollutants

In order to complete the “Trend” section, you will need to visit the following websites:

Describe items below / Carbon Monoxide / Lead / Nitrogen Oxides / Ozone / Particulate Matter / Sulfur Dioxide / VOC
Source / See the chart on the last page of this handout!!
You only need to complete the section on VOCs
and the 1970-present trends (below)
Health Effects
Environmental Effects
1970 – present Trends:
Brief description of trends
  1. Air pollution chemistry:

Write the chemical formula for each of the following air pollutants:

  1. Carbon monoxide: ______
  2. Carbon dioxide: ______
  3. Sulfur dioxide: ______
  4. Sulfur trioxide: ______
  5. Nitric oxide: ______
  6. Nitrogen dioxide: ______
  7. Nitrous Oxide: ______
  8. Methane: ______(a hydrocarbon)
  9. Propane: ______(a hydrocarbon)
  10. Ozone: ______

Combustion:

  1. Write the balanced equation for complete combustion of a hydrocarbon (such as coal) Use methane as your model hydrocarbon since coal is actually a mixture of more than just hydrocarbons)—this will yield carbon dioxide and water. (HINT: What do you need to combine with methane for combustion?)
  1. Write the balanced equation for incomplete combustion of methane. The products will be carbon monoxide and water.

Photochemical Smog—a secondary pollutant

  1. Write the balanced equation to show how atmospheric nitrogen (N2) and atmospheric oxygen (O2) combine to form nitric oxide. This happens as cars create exhaust.
  1. The nitric oxide will combine with VOCs to create nitrogen dioxide:

NO + VOCs NO2

  1. A sunlight increases during the day, the nitrogen dioxide is broken down into nitric oxide and oxygen. The free oxygen is then able to combine with O2 in the atmosphere and form ozone.

NO2 + UV light  NO + O

D. Show the equation for O and O2 forming ozone

Acid Precipitation—a secondary pollutant (either nitric or sulfuric acid form)

A. Nitrogen dioxide (from car exhaust) reacts with water vapor to produce nitric acid and nitric oxide. Write the balanced equation.

  1. Sulfur dioxide (created from coal combustion) also combines with oxygen in the atmosphere to create sulfur trioxide. Write the balanced equation.
  1. The sulfur trioxide then combines with water vapor to create sulfuric acid. Write the balanced equation

***Both nitric and sulfuric acid dissociate to produce H+ ions (acid deposition)

4. Smog

What is the difference between gray-air industrial and brown-air photochemical smog? Briefly describe how they form and name the chemical responsible for the color in each situation.

Gray air (industrial):

Brown air (Photochemical):

5. Indoor Pollution
Write the name of the indoor pollutant described in each situation.

1.Soils with relatively high uranium content can lead to this pollutant in your house.______

2.Product of incomplete combustion in furnaces, woodstoves, or kerosene heat______

3.Results in asbestosis (and mesothelioma.)______

4.The reason you don’t want to bring a charcoal grill in the house to warm yourself during a power failure (this is created.)______

5.Pipe insulation in older homes.______

6.Radioactive gas.______

7.Produce of any combustion in your house—especially unvented gas stoves, kerosene heaters and wood stoves.______

8.Found in paneling, foam insulation and wood products—colorless irritating gas.______

9.The four most dangerous indoor air pollutants in developed countries—according to EPA.______

List some major health effects associated with indoor pollution:

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