Deck 21: Environmental Chemistry: Earths Environment, Energy, and Sustainability

Question 1

Which of the following is the primary source of helium and argon in the atmosphere?

A) Solar wind
B) Mining operations
C) Burning of fossil fuels
D) Radioactive decay
E) Volcanic eruptions

Answer 1

Radioactive decay

Question 2

Which of the following ions has the highest concentration in seawater?

A) Chloride ion
B) Potassium ion
C) Bicarbonate ion
D) Magnesium ion
E) Calcium ion

Answer 2

Chloride ion

Question 3

Which of the following is the correct name for the compound NH₄+?

A) Hydrogen nitride
B) Ammonia
C) Nitrogen tetrahydride
D) Nitric acid
E) Ammonium

Answer 3

Ammonium

Question 4

Which of the following is not considered a renewable source of energy?

A) Solar energy
B) Hydroelectric energy
C) Nuclear energy
D) Wind energy
E) Geothermal energy

Question 5

Which of the following gases has the highest concentration in Earth's atmosphere?

A) Nitrogen
B) Oxygen
C) Argon
D) Carbon dioxide
E) Ozone

Question 6

On a global scale, which of the following processes is responsible for the conversion of around 50% (the highest amount) of nitrogen to its other compounds?

A) Burning fossil fuels
B) Lightening
C) Biological processes
D) Fertilizer production
E) Volcanic eruptions

Question 7

Which of the following water pollutants is responsible for skin lesions and skin cancer when ingested at unsafe (toxic) levels?

A) Arsenic
B) Copper
C) Mercury
D) Fluoride
E) Lead

Question 8

Which of the following chemicals is not used to disinfect water?

A) Chlorine
B) Sodium hypochlorite
C) Ozone
D) Slacked lime
E) Methane

Question 9

Which of the following is the correct electron geometry around the central oxygen in ozone, O3?

A) Linear
B) Bent
C) Trigonal planar
D) Tetrahedral
E) Trigonal bipyramidal

Question 10

The mechanism of the chlorine atom catalyzed decomposition of ozone is as follows: ​
O₃ + ⋅Cl → ⋅ClO + O₂
⋅ClO + ⋅O → ⋅Cl + O₂
O₃ + UV light → ⋅O + O₂
​
Identify the intermediates in the above mechanism.

A) O₃
B) ⋅Cl
C) ⋅ClO
D) O₂
E) ⋅O

Question 11

The majority of electricity generated in the United States is generated from _____.

A) wind power
B) hydroelectric power
C) nuclear fission
D) solar power
E) fossil fuels

Question 12

Which of the following compounds was used by the ancient Egyptians and is still used today to remove visible impurities in water?

A) Sand (SiO₂)
B) Aluminum(III) hydroxide (Al(OH)₃)
C) Slaked lime (Ca(OH)₂)
D) Alum (KAl(SO₄)₂)
E) Chlorine (Cl₂)

Question 13

The minimum wavelength of light required to decompose a single ozone molecule is 320. nm. Calculate the minimum energy required to decompose 1.00 mole of ozone. (h = 6.626 × 10^-34 J⋅s, c = 3.00 × 10⁸ m/s, 1 nm = 10^-9 m, 1mol = 6.022 × 10²³)

A) 6.21 × 10^-19 kJ/mol
B) 120 kJ/mol
C) 0.374 kJ/mol
D) 374 kJ/mol
E) 0.00267 kJ/mol

Question 14

Which of the following is the most abundant nitrogen oxide in the atmosphere?

A) NO
B) NO₂
C) N₂O
D) NO₃−
E) NO₂−

Question 15

Which of the following water pollutants was responsible for the algal bloom in Lake Erie?

A) Arsenic
B) Phosphates
C) Mercury
D) Fluoride
E) Trihalomethanes

Question 16

Which of the following is not responsible for the formation and/or release of methane into the atmosphere?

A) Aerobic bacteria
B) Cows
C) Landfills
D) Mining
E) Termites

Question 17

Desalination of seawater by reverse osmosis requires application of pressure greater than the osmotic pressure of a 6.2 solution at 25°C? (assume the van't Hoff factor i = 2 and R = 0.0826 L⋅atm/mol⋅K)

A) 5 atm
B) 2.6 atm
C) 0.44 atm
D) 310 atm
E) 26 atm

Question 18

Which of the following is the main form of nitrogen absorbed by plants?

A) Nitrite ion
B) Ammonium ion
C) Nitrogen monoxide
D) Nitrogen
E) Nitrogen dioxide

Question 19

The largest renewable source of electricity production in the United States is from _____.

A) wind power
B) hydroelectricity power
C) solar power
D) geothermal energy
E) biomass energy

Question 20

Which of the following chemicals is used as a disinfectant to destroy pathogens?

A) Chlorine
B) Calcium carbonate
C) Ozone
D) Methane
E) None of these

Question 21

Which of the following is not a component of petroleum?

A) Alkynes
B) Alkenes
C) alkanes
D) Aromatic compounds
E) Both alkynes and alkenes

Question 22

The majority of crude oil ends up being used _____.

A) as a solvent
B) to make fine chemicals
C) to make plastics
D) as fuel
E) to make rubber

Question 23

Which of the following energy conversions is correct for the combustion of natural gas?

A) Chemical potential energy to thermal energy.
B) Thermal energy to mechanical energy.
C) Mechanical energy to chemical potential energy.
D) Electrostatic energy to mechanical energy.
E) Gravitational energy to acoustic energy.

Question 24

Which of the following is a byproduct of biodiesel production?

A) Methanol
B) Glycerol
C) Water
D) Hydrogen
E) Glucose

Question 25

Methanol reacts with oils and fats to produce biodiesel through a(n) _____ reaction.

A) trans-esterification
B) addition
C) condensation
D) alkylation
E) trans-oxidation

Question 26

What quantity, in moles, of hydrogen is consumed in the reaction below when 307.6 kJ of energy is evolved from the combustion of a mixture of hydrogen gas and oxygen gas? H₂(g) + $\frac { 1 } { 2 }$ O₂(g) ? H₂O(l); ?_rH° = -285.8 kJ/mol-rxn

A) 1.076 mol
B) 0.5381 mol
C) 0.9291 mol
D) 2.076 mol
E) 0.07628 mol

Question 27

What mass of sulfur dioxide gas is produced from 5.50 kg of coal that contains 1.37 % sulfur by mass?

A) 301 g
B) 11.0 g
C) 37.7 g
D) 151 g
E) 113 g

Question 28

Biodiesel is a mixture of:

A) fats and oils derived from glycerol.
B) alkenes derived from fats and oils.
C) ketones derived from fatty acids.
D) esters derived from fats and oils.
E) alkanes derived from fats and oils.

Question 29

Which of the following methods is used for the industrial production of hydrogen?

A) Electrolysis
B) Electrophoresis
C) Steam reforming
D) Liquid reforming
E) Liquefaction

Question 30

In addition to electricity, which of the following products are generated by a fuel cell charged with methanol (CH₃OH) and dioxygen (O₂)?

A) Hydrogen
B) Hydrogen and carbon monoxide
C) Hydrogen and methane
D) Water and methane
E) Water and carbon dioxide

Question 31

Which of the following cannot be used in the production of bioethanol?

A) Sellulose from grasses
B) Sugar beets
C) Sugar canes
D) Corns
E) Natural gases

Question 32

Arrange the three forms of coal in order of their increasing sulfur content.

A) Anthracite < Lignite < Bituminous
B) Lignite < Anthracite < Bituminous
C) Lignite < Bituminous < Anthracite
D) Anthracite < Bituminous < Lignite
E) Bituminous < Lignite < Anthracite

Question 33

Which of the following statements concerning natural gas is not true?

A) Gas-fired power plants emit up to 40% less carbon dioxide than coal-burning power plants.
B) 70-95% of natural gas consists primarily of ethane (C₂H₆).
C) Combustion of methane does not produce ash.
D) Large amounts of methane exist in the oceans because methane hydrates.
E) Natural gas is found deep under the Earth's surface.

Question 34

What of the following radiations is trapped by greenhouse gases?

A) Microwaves
B) UV radiation
C) Visible radiation
D) Infrared radiation
E) Radio waves

Question 35

Calculate the mass of coal that produces the same amount of energy as the combustion of 3.90 kg hydrogen gas. $$\begin{array} { l l } \underline { \text { Fuel } } & \underline {\text { Energy released } ( \mathrm { kJ } / \mathrm { g } ) }\\\text { Coal } & 29 \\\text { Hydrogen } & 120\end{array}$$

A) $1.6 \times 10 ^ { 3 }$ g
B) $1.6 \times 10 ^ { 4 }$ g
C) 16 kg
D) 0.94 kg
E) $9.4 \times 10 ^ { 2 }$ kg

Question 36

If the complete consumption of 10.3 g of C₂H₆ liberates -534.4 kJ of heat energy at constant pressure and 25°C, what is Δ_rH° for the following reaction 2C₂H₆(g) + 7O₂(g) → 4CO₂(g) + H₂O(l)
?

A) -3120 kJ/mol-rxn
B) -1560 kJ/mol-rxn
C) -366 kJ/mol-rxn
D) -183 kJ/mol-rxn
E) -785 kJ/mol-rxn

Question 37

Which of the following is not a greenhouse gas?

A) CO₂
B) CH₄
C) H₂O
D) N₂O
E) N₂

Question 38

The largest known source of tar sands is found in _____.

A) the United States of America
B) the United Arab Emirates
C) Venezuela
D) Saudi Arabia
E) Canada

Question 39

What process is used to covert coal into coke?

A) Steam reforming
B) Liquefaction
C) Fermentation
D) Heating in the absence of air
E) Heating in the presence of air

Question 40

Which of the following processes is used to convert coal into coke?

A) Steam reforming
B) Liquefaction
C) Fermenting in the presence of air
D) Heating in the absence of air
E) heating in the presence of air

Question 41

The approximate rise in the surface temperature of the Earth during the last century is _____.

A) 0.2-0.5 °C
B) 0.6-0.9 °C
C) 1.2-1.5 °C
D) 1.6-1.9 °C
E) 2.1-2.3 °C

Question 42

Which of the following gases is responsible for ocean acidification?

A) Methane
B) Nitrogen dioxide
C) Carbon dioxide
D) Sulfur dioxide
E) Sulfur trioxide

Question 43

Which of the following releases the largest amount of energy? (Assuming the same quantity for all.)

A) Coal
B) Crude petroleum
C) Gasoline
D) Natural gas
E) Biomass

Question 44

Please state what is wrong with the following statement, "To stop global warming we must eliminate all greenhouse gases."?

Question 45

Which of the following is the by-product of plant photosynthesis?

A) Carbon dioxide
B) Oxygen
C) Glucose
D) Water
E) Hydrogen

Question 46

One liter of water is mixed with excess calcium carbonate, resulting in the equilibrium below. CaCO₃(s) D Ca²⁺(aq) + CO₃^2-(aq)
What is the effect on the solubility of calcium carbonate when aqueous nitric acid is added? (Assume no change in volume.)

A) the solubility of CaCO₃ decreases because the acid increases the amount of CO₃^2-.
B) the solubility of CaCO₃ increases because the acid increases the amount of CO₃^2-.
C) the solubility of CaCO₃ decreases because the acid decreases the amount of CO₃^2-.
D) the solubility of CaCO₃ increases because the acid decreases the amount of CO₃^2-.
E) the solubility of CaCO₃ is unchanged.

Question 47

Explain why fossil fuels and hydrocarbons produced by natural processes, are considered a nonrenewable energy resource.

Question 48

Carbonic acid is a diprotic weak acid. Which of the following balanced equilibria represents K_a2 for carbonic acid?

A) CO₃²⁻(aq) + H₂O(l) D OH−(aq) + HCO₃−(aq)
B) CO₂(g) + H₂O(l) D H₂CO₃(aq)
C) H₂CO₃(aq) + H₂O(l) D H₃O⁺(aq) + HCO₃−(aq)
D) HCO₃−(aq) + H₂O(l) D OH−(aq) + H₂CO₃(aq)
E) HCO₃−(aq) + H₂O(l) D H₃O⁺(aq) + CO₃²⁻(aq)

Question 49

Which of the following layers of the atmosphere is the most important layer for humans?

A) Troposphere
B) Thermosphere
C) Exosphere
D) Mesosphere
E) Stratosphere

Question 50

The pH of the oceans in the 18th century was 8.2. A drop of pH to _____ represents a doubling of the hydronium ion concentration in the oceans.

A) 16.4
B) 9.28.0
C) 8.0
D) 7.9
E) 4.1

Question 51

Explain why the melting of Arctic sea ice will not raise the sea level.