chevron icon chevron icon chevron icon

Atmosphere And Environment

In this article, we will learn about the atmosphere and environment. These are the learning outcomes: 

  • Describe the composition by volume of gases present in dry air. 
  • Name some common air pollutants and state their sources. 
  • Describe the effects of some air pollutants on health and the environment.

This article is specifically written to meet the requirements of the Upper Secondary Chemistry syllabus in Singapore. 

Composition of Air

Air is a mixture of several gases. Since air is a mixture, its composition varies at different times and places.


The pie chart above shows the composition by volume of clean, dry air.

Nitrogen and oxygen are the main gases in air. The rest are noble gases (mainly argon) and carbon dioxide. 

Separating Air

The separation of air into its constituent gases is an important process for obtaining nitrogen and oxygen. The gases in the air can be separated by fractional distillation.

Air is first liquefied by cooling and compression. This process is also known as liquefaction. After liquefaction, the air is called liquid air.


Image Credit: Chemistry Stack Exchange - chemistry.stackexchange.com

The liquid air is passed into the fractionating column, where the different constituents are separated based on the difference in their boiling points.

Nitrogen is distilled over first because it has the lowest boiling point (-196º C), while oxygen is distilled over last because it has the highest boiling point (-183º C).

Question 1:

Which of the following correctly shows the industrial use of argon and its percentage abundance in clean and dry air?

             Industrial use of argon                                          % abundance in dry air

  1. to fill hot air balloons                                                                   0.03%
  2. to fill hot air balloons                                                                   0.97%
  3. used as an inert gas shield in arc welding and cutting               0.03%
  4. used as an inert gas shield in arc welding and cutting               0.97%

Solution:

(D)

Explanation:

Argon is a noble gas which is unreactive. Noble gases are mostly used to provide an inert atmosphere. Hence, argon is commonly used to prevent the metal from reacting with the atmosphere during welding or cutting.

The percentage of noble gases (mainly argon) in air is about 0.97%. 

Common Air Pollutants

What is air pollution?

Air pollution is a condition where air contains a high concentration of chemicals that may have harmful effects on living organisms and the environment.


Image Credit: Chris LeBoutillier - unsplash.com

What are the common air pollutants?

  • Carbon monoxide (CO)
  • Sulfur dioxide (SO2)
  • Oxides of nitrogen (NO/NO2)
  • Unburnt hydrocarbon (CxHy)
  • Methane (CH4)
  • Ozone (O3)

Carbon Monoxide ( CO )

  • Characteristics: colourless and odourless
  • Source: incomplete combustion of carbon-containing substances (e.g. petrol, fossil fuels) in power stations and vehicles. 

Incomplete combustion refers to the burning of fuel in a limited supply of air (oxygen).

For Example:

Incomplete combustion of methane gas will result in the production of carbon monoxide and carbon particles (in the form of soot).

\(4CH_4  +  5O_2 \;  \xrightarrow[\qquad\qquad]{} \;   2CO  +  8H_2O  +  2C  +  \text{ heat energy}\)


Image Credit: Encyclopædia Britannica - britannica.com

  • Effects:
    • It combines irreversibly with haemoglobin in the red blood cells to form carboxyhaemoglobin, reducing the ability of the red blood cells to carry oxygen to different parts of the body.
    • Headaches, fatigue 
    • Breathing difficulties 
    • Loss of consciousness, heart damage
    • Death 

Sulfur Dioxide ( SO2 )

  • Characteristics: colourless and pungent
  • Sources:
    • Combustion of fossil fuels in power stations and factories. Fossil fuels contain sulfur. When burnt, sulfur is converted into sulfur dioxide.

\(S  +  O_2  \;\xrightarrow[\qquad\qquad]{} \; SO2\)

  • Volcanic activities 


Image Credit: Michal Pech - unsplash.com


Image Credit: Tanya Grypachevskaya - unsplash.com

Oxides of Nitrogen ( NO / NO2 )

  • Sources:
    • Internal combustion in engines of vehicles. 

In the car engine, where the temperatures are very high, oxygen and nitrogen will react to form nitrogen monoxide. Nitrogen monoxide reacts with more oxygen to form nitrogen dioxide.

\(N_2  +  O_2   \xrightarrow[\qquad\qquad]{}   2NO\)

\(2NO  +  O_2  \;\xrightarrow[\qquad\qquad]{}\;   2NO_2\)

 

  • Lightning activities: When lightning strikes, a large amount of heat energy is released. This causes oxygen and nitrogen in the air to react and form oxides of nitrogen.


Image Credit: Michael D - unsplash.com

Sulfur Dioxide and Oxides of Nitrogen

These two air pollutants have similar effects on living organisms and the environment.

  • Effects:
    • Eye and lung irritation 
    • Inflammation of the lungs at high levels
    • Breathing difficulties 
    • React with rainwater and oxygen to form acid rain

Acid Rain

Acid rain is formed when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide react with water in the atmosphere.

For Sulfur Dioxide:

\(SO_2 (g)  +  H_2O (l)   \;\xrightarrow[\qquad\qquad]{}\;   H_2SO_3 (aq)\)

Sulfur dioxide dissolves in water to form sulfurous acid.

\(2H_2SO_3 (aq)  +  O_2 (g)   \;\xrightarrow[\qquad\qquad]{}\;   2H_2SO_4 (aq)\)

Sulfurous acid is oxidised by oxygen in the air to form sulfuric acid.

For nitrogen oxide:

\(4NO_2 (g)  +  O_2 (g)  +  2H_2O (l)   \;\xrightarrow[\qquad\qquad]{}\;   4HNO_3 (aq)\)

Nitrogen oxide will react with oxygen and water in the air to form nitric acid.

What are the effects of acid rain?

  • Acid rain lowers the pH value of water bodies such as lakes and streams, causing the aquatic plants and animals to die.
  • Acid rain reacts with structures and buildings made up of metals, marble and limestone, causing them to be damaged.
  • It promotes the leeching of nutrients from the soil which affects the healthy growth of plants.

Unburnt Hydrocarbons ( CxHy )

  • Sources:
  • From internal combustion engines of vehicles
  • From chemical plants
  • Effects:
  • Causes cancer (carcinogenic)


Image Credit: Patrick Hendry - unsplash.com

Methane ( CH)

  • Sources:

  • Decay of plant and animal matter
  • Decay of rubbish in landfills 
  • Digestion of food in sheep and cows
  • Effect:
  • Methane is a greenhouse gas. Excessive build-up of greenhouse gases will lead to an increase in the amount of infrared radiation being trapped in the atmosphere. This results in an increase in the Earth’s average temperature, also known as global warming.

Ozone ( O3 )

  • Source:

  • Formed when nitrogen dioxide in the air reacts with unburnt hydrocarbons in the presence of sunlight.
  • Effects:
  • Forms photochemical smog which irritates the eyes and lungs 
  • Breathing difficulties


Image Credit: Alex Gindin - unsplash.com

Question 2:

Which of the following substances is produced during the combustion of fossil fuels?

  1. carbon dioxide
  2. soot
  3. sulfur dioxide
  4. water

Solution:

(C) sulfur dioxide

Explanation:

Fossil fuels contain sulfur. When burnt, sulfur reacts with oxygen to produce sulfur dioxide.

 

Question 3:

Which of the following explains the poisonous nature of carbon monoxide?

  1. colourless and odourless
  2. combines with oxygen in the haemoglobin in the red blood cells
  3. corrosive to lung tissues
  4. forms strong bonds with haemoglobin in the red blood cells

Solution:

(D) forms strong bonds with haemoglobin in the red blood cells

Explanation:

Carbon monoxide combines irreversibly with haemoglobin in the red blood cells to form carboxyhaemoglobin, reducing the ability of the red blood cells to carry oxygen to different parts of the body.

 

Question 4:

Which of the following pairs of pollutants brings about the most damage to buildings made of limestone and metal?

  1. carbon monoxide and nitrogen monoxide
  2. chlorofluorocarbons and ozone
  3. methane and sulfur dioxide 
  4. sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen

Solution: 

(D) sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen

Explanation:

Sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen react with water in the atmosphere to form acid rain, which corrodes buildings made of limestone and metal.

Conclusion

In the article, we learned to describe the composition by volume of gases present in dry air. We also learned to name some common air pollutants and state their sources. In addition, we also described the effects of some air pollutants on health and the environment. Practice the questions in the article to understand more about the topics.

Keep Learning! Keep Improving!

 

Continue Learning
Kinetic Particle Theory Elements, Compounds and Mixtures
Separation and Purification Atomic Structure
Measurement and Experimental Techniques Ionic Bonding
Covalent Bonding Writing Chemical Equations
Oxidation and Reduction Acids And Bases
The Mole Salts
Atmosphere and Environment Periodic Table
Chemical Calculations Qualitative Analysis
Resources - Academic Topics
icon expand icon collapse Primary
icon expand icon collapse Secondary
icon expand icon collapse
Book a free product demo
Suitable for primary & secondary
select dropdown icon
Our Education Consultants will get in touch with you to offer your child a complimentary Strength Analysis.
Book a free product demo
Suitable for primary & secondary
Claim your free demo today!
Claim your free demo today!
Arrow Down Arrow Down
Arrow Down Arrow Down
*By submitting your phone number, we have your permission to contact you regarding Geniebook. See our Privacy Policy.
Geniebook CTA Illustration Geniebook CTA Illustration
Turn your child's weaknesses into strengths
Geniebook CTA Illustration Geniebook CTA Illustration
Geniebook CTA Illustration
Turn your child's weaknesses into strengths
Get a free diagnostic report of your child’s strengths & weaknesses!
Arrow Down Arrow Down
Arrow Down Arrow Down
Error
Oops! Something went wrong.
Let’s refresh the page!
Error
Oops! Something went wrong.
Let’s refresh the page!
We got your request!
A consultant will be contacting you in the next few days to schedule a demo!
*By submitting your phone number, we have your permission to contact you regarding Geniebook. See our Privacy Policy.
Gain access to 300,000 questions aligned to MOE syllabus
Trusted by over 220,000 students.
Trusted by over 220,000 students.
Arrow Down Arrow Down
Arrow Down Arrow Down
Error
Oops! Something went wrong.
Let’s refresh the page!
Error
Oops! Something went wrong.
Let’s refresh the page!
We got your request!
A consultant will be contacting you in the next few days to schedule a demo!
*By submitting your phone number, we have your permission to contact you regarding Geniebook. See our Privacy Policy.
media logo
Geniebook CTA Illustration
Geniebook CTA Illustration
Geniebook CTA Illustration
icon close
Default Wrong Input
Get instant access to
our educational content
Start practising and learning.
No Error
arrow down arrow down
No Error
*By submitting your phone number, we have
your permission to contact you regarding
Geniebook. See our Privacy Policy.
Success
Let’s get learning!
Download our educational
resources now.
icon close
Error
Error
Oops! Something went wrong.
Let’s refresh the page!