Deck 21: Environmental Chemistry

Question 1

What is the layer of the atmosphere called that is closest to the surface of the Earth and the thinnest layer of the atmosphere?

A) outer atmosphere
B) mesosphere
C) thermosphere
D) troposphere
E) stratosphere

Answer 1

troposphere

Question 2

Which region of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer?

A) thermosphere
B) mesosphere
C) stratosphere
D) troposphere

Answer 2

stratosphere

Question 3

What is the layer of the atmosphere called which is the uppermost layer of the atmosphere and where the increase in temperature in this region is the result of the bombardment of molecular oxygen and nitrogen and atomic species by energetic particles, such as electrons and protons, from the sun?

A) outer atmosphere
B) mesosphere
C) thermosphere
D) troposphere
E) stratosphere

Answer 3

thermosphere

Question 4

Nitrogen fixation occurs through atmospheric, industrial, and biological processes. Which of these fixes the most nitrogen?

A) biological
B) atmospheric
C) industrial
D) industrial ≈ atmospheric
E) industrial ≈ biological

Question 5

Ozone in the stratosphere protects animals and plants from

A) infrared radiation.
B) acid rain.
C) visible sunlight.
D) radioactivity.
E) ultraviolet rays.

Question 6

Which one of the following is not one of the five gaseous components in highest concentration in the atmosphere?

A) CH₄
B) CO₂
C) N₂
D) Ar
E) O₂

Question 7

The Earth's core consists mainly of

A) Ni.
B) O.
C) Al.
D) Si.
E) Fe.

Question 8

Plants extract phosphate from the soil

A) by converting it to the dihydrogen phosphate ion by addition of acid to the soil near roots.
B) by converting it to phosphoric acid.
C) by osmosis.
D) by leaching.
E) by fixation.

Question 9

Which of these reactions is an example of nitrogen fixation?

A) 2N₂O → 2N₂ + O₂
B) NH₃ + H₂O → + OH^-
C) N₂ + O₂ → 2NO
D) 2NO₂ + H₂O → HNO₂ + HNO₃
E) 2NO + O₂ → 2NO₂

Question 10

The most abundant element in the Earth's crust is

A) H.
B) Fe.
C) Al.
D) Si.
E) O.

Question 11

An increase in the amount of particulate matter (dust and smoke) in the atmosphere may result in cooler world temperatures because

A) more sunlight is absorbed by Earth.
B) more infrared radiation is emitted into space.
C) the dust reflects solar radiation.
D) dust reacts with ozone in an exothermic reaction.

Question 12

What are the main mineral sources of phosphorus?

A) phosphides
B) phosphites
C) phosphors
D) phosphates
E) elemental phosphorus

Question 13

Currently the CO₂ content of Earth's atmosphere is approximately

A) 1%.
B) 20%.
C) 25 ppm.
D) 330 ppm.
E) 600 ppm.

Question 14

What is the layer of the atmosphere called which consists of nitrogen, oxygen, and ozone and the air temperature decreases with increasing altitude?

A) outer atmosphere
B) mesosphere
C) thermosphere
D) troposphere
E) stratosphere

Question 15

The main effect of the biosphere on the chemistry of the Earth's crust has been to

A) create a reducing atmosphere.
B) create an oxidizing atmosphere.
C) increase the relative humidity.
D) decrease the relative humidity.
E) increase the level of atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Question 16

Another term used for the thermosphere is which of the following?

A) Earth's crust
B) mesosphere
C) ionosphere
D) troposphere
E) stratosphere

Question 17

What was responsible for the "orange glow" observed by astronauts on the outside surface of their space shuttle as they were orbiting the Earth?

A) O₂ interacting with SO₂ to form SO₂* excited state molecules.
B) An oxygen atom interacting with nitric oxide adsorbed on the shuttle's surface to form electronically excited nitrogen dioxide, NO₂*.
C) N₂ interacting with CO₂ to form CO₂* excited state molecules.
D) CO and CO₂ interacting to form CO₃* excited state molecules.
E) Star dust from the stratosphere combining with upper atmospheric O₂ gases.

Question 18

What is the layer of the atmosphere called where the concentration of ozone and other gases is low and the temperature decreases with increasing altitude?

A) outer atmosphere
B) mesosphere
C) thermosphere
D) troposphere
E) stratosphere

Question 19

What is defined as the conversion of molecular nitrogen into nitrogen compounds?

A) nitrogen fixation
B) nitrogen conversion
C) nitrogenation
D) nitrogen turnover
E) nitrogen cycle

Question 20

The process in which a gaseous substance is converted into a condensed, more usable chemical substance is called

A) differentiation.
B) liquefaction.
C) fixation.
D) deposition.
E) remediation.

Question 21

The bond energy of N₂ is 160 kJ/mol. What is the wavelength of a photon that can cause the dissociation of a N₂ molecule? (h = 6.63 × 10^-34J s; c = 3.0 × 10⁸m/s and Avogadro's number = 6.022 × 10²³ molecules/mole)

A) 749 nm
B) 366 nm
C) 233 nm
D) 375 nm
E) 650 nm

Question 22

Heat is radiated from Earth to space predominately in the form of

A) infrared radiation.
B) radioactivity.
C) visible light.
D) solar flares.
E) UV radiation.

Question 23

What is the name given to the incoming streams of solar protons and electrons oriented by Earth's magnetic field occurring in the Southern Hemisphere?

A) southern auroras
B) Aurora australis
C) southern celesta ions
D) Aurora borealis
E) solar flares

Question 24

The presence of ozone in the upper atmosphere is important because

A) O₃ absorbs outgoing radiation from the Earth's surface, thus helping to keep the Earth warm.
B) O₃ absorbs harmful solar radiation.
C) O₃ dissolves in water droplets and is very reactive.
D) O₃ is a major reactant in photosynthesis.

Question 25

Which of the following has not been blamed on the destruction of the ozone layer?

A) damage to crops
B) increased number of skin cancer cases
C) genetic mutations
D) increasing global CO₂ concentrations

Question 26

What is the name given to the incoming streams of solar protons and electrons oriented by Earth's magnetic field occurring in the Northern Hemisphere?

A) northern auroras
B) Aurora australis
C) northern celesta ions
D) Aurora borealis
E) solar flares

Question 27

The compound CFCl₃ is used as a/an

A) enzyme.
B) anesthetic.
C) gaseous fuel.
D) coolant.
E) CFC replacement.

Question 28

The first "hole" in the ozone layer was found over which continent?

A) North America
B) South America
C) Australia
D) Antarctica
E) Asia

Question 29

What is the name given to the violent eruptions on the surface of the sun resulting in the ejection of myriad electrons and protons into space?

A) solar vulcanizations
B) solar lighting
C) stellar explosions
D) solar explosions
E) solar flares

Question 30

Ozone is formed in the atmosphere by the combination of oxygen molecules with

A) chlorofluorocarbons.
B) hydrocarbons.
C) oxygen atoms.
D) CO₂.
E) ClO.

Question 31

What element is the most abundant by mass in Earth's crust?

A) Fe
B) H
C) K
D) P
E) O

Question 32

Ozone (O₃) and oxygen gas (O₂) are examples of

A) isotopes.
B) allotropes.
C) polymorphs.
D) alloys.
E) amphoterism.

Question 33

What is the name given to the spectacular celestial light shown in the sky resulting from electrons and protons in space ejected from solar eruptions?

A) auroras
B) astral lights
C) stellar explosions
D) cosmic flares
E) solar flare

Question 34

Which choice lists two effects expected from the depletion of the ozone layer? 1. asthma
2) lung cancer
3) skin cancer
4) genetic mutations
5) emphysema

A) 1 and 5
B) 2 and 3
C) 3 and 5
D) 3 and 4
E) 4 and 5

Question 35

Which of the following is a catalyst in the destruction of ozone?

A) ClO
B) O₃
C) CF₃Cl
D) Cl
E) O₂

Question 36

Which below is a CFC?

A) CFCl₃
B) CF₂Cl₂
C) C₂F₃Cl₃
D) All of the choices are correct.
E) None of these choices is correct.

Question 37

Which statement about ozone and the ozone layer is true?

A) Ozone is found in a band of almost pure ozone several kilometers thick encircling the Earth.
B) The ozone in the ozone layer absorbs UV light between 200 and 300 nm.
C) Ozone is a compound with the chemical formula CO₂.
D) In the Earth's atmosphere, ozone exists only in the ozone layer.
E) Ozone is used as a coolant in refrigerators and air conditioners.

Question 38

What is readily liquefied, relatively inert, nontoxic, noncombustible, and volatile and has been used as a coolant in refrigerators and air conditioners but is harmful to the ozone layer in the stratosphere?

A) antifreeze
B) SO₂
C) ammonia
D) 0.444 m
E) Freon

Question 39

Which of these industrial chemicals is produced in the greatest amount annually?

A) HNO₃
B) H₃PO₄
C) H₂
D) H₂SO₄
E) HClO₃

Question 40

What is the name given the condition leading to the formation of ice particles over Antarctica?

A) polar ice caps (PICs)
B) ice deposition (ID)
C) polymorphs (PMs)
D) vortex traps (VTs)
E) polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs)

Question 41

How many different ways can a water molecule vibrate?

A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
E) millions

Question 42

What is the noxious cloud of smoke and fog caused by SO₂ which is formed by the reactions of automobile exhaust and sunlight?

A) primary pollutants
B) secondary pollutants
C) automotive discharge
D) acid rain
E) photochemical smog

Question 43

Which of the following is emitted into the atmosphere when a volcano erupts?

A) H₂S
B) N₂
C) HCl
D) sulfuric acid aerosol
E) All of the answers are correct.

Question 44

What is the meaning of an asterisk beside an atom or molecule?

A) It means the atom or molecule is degenerate.
B) It means the atom or molecule is very reactive.
C) It means the atom or molecule is in a low energy state.
D) It means the atom or molecule has collided with another atom or molecule.
E) It means the atom or molecule is in an excited state.

Question 45

Which one of the following would slow the rate of increase of atmospheric CO₂?

A) building and operating more coal-fired power plants
B) more use of catalytic converters in cars to produce complete combustion
C) use of hydrogen fuel produced using solar or nuclear energy
D) conversion of nuclear power plants to methane-burning power plants
E) clearing and burning the tropical rain forests

Question 46

Which of these substances is being considered as a replacement fuel for gasoline?

A) D₂O
B) H₂
C) NO₂
D) F₂
E) He

Question 47

In the mid-1980's which of the following was discovered?

A) greenhouse gases
B) Antarctic ozone hole
C) radon gas
D) CO poisoning in homes
E) benzene in the Mississippi River

Question 48

The normal process occurring on Earth that warms its surface and the lower atmosphere is called

A) photosynthesis.
B) vaporization of water.
C) incomplete combustion.
D) the greenhouse effect.
E) the ozone hole.

Question 49

Which of these species is not an acidic oxide?

A) P₄O₁₀
B) P₄O₆
C) SO₃
D) CO
E) SiO₂

Question 50

How many different ways can a CO₂ molecule vibrate?

A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
E) millions

Question 51

What is the name given to SO₂ in the troposphere that is oxidized to H₂SO₄ in the form of aerosol which ends up in wet precipitation?

A) sulfonation
B) saphonication
C) troposheric oxidation
D) acid rain
E) atmoshpheric leproay

Question 52

Acid rain is precipitation having a pH that is

A) above 7.
B) below 5.5.
C) below 7.
D) above 8.6.
E) above 10.

Question 53

Which of the following are common indoor pollutants?

A) radon
B) carbon dioxide
C) carbon monoxide
D) formaldehyde
E) All of the choices are correct.

Question 54

Which one of the following is not a greenhouse gas?

A) H₂O
B) O₂
C) CO₂
D) CH₄
E) CFCs

Question 55

What is the name of the molten rock which rises to the surface of the Earth and generates some types of volcanic eruptions?

A) magma
B) mantle eruptions
C) crustaceans
D) molten eruptions
E) volcanic ash

Question 56

Acid rain is less of a threat to lakes and streams in areas where the bedrock is limestone (CaCO₃). Which of the following is the equation for neutralization of acid by limestone?

A) CaCO₃ + 2OH^- → Ca(OH)₂ + CO₂
B) CaCO₃ + 2H₃O⁺ → Ca²⁺ + CO₂ + 3H₂O
C) CaCO₃ + H₃O → Ca + CO₂ + H₂O
D) CaCO₃ + OH^- → Ca²⁺ + CO₂ + H₂O
E) CaCO₃ + 2H₃O⁺ → Ca²⁺ + CO₂ + 2H₂O

Question 57

In order for a gas to be a "greenhouse gas" it must

A) transmit visible light and absorb infrared radiation.
B) be radioactive.
C) transmit infrared light and absorb visible light.
D) be combustible.
E) absorb both visible light and infrared radiation.

Question 58

What describes the trapping of heat near Earth's surface by gases (CO₂) in the atmosphere?

A) restricted air flow
B) flux
C) heat trap
D) greenhouse effect
E) gasification

Question 59

Why do molecules become IR-active?

A) Because they are in constant motion.
B) Because they can absorb IR radiation (a photon of a specific wavelength in the IR region) because their dipole moments constantly change as the bond lengths change.
C) Because they vibrate at low temperatures.
D) Because their net dipole is zero.
E) Because they are very close together.

Question 60

Which one of these species exists as a diatomic element at room temperature?

A) Na
B) N
C) B
D) Ar
E) P

Question 61

A possible reaction leading to removal of ClO from the atmosphere is 2ClO → Cl₂ + O₂. Studies of this reaction have yielded an Arrhenius frequency factor, A, and an activation energy of 1.0 × 10^-12 cm³ molecule^-1 s^-1 and 13.2 kJ/mol, respectively. Calculate the rate constant for the disappearance of ClO at -30°C.

A) 1.5 × 10^{-15 M-1} s^-1
B) 8.7 × 10⁵ M^-1 s^-1
C) 2.9 × 10^{-15 M-1} s^-1
D) 9.9 × 10^{-13 M-1} s^-1
E) 1.7 × 10⁶ M^-1 s^-1

Question 62

Suppose that ammonia, applied to a field as a fertilizer, is washed into a farm pond containing 3.0 × 10⁶ L of water. If the pH of this pond is found to be 9.81, what volume of liquid ammonia found its way into the pond? [Given: K_b(NH₃) = 1.8 × 10^-5; the density of liquid ammonia is 0.771 g/cm³]

A) 15 L
B) 25 L
C) 11 L
D) 20 L
E) 320 L

Question 63

Jupiter has no solid surface and is 90% hydrogen gas and 9% helium gas.

Question 64

The gases spewed into the atmosphere when a volcano erupts are N₂, H₂S, HCl, HF, CO₂, and water vapor.

Question 65

Mars has an atmosphere made mostly of oxygen.

Question 66

The rate constant of the reaction O + O₃ → 2O₂ is 7.0 × 10⁵ M^-1 s^-1 at -40°C and 4.8 × 10⁶ M^-1 s^-1 at 25°C. Calculate the activation energy of this reaction.

A) 2.0 kJ/mol
B) 17 kJ/mol
C) 1100 kJ/mol
D) 25. kJ/mol
E) 0.13 kJ/mol

Question 67

Which one of the following indoor air pollutants has adverse health effects because it is radioactive?

A) formaldehyde
B) carbon monoxide
C) carbon dioxide
D) radon

Question 68

What is the wavelength of a photon needed to dissociate an O₃ molecule whose bond energy is 107.2 kJ/mol (h = 6.63 × 10^-34J s; c = 3.0 × 10⁸m/s; and Avogadro's number = 6.022 × 10²³ molecules/mole)?

A) 9.0 × 10⁵ nm
B) 894 nm
C) 1.12 × 10⁶ nm
D) 9.0 × 10^-4 nm
E) 1117 nm

Question 69

The wavelengths of light that are absorbed by stratospheric ozone are known to cause cancer.

Question 70

What is the wavelength of a photon needed to dissociate an S₂ molecule whose bond energy is 226 kJ/mol (h = 6.63 × 10^-34J s; c = 3.0 × 10⁸m/s; and Avogadro's number = 6.022 × 10²³molecules/mole)?

A) 90 nm
B) 2.71nm
C) 5.3 × 10⁵ nm
D) 9.0 × 10⁴ nm
E) 530 nm

Question 71

What mass of solid CaO is needed to remove the sulfur dioxide from 1.0 × 10⁶ m³ of air having an SO₂ concentration of 1.5 × 10^-9 M? Assume that the reaction leading to removal of the sulfur dioxide is CaO(s) + SO₂(g) → CaCO₃(s).

A) 56 g
B) 96 g
C) 37 g
D) 84 g
E) 43 g

Question 72

Ozone is destroyed naturally by the absorption of short-wavelength light.

Question 73

The major contributor to the greenhouse effect is H₂S.

Question 74

The air at sea level is ~80% oxygen and ~20% nitrogen.

Question 75

What is the name of the chemical with a very foul smell that is a preservative used to preserve the body of dead people?

A) formaldehyde
B) hydrogen peroxide
C) hydrochloric acid
D) formic acid
E) potassium permanganate

Question 76

An unusual atmospheric reaction leading to ozone destruction is CF₃O + O₃ → CF₃O₂ + O₂
The analysis of which has yielded an Arrhenius frequency factor (A) and activation energy of 2.0 × 10^-12 cm³ molecule^-1 s^-1 and 11.6 kJ/mol, respectively. Calculate the rate constant for this reaction at an altitude of 35 km, where the temperature is -34°C.

A) 2.0 × 10^-12 M^-1 s^-1
B) 1.2 × 10⁹ M^-1 s^-1
C) 3.5 × 10⁶ M^-1 s^-1
D) 7.9 × 10^{-15 M-1} s^-1
E) 6.8 × 10⁸ M^-1 s^-1

Question 77

Due to a highway accident, 150 L of concentrated hydrochloric acid (12.0 M) is released into a lake containing 5.0 × 10⁵ m³ of water. If the pH of this lake was 7.0 prior to the accident, what is the pH of the lake following the accident?

A) 5.44
B) 8.56
C) 8.44
D) 5.56
E) 2.44

Question 78

The rate constant of the reaction Cl + CHCl₃ → HCl + CCl₃ is 5.8 × 10⁷ M^-1 s^-1 at 25°C and has an activation energy of 11.0 kJ/mol. Calculate the rate constant for this reaction in the lower stratosphere where the temperature is -57°C.

A) 1.1 × 10⁷ M^-1 s^-1
B) 4.2 × 10⁷ M^-1 s^-1
C) 4.9 × 10⁹ M^-1 s^-1
D) 9.5 × 10⁶ M^-1 s^-1
E) 2.7 × 10⁹ M^-1 s^-1

Question 79

There is more argon in the air at sea level than there is CO₂.

Question 80

When does death occur from carbon monoxide poisoning?

A) When all the hemoglobin molecules in the blood complex with CO.
B) When about one fourth of the hemoglobin molecules in the blood complex with CO.
C) When about three fourths of the hemoglobin molecules in the blood complex with CO.
D) When about ten percent of the hemoglobin molecules in the blood complex with CO.
E) When about half the hemoglobin molecules in the blood complex with CO.