Deck 13: Air

Question 1

The layer of the atmosphere that is closest to the surface of the earth is the

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

Answer 1

troposphere.

Question 2

The concentration of which component of the atmosphere has increased dramatically since the beginning of the industrial era?

A)argon
B)carbon dioxide
C)sulfur dioxide
D)krypton

Answer 2

carbon dioxide

Question 3

In order for nitrogen to be used by most plants and all animals,it must be

A)separated.
B)purified.
C)liquefied.
D)fixed.

Answer 3

fixed.

Question 4

Volcanoes release large amounts of the pollutant ________.

A)Ar
B)SiO₂
C)SO₂
D)O₃

Question 5

Which of the following is a form of nitrogen fixation?

A)N₂ + O₂ + energy(lightning)→ 2 NO
B)N₂ + 3 H₂ → 2 NH₃
C)N₂ + bacteria → nitrates
D)All are forms of nitrogen fixation.

Question 6

The second most abundant component of dry air is

A)argon.
B)carbon dioxide.
C)nitrogen.
D)oxygen.

Question 7

With respect to reactivity at normal temperatures,nitrogen is best classified as

A)highly reactive.
B)somewhat reactive.
C)relatively unreactive.
D)comparable to helium in its reactivity.

Question 8

The industrial fixation of nitrogen to produce nitrogen fertilizers has drastically increased food supply primarily because

A)plants need nitrogen.
B)plants fix nitrogen slowly.
C)the availability of fixed nitrogen is often a limiting factor in plant growth.
D)nitrogen in the atmosphere has decreased over the past two centuries.

Question 9

Which of the following statements is true of oxygen and nitrogen at normal temperatures?

A)Both nitrogen and oxygen are highly reactive.
B)Nitrogen is highly reactive, but oxygen is not.
C)Oxygen is highly reactive, but nitrogen is not.
D)Neither nitrogen nor oxygen is highly reactive.

Question 10

Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A)The temperature of the mesosphere falls as you get farther from the earth's surface.
B)The temperature of the stratosphere falls as you get farther from the earth's surface.
C)The temperature of the stratosphere rises as you get farther from the earth's surface.
D)The temperature of the troposphere falls as you get farther from the earth's surface.

Question 11

With respect to reactivity,oxygen is best classified as

A)highly reactive.
B)somewhat reactive.
C)relatively unreactive.
D)comparable to helium in its reactivity.

Question 12

The most abundant component of dry air is

A)radon.
B)carbon monoxide.
C)nitrogen.
D)helium.

Question 13

Commercial airplanes fly in the

A)biosphere.
B)stratosphere.
C)troposphere.
D)ionosphere.

Question 14

The most important of the minor components of dry air is

A)argon.
B)carbon dioxide.
C)helium.
D)neon.

Question 15

Nitrogen is converted to nitrates by which of the following reactions?

A)N₂ + O₂ + energy(lightning)→ 2 NO
B)2 NO + O₂ → 2 NO₂
C)3 NO₂ + H₂O → 2 HNO₃ + NO
D)All of these reactions are involved in converting nitrogen to nitrates.

Question 16

In the stratosphere,oxygen (O₂)is converted to ozone (O₃)by high energy ultraviolet light.When the equation is written and balanced using whole number coefficients,the coefficient of ozone is

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

Question 17

Which component of the atmosphere is predicted to rise in the foreseeable future?

A)argon
B)carbon dioxide
C)fluorine
D)carbon monoxide

Question 18

A major source of oxygen on Earth is

A)snow.
B)ocean-based phytoplankton.
C)plants.
D)decomposition of water in the oceans.

Question 19

Identify a source of air pollution.

A)photosynthesis
B)ozonolysis
C)earthquakes
D)wildfires

Question 20

An atmospheric inversion is a phenomenon that may have disastrous effects with respect to air pollution.An atmospheric inversion occurs when a

A)lower layer of cool air is trapped by an upper layer of warmer air.
B)lower layer of warm air is trapped by an upper layer of cooler air.
C)lower layer of oxygen rich air is trapped by an upper layer of oxygen deficient air.
D)lower layer of oxygen deficient air is trapped by an upper layer of oxygen rich air.

Question 21

The word smog is believed to have originated in

A)London.
B)Los Angeles.
C)Mexico City.
D)Japan.

Question 22

Removal of particulates from smokestack gases

A)decreases the plant's energy efficiency.
B)creates a solid waste disposal problem.
C)increases the costs of producing energy.
D)All of the above result from removal of particulates.

Question 23

In December,1952 in London,a four-day-long atmospheric inversion created the worst smog in history.The death toll ultimately attributed to the smog was estimated at

A)10.
B)100.
C)2000.
D)over 4000.

Question 24

The complete oxidation of coal produces

A)carbon monoxide (CO).
B)carbon dioxide (CO₂).
C)particulate matter.
D)soot.

Question 25

The main difference between air pollution problems today and problems in the past is

A)global warming.
B)less polar ice.
C)it is now a worldwide problem.
D)less rainfall.

Question 26

Which of the following human activities contributed to the pollution of our ancestral air?

A)Discovering, making, and using tools contributed to air pollution.
B)The discovery and use of fire contributed to air pollution.
C)The development of crop farming contributed to air pollution.
D)All of these contributed to air pollution.

Question 27

Sulfur trioxide reacts with water to form

A)sulfur dioxide.
B)sulfur monoxide.
C)sulfurous acid.
D)sulfuric acid.

Question 28

Sulfur dioxide is readily absorbed in the respiratory system,where it is

A)soothing.
B)a powerful irritant.
C)mildly irritating.
D)unreactive.

Question 29

Which of the following statements about particulate particles is NOT correct?

A)They are easier to remove from factory exhaust than sulfur dioxide is.
B)They can sometimes be seen in the air as dust or smoke.
C)Particles that are less than 10 µm in diameter are more dangerous than larger particles are.
D)Less than 10% of the counties in the United States have particle pollution levels that exceed the EPA's standards.

Question 30

The reaction 2 CaO(s)+ 2 SO₂(g)+ O₂(g)→ 2 CaSO₄(s)is the basis of

A)electrostatic precipitators.
B)chemical SO₂ scrubbers.
C)particulate removal.
D)The reaction is the basis of all of the above.

Question 31

A definition of a pollutant is a chemical

A)in the wrong place but at the right concentration.
B)in the wrong place or at the wrong concentration.
C)in the right place but at the wrong concentration.
D)in the right place and at the right concentration.

Question 32

Which of the following statements about ozone is correct?

A)Ozone is a pollutant in both the troposphere and the stratosphere.
B)Ozone is a pollutant in the troposphere but not in the stratosphere.
C)Ozone is a pollutant in the stratosphere but not in the troposphere.
D)Ozone is a not a pollutant in either the troposphere or the stratosphere.

Question 33

London smog is attributed primarily to

A)the burning of coal.
B)train exhaust.
C)sulfur oxides.
D)ozone.

Question 34

Unburned carbon produced during the inefficient burning of coal is called

A)ash.
B)soot.
C)carbon dioxide.
D)clinkers.

Question 35

Which of the following is used to remove particulate matter from smokestack gases?

A)bag filtration
B)electrostatic precipitators
C)wet scrubbers
D)All of the above are used to remove particulate matter.

Question 36

Kilauea volcano in Hawaii emits 200-300 tons of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere each day.This is an example of

A)the impact of natural processes on the earth's environment.
B)air pollution from a natural source.
C)the magnitude of the chemistry associated with the environment.
D)The Kilauea volcano is an example of all of the above.

Question 37

One of the earliest recorded examples of polluted air was written about by the Roman ________ in 61 A.D.

A)Caesar Augustus
B)Seneca
C)Cato the Elder
D)Pliny

Question 38

An electrostatic precipitator is a device used

A)in the laboratory study of pollution.
B)to precipitate ions in water.
C)to remove particles from smokestack gases.
D)to remove CO₂ from the atmosphere.

Question 39

Which of the following is most commonly used to remove sulfur dioxide from smokestack gases?

A)bag filtration
B)electrostatic precipitators
C)limestone-dolomite process
D)wet scrubbers

Question 40

Sulfur dioxide reacts with oxygen to form

A)SO₃.
B)S₂O₃.
C)S₃O₅.
D)H₂SO₄.

Question 41

Usually the symptom of carbon monoxide poisoning is

A)diarrhea.
B)uncontrollable shaking.
C)drowsiness.
D)blubluing of the eyes and skin.

Question 42

The day starts out bright and sunny.Later,a brown haze develops.This indicates the presence of

A)nitrogen dioxide.
B)ozone.
C)carbon monoxide.
D)methane.

Question 43

A secondary reaction in the formation of photochemical smog is

A)2 NO + O₂ → 2 NO₂.
B)NO₂ + sunlight → NO + O.
C)O + O₂ → O₃.
D)O₃ + hydrocarbons → aldehydes.

Question 44

At the high temperature in an internal combustion engine,a fraction of the nitrogen in air is converted to

A)carbon monoxide.
B)sulfur dioxide.
C)argon.
D)nitrogen oxides.

Question 45

Which one of the following is NOT one of the principal components required for photochemical smog?

A)nitrogen oxides
B)hydrocarbons
C)sulfur dioxide
D)sunshine

Question 46

All of the following statements about carbon monoxide (CO)pollution in the United States are true EXCEPT

A)carbon monoxide makes up over 60% (by mass)of all air pollutants emitted into the atmosphere.
B)the concentration of carbon monoxide is higher in urban areas than in rural areas.
C)people exposed to carbon monoxide have a higher risk of heart attacks.
D)the major source of carbon monoxide emissions is industrial sources, such as metal processing.

Question 47

Carbon monoxide pollution is best described as a(n)

A)rural problem.
B)urban problem.
C)global problem.
D)Carbon monoxide pollution is none of the above.

Question 48

Carbon monoxide reacts with hemoglobin and interferes with its ability to transport oxygen.Which other gas also can react with hemoglobin when it is present in high concentrations?

A)nitrogen (N₂)
B)nitric oxide (NO)
C)sulfur dioxide (SO₂)
D)sulfur trioxide (SO₃)

Question 49

The major source of photochemical smog is

A)automobile emissions.
B)industrial emissions.
C)fossil fuel power plant emissions.
D)nuclear power plant emissions.

Question 50

Organic substances that undergo significant evaporation at ordinary temperatures are

A)lead-containing compounds.
B)nitrogen oxides.
C)sulfur oxides.
D)volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Question 51

What percentage of hydrocarbons found in the atmosphere result from human activity?

A)15%
B)35 %
C)55%
D)75%

Question 52

Most hydrocarbons in the atmosphere in rural areas arise from

A)automobile exhaust.
B)evaporation of gasoline.
C)industrial emissions.
D)natural sources.

Question 53

Which one of the following is NOT a property of carbon monoxide?

A)odorless
B)tasteless
C)colorless
D)undetectable

Question 54

Catalytic converters on automobiles are designed to reduce the emission of

A)nitrogen oxides.
B)carbon monoxide.
C)carbon dioxide.
D)sulfur oxides.

Question 55

The primary reaction in the formation of photochemical smog is

A)2 NO + O₂ → 2 NO₂.
B)NO₂ + sunlight → NO + O.
C)O + O₂ → O₃.
D)O₃ + hydrocarbons → aldehydes.

Question 56

Hemoglobin is the blood protein responsible for the transport of oxygen.Carbon monoxide disturbs oxygen transport by

A)destroying hemoglobin.
B)destroying oxygen in the lung.
C)binding more strongly to hemoglobin than oxygen.
D)destroying lung alveoli.

Question 57

When gasoline undergoes complete combustion,carbon dioxide and water are produced.However,these reactions are generally incomplete combustions,and there are side reactions which produce small amounts of harmful products.These pollutants include all of the following EXCEPT

A)carbon monoxide.
B)lead.
C)nitrogen oxides.
D)volatile organic compounds.

Question 58

The presence of nitrogen dioxide in smog is most easily recognized by

A)color.
B)low-hanging clouds.
C)taste.
D)rain.

Question 59

One of the results of ozone pollution is

A)destruction of bricks.
B)decomposition of granite buildings.
C)cracking of roads.
D)extensive damage to crops.

Question 60

Most hydrocarbons in the urban areas arise from

A)burning coal.
B)processing and use of gasoline.
C)industrial emissions.
D)natural sources.

Question 61

Which of the following statements about catalytic converters is NOT correct?

A)The reaction surface area is unrelated to the efficiency of the converter.
B)They use a metal catalyst such as Pt or Pd.
C)They catalyze the conversion of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides to less harmful compounds.
D)The catalyst adheres either to a honeycomb support or to small ceramic beads.

Question 62

Liquid crystal display (LCD)monitors have largely replaced cathode ray tube (CRT)display monitors for televisions and computers.Which of the following is a problem that results from use of LCD monitors?

A)The LCD monitors need to be shielded with lead, and lead is a toxic metal.
B)Large amounts of nitrogen trifluoride (NF₃)are used in production of LCDs, and much of it is released to the atmosphere.NF₃ is a greenhouse gas that is much more efficient at trapping atmospheric heat than other greenhouse gases, such as CO₂.
C)LCD monitors use less energy than CRT monitors do.
D)Manufacturing of LCD monitors releases much more CO₂ into the atmosphere than manufacturing of CRT monitors did.

Question 63

Which of the following contributes least to the problem of photochemical smog?

A)nitrogen oxides emitted by cars
B)hydrocarbons emitted by cars
C)warm, sunny days
D)cool, wet days

Question 64

Which one of the following is NOT a property of radon?

A)unreactive
B)tasteless
C)odorless
D)nonradioactive

Question 65

In the troposphere,the reactivity of CFCs is

A)low.
B)moderate.
C)high.
D)comparable to neon.

Question 66

Radon is released from soil and rock where it is produced because radon is a

A)gas.
B)liquid.
C)solid.
D)plasma.

Question 67

"Pure" rainfall (rainfall undisturbed by human influences)has a pH of approximately 5.6.The pH of rain in some areas has been measured at 2.6.The acidity of this rain is

A)0)3 times that of normal rain.
B)3 times that of normal rain.
C)300 times that of normal rain.
D)1000 times that of normal rain.

Question 68

Children exposed to secondhand smoke have a higher risk of all of the following EXCEPT

A)bronchitis.
B)sinus infections.
C)sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
D)All of the above risks are higher.

Question 69

Running an engine with a richer (more fuel,less air)combustion mixture lowers nitrogen oxide emissions from automobiles.The problem is that

A)hydrocarbon emission increases.
B)carbon monoxide emission increases.
C)fuel efficiency decreases.
D)all of the above occur.

Question 70

All of the following contribute to increasing indoor air pollution levels EXCEPT

A)gas kitchen stoves.
B)mold.
C)improving insulation and sealing air leaks around windows and doors.
D)All of the above contribute to increasing indoor air pollution.

Question 71

In terms of reactivity,ozone is best classified as

A)very reactive.
B)somewhat reactive.
C)unreactive.
D)similar to He.

Question 72

The metal catalyst in catalytic converters is often

A)gold.
B)zinc.
C)platinum.
D)silver.

Question 73

Indoor "air cleaners" are often advertised.However,some air cleaners actually generate which of the following pollutants?

A)mold
B)CFCs
C)methane
D)ozone

Question 74

Acid rain is precipitation with a pH

A)above 11.5.
B)above 8.2.
C)below 5.6.
D)below 3.6.

Question 75

The ultimate source of radon in the environment is from the radioactive decay of naturally occurring

A)uranium.
B)xenon.
C)thorium.
D)polonium.

Question 76

Ozone (O₃)and oxygen (O₂)are

A)allotropes.
B)similar in reactivity.
C)isomers.
D)liquids at room temperature.

Question 77

Ozone is a very strong

A)acid.
B)base.
C)oxidizing agent.
D)reducing agent.

Question 78

The two principal sources of acid rain are ________ emissions from power plants and ________ emissions from automobiles and power plants.

A)sulfur monoxide; ozone
B)ozone; nitrogen monoxide
C)carbon dioxide; nitrogen monoxide
D)sulfur dioxide; nitrogen monoxide

Question 79

Urban smog contains several air pollutants,including ozone.For a typical sunny day,when would you expect the concentration of ozone to be highest?

A)midnight
B)6 a.m.
C)noon
D)6 p.m.

Question 80

Which of the following gases is most efficient at trapping atmospheric heat?

A)carbon dioxide (CO₂)
B)nitrogen trifluoride (NF₃)
C)water (H₂O)
D)methane (CH₄)