Deck 17: Chemistry in the Atmosphere

Question 1

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.

Answer 1

transmit visible light and absorb infrared radiation.

Question 2

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

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

Answer 2

oxygen atoms

Question 3

Which one of the following is not a greenhouse gas?

A)H₂O
B)O₂
C)CO₂
D)CH₄
E)CFCs

Answer 3

O₂

Question 4

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 5

Which one of the following can function as a greenhouse gas?

A)Ar
B)H₂
C)N₂
D)O₂
E)NO

Question 6

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

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

Question 7

One of the steps in the fixation of nitrogen by lightening is given below. 2NO₂(g)+ H₂O(l) $\to$ 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 8

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 9

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 10

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 11

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 12

Ozone in the stratosphere protects animals and plants from

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

Question 13

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

A)ClO
B)O₃
C)CF₃Cl
D)Cl
E)O₂

Question 14

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 15

Which region of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer?

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

Question 16

The compound CFCl₃ is used as a/an

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

Question 17

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 18

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.

Question 19

The most prevalent noble gas in our atmosphere is

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

Question 20

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 21

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

Question 22

An unusual atmospheric reaction leading to ozone distruction is CF₃O + O₃ $\to$ CF₃O₂ + O₂, the analysis of which has yielded an Arrhenius frequency factor (A)and activation energy of 2.0 $\times$ 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 $\times$ 10^-12 M^-1 s^-1
B)1.2 $\times$ 10⁹ M^-1 s^-1
C)3.5 $\times$ 10⁶ M^-1 s^-1
D)7.9 $\times$ 10^-15 M^-1 s^-1
E)6.8 $\times$ 10⁸ M^-1 s^-1

Question 23

The rate constant of the reaction O + O₃ $\to$ 2O₂ is 7.0 $\times$ 10⁵ M^-1 s^-1 at -40°C and 4.8 $\times$ 10⁶ M^-1s^-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 24

The rate constant of the reaction Cl + CHCl₃ $\to$ HCl + CCl₃ is 5.8 $\times$ 10⁷ M^-1s^-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 $\times$ 10⁷ M^-1 s^-1
B)4.2 $\times$ 10⁷ M^-1 s^-1
C)4.9 $\times$ 10⁹ M^-1 s^-1
D)9.5 $\times$ 10⁶ M^-1 s^-1
E)2.7 $\times$ 10⁹ M^-1 s^-1

Question 25

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 26

A possible reaction leading to removal of ClO from the atmosphere is 2ClO $\to$ Cl₂ + O₂.Studies of this reaction have yielded an Arrhenius frequency factor, A, and an activation energy of 1.0 $\times$ 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 $\times$ 10^-15 M^-1 s^-1
B)8.7 $\times$ 10⁵ M^-1 s^-1
C)2.9 $\times$ 10^-15 M^-1 s^-1
D)9.9 $\times$ 10^-13 M^-1 s^-1
E)1.7 $\times$ 10⁶ M^-1 s^-1

Question 27

What happens to nitrogen dioxide in sunlight? Write the reaction for this process.

Question 28

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 29

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

Question 30

Write chemical equations that show what happens when acid rain reacts with limestone rock

Question 31

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

Question 32

Name four "greenhouse gases" besides carbon dioxide.

Question 33

Write out the steps in the mechanism by which ozone is formed in the stratosphere.

Question 34

List three primary pollutants removed from automobile exhaust by catalytic converters.

Question 35

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 36

Write out the steps in the mechanism of ozone destruction by chlorine atoms.

Question 37

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 38

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

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

Question 39

Write out the steps that show how sulfur in coal is converted to sulfuric acid in acid rain.

Question 40

Write out the steps in the reaction scheme for nitrogen fixation by lightening.

Question 41

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?