Deck 20: Chemistry in the Atmosphere

Question 1

The regions of the earth's atmosphere listed from lowest altitude to highest altitude are:

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

Answer 1

troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere.

Question 2

The mechanism for the decomposition of ozone in the presence of a reactive chlorine atom is shown below. Which species functions as a catalyst
O₃ + (UV light) $\rarr$ O + O₂
Cl + O₃ $\rarr$ ClO + O₂
ClO + O $\rarr$ Cl + O₂

A) O
B) Cl
C) ClO
D) CFCl₃
E) O₂

Answer 2

Cl

Question 3

The compound CFCl₃ is used as a/an

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

Answer 3

coolant.

Question 4

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 5

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 6

Which of the following reactions associated with nitrogen fixation by lightening is a disproportionation reaction
I. N₂(g) + O₂(g) $\rarr$ 2NO(g)
II. 2NO(g) + O₂(g) $\rarr$ 2NO₂(g)
III. 2NO₂(g) + H₂O(l) $\rarr$ HNO₂(aq) + HNO₃(aq)

A) I, II, and III
B) II and III
C) I and II
D) I and III
E) III only

Question 7

Which one of the following reactions is an example of nitrogen fixation

A)N₂O₅(g) $\rarr$ NO₃(g) + NO₂(g)
B)N₂(g) + O₂(g) $\rarr$ 2NO(g)
C)3NO₂(g) + H₂O(l) $\rarr$ 2HNO₃(aq) + NO(g)
D)2NO(g) + O₂(g) $\rarr$ 2NO₂(g)
E)2NH₃(g) $\rarr$ 3H₂(aq) + N₂(g)

Question 8

Select all of the following that are capable of destroying stratospheric ozone through chemical means

I. CF₂Cl₂
II. NO
III. CO₂

A) I, II, and III
B) I and III
C) II and III
D) I and II
E) I only

Question 9

The most prevalent noble gas in our atmosphere is

A) helium.
B) neon.
C) argon.
D) krypton.
E) xenon.

Question 10

The mechanism for the decomposition of ozone in the presence of a reactive chlorine atom is shown below. Which of the following species is an intermediate
O₃ + (UV light) $\rarr$ O + O₂
Cl + O₃ $\rarr$ ClO + O₂
ClO + O $\rarr$ Cl + O₂

A) Cl
B) ClO
C) O₃
D) O₂
E) UV light

Question 11

One of the steps in the fixation of nitrogen by lightening is given below.2NO₂(g) + H₂O(l) $\rarr$ HNO₂(aq) + HNO₃(aq) In this reaction, is the element nitrogen oxidized or reduced

A) Nitrogen is oxidized in this reaction.
B) Nitrogen is reduced in this reaction.
C) Nitrogen is oxidized and reduced in this reaction.
D) Nitrogen is neither oxidized nor reduced in this reaction.

Question 12

Which of the following is a promising candidate as an alternative to using chlorofluorocarbons as a coolant

A) CCl₂F₂
B) CClF₃
C) CFCl₃
D) CH₂FCF₃
E) C₃H₈

Question 13

Which region of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer

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

Question 14

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 15

The ozone layer in the atmosphere protects animals and plants from

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

Question 16

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 17

The CO₂ content of Earth's atmosphere is approximately

A) 4%.
B) 0.4%.
C) 0.04% (400 ppm).
D) 40 ppm.
E) 4 ppm.

Question 18

Determine 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 19

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 20

Which of the following cannot be plausibly linked to 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 21

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 22

The rate constant of the reaction Cl + CHCl₃ $\rarr$ HCl + CCl₃ is 5.8 *10⁷ M^-1s^-1 at 25 ^$\circ$ 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 ^$\circ$ 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 23

Excluding water vapor, list the four most prevalent gases in our atmosphere from most abundant to least abundant.

A) N₂ > O₂ > CO₂ > Ar
B) N₂ > CO₂ > O₂ > Ar
C) N₂ > O₂ > Ar > CO₂
D) CO₂ > O₂ > Ar > N₂
E) None of the above

Question 24

List the following greenhouse gases in order of their overall magnitude of contribution to global warming: N₂O, CFCs, CO₂, CH₄.

A) N₂O < CFCs < CO₂ < CH₄
B) N₂O < CH₄ < CFCs < CO₂
C) CO₂ < N₂O < CFCs < CH₄
D) CH₄ < CFCs < N₂O < CO₂
E) N₂O < CFCs < CH₄ < CO₂

Question 25

Determine which of the following pollutants are of capable of forming acid rain when combined with water.
I. SO₂
II. SO₃
III. CaCO₃
IV. CaO

A) I and II
B) III and IV
C) I, II, III, and IV
D) II and III
E) I, II and IV

Question 26

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 27

The rate constant of the reaction O + O₃ $\rarr$ 2O₂ is 7.0 *10⁵ M^-1 s^-1 at -40 ^$\circ$ C and 4.8 * 10⁶ M^-1s^-1 at 25 ^$\circ$ 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 28

Peroxyacetyl nitrate, called PAN for short, is a powerful lachrymator. A lachrymator is

A) a greenhouse gas.
B) a product of incomplete combustion.
C) an agent that induces drowsiness.
D) a cancer causing agent.
E) a tear producer.

Question 29

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 30

Name four regions of the atmosphere in order of increasing altitude.

A) troposphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, stratosphere
B) troposphere, mesosphere stratosphere, thermosphere
C) stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, troposphere
D) troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere
E) None of the above

Question 31

The steps in the reaction scheme for nitrogen fixation by lightening are as follow:
N₂(g) + O₂(g) $\underrightarrow{~~~~\text { lightening }~~~~}$ 2NO(g)
2NO(g) + O₂(g) $\rarr$ 2NO₂(g)
2NO₂(g) + H₂O(l) $\rarr$ HNO₂(aq) + HNO₃(aq)

Question 32

Which one of the following can function as a greenhouse gas

A) Ar
B) H₂
C) N₂
D) O₂
E) NO

Question 33

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) $\rarr$ CaCO₃(s).

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

Question 34

Which one of the following is not a greenhouse gas

A) H₂O
B) O₂
C) CO₂
D) CH₄
E) CFCs

Question 35

Acid rain is precipitation having a pH that is

A) above 7.0
B) below 5.5
C) below 7.0
D) above 8.6
E) above 10.0

Question 36

Which of the following sources does NOT contribute significantly to the greenhouse effect

A) Coal-fired power plants
B) Landfills
C) Automobile exhaust
D) Nuclear power plants
E) Chlorofluorocarbons

Question 37

An unusual atmospheric reaction leading to ozone destruction is CF₃O + O₃ $\rarr$ 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 ^$\circ$ 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 38

A possible reaction leading to removal of ClO from the atmosphere is 2ClO $\rarr$ Cl₂ + O₂. Studies of this reaction have yielded an Arrhenius frequency factor (A) and 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 ^$\circ$ 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 39

Which of the following would NOT help reduce the amount of CO₂ introduced into the atmosphere

A) Improving energy efficiency in automobiles
B) Use of nuclear energy
C) Recover methane gas generated at landfills
D) Preservation of the Amazon jungle
E) Converting forests to farmland for crops and grassland for cattle

Question 40

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

A)CaCO₃ + 2OH^- $\rarr$ Ca(OH)₂ + CO₂
B)CaCO₃ + 2H₃O⁺ $\rarr$ Ca²⁺ + CO₂ + 3H₂O
C)CaCO₃ + H₂O $\rarr$ Ca + H₂CO₃
D)CaCO₃ + OH^- $\rarr$ Ca²⁺ + CO₂ + H₂O
E)CaCO₃ + 2H₃O⁺ $\rarr$ Ca²⁺ + CO₂ + 2H₂O

Question 41

Which one of the following is not considered a "greenhouse gas "

A) Carbon dioxide
B) Water vapor
C) Nitrous oxide
D) Methane
E) All of the above are considered greenhouse gases

Question 42

The steps in the mechanism of ozone destruction by nitric oxide (NO) are shown here:
NO(g) + O₃(g) $\rarr$ NO₂(g) + O₂(g)
NO₂(g) + O(g) $\rarr$ NO(g) + O₂(g)

Question 43

The steps in the mechanism of ozone destruction by chlorine atoms is shown here:
Cl₂(g) + O₃(g) $\rarr$ 2ClO(g) + O₂(g)
ClO(g) + O(g) $\rarr$ O₂(g) + Cl(g)

Question 44

The following balanced equation shows what happens to nitrogen dioxide in sunlight.NO₂(g) + hn $\rarr$ NO(g) + O(g)

Question 45

The balanced chemical equation for the reaction of acid rain with limestone rock is shown here:
CaCO₃ + 2H⁺ $\rarr$ Ca²⁺ + CO₂ + H₂O

Question 46

The steps in the mechanism by which ozone is formed in the stratosphere are shown here:
O₂(g) + O $\rarr$ 2O(g)
O(g) + O₂(g) $\rarr$ O₃(g)

Question 47

Of the following which one, if any, is not one of the primary pollutants removed from automobile exhaust by catalytic converters.

A) CO
B) CO₂
C) NO
D) Unburned hydrocarbons
E) All of the above are removed from automobile exhaust through catalytic converters

Question 48

The reaction that shows how the acidic oxide N₂O₅ combines with water to generate nitric acid leading to acid rain is shown in the balanced equation here.N₂O₅(g) + H₂O(l) $\rarr$ 2 HNO₂(aq)

Question 49

Shown here are the four steps that show how sulfur in coal is converted to sulfuric acid in acid rain. Which step, if any, shows an unbalanced equation

A)S(s) + O₂(g) $\rarr$ SO₂(g)
B)SO₂(g) + OH(g) $\rarr$ HOSO₂(g)
C)HOSO₂(g) + O₂ $\rarr$ HO₂(g) + SO₃(g)
D)SO₃(g) + H₂O(l) $\rarr$ H₂SO₄(aq)
E) None of the above are unbalanced equations

Question 50

The average person breathes about 20 m³ of air a day. What mass of particulates would a person breathe in a day if the particulate level were 400 micrograms per cubic meter

A) 2 mg
B) 4 mg
C) 6 mg
D) 8 mg
E) None of the above