C9 Chemistry of the Atmosphere

Last updated 6 days ago

94 Nsɛmmisa

4.9.1.1 The proportions of different gases in the atmosphere

4.9.1.1

4.9.1.2 The Earth's early atmosphere

4.9.1.2

4.9.1.1

4.9.1.2

4.9.1.3 How oxygen increased

4.9.1.3

4.9.1.4 How carbon dioxide decreased

4.9.1.4

4.9.2.1 Greenhouse gases

4.9.2.1

MS-ESS3-5

4.9.2.1

4.9.2.2 Human activities which contribute to an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

4.9.2.2

4.9.2.3 Global climate change

The following graph shows the average "Temperature Anomaly" (temperature difference) from 1880-Present. This graph was taken from climate.nasa.gov.

8.ESS.1

4.9.2.3

4.9.2.1

4.9.2.2

4.9.2.3

4.9.2.2

4.9.2.3

4.9.2.2

4.9.2.3

4.9.2.4 The carbon footprint and its reduction

4.9.2.4

Click here to view a video on carbon footprint

4.9.3 Common atmospheric pollutants and their sources

4.9.3.1

4.9.3.2

4.9.3.1

4.9.3.2

4.9.3.1

Earth and Space Science Website

Watch the video on How Sunscreen Hurts Coral

Watch the video on Is it OK to be Smart?

4.9.3.2

4.9.3.1

4.9.3.2

C9 Chemistry of the Atmosphere

Last updated 6 days ago

94 Nsɛmmisa

4.9.1.1 The proportions of different gases in the atmosphere

Look at the diagram of the gases in Earth's atmosphere. Name the gas shown by label 3.

4.9.1.1

Look at the picture. It shows the gases in the atmosphere. Which label, 1, 2 or 3, shows gases including carbon dioxide and noble gases?

4.9.1.1

In what form (solid, liquid or gas) is the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?

4.9.1.1

Coal and oil are two examples of fossil fuels. What is a third?

4.9.1.1

What sedimentary rock is made up of mainly calcium carbonate?

4.9.1.1

The Earth's atmosphere has changed during the last 4.6 billion years. What is the approximate percentage of nitrogen and of oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere today?

4.9.1.1

4.9.1.2

The approximate percentage of carbon dioxide in the Earth's early atmosphere was 95%. Which are two reasons why the percentage of carbon dioxide has decreased since the Earth's early atmosphere?

4.9.1.4

What is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere?

Carbon Dioxide

Methane

Nitrogen

Oxygen

4.9.1.1

The atmosphere is composed of mainly

Oxygen

Argon

Carbon Dioxide

Nitrogen

4.9.1.1

What is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere?

Nitrogen

Methane

Carbon Dioxide

Oxygen

4.9.1.1

The atmosphere is composed of mainly

Oxygen

Argon

Carbon Dioxide

Nitrogen

4.9.1.1

Look at the pie chart showing the composition of the Earth's present day atmosphere. From the information in the graph, what is the percentage of oxygen in the atmosphere?

4.9.1.1

4.9.1.2 The Earth's early atmosphere

There is limited evidence of the early atmosphere because the time scale is very long, covering __________ years. Which number completes the sentence?

4.9.1.2

Less than 10% of the Earth's early atmosphere was made up of the present day's most abundant atmospheric gas. What is the name of that gas? Give your answer as a word, not symbols.

4.9.1.2

Look at the picture below. As well as sand and silt, what else buried the dead animals and plants?

4.9.1.2

What sedimentary rock is made from the shells and skeletons of dead marine animals?

4.9.1.2

Earth's atmosphere was formed billions of years ago. What released the gases into the atmosphere?

4.9.1.2

Earth's atmosphere was formed billions of years ago. What gas is thought to have formed most of the atmosphere at first? Give the name, not the formula.

4.9.1.2

Mmuae Afoforo a Wobɛpaw:

theories

millions

evidence

4.9.1.2

Mmuae Afoforo a Wobɛpaw:

evidence can be used from layers of rock and ice cores

carbon dioxide, water vapour, and ammonia

there is limited evidence from so long ago

volcanoes

new theories, backed by evidence, are developed

4.9.1.2

In the Early Atmosphere, what caused the increase in carbon dioxide?

Tornados

Earthquakes

Humans

Volcanoes

4.9.1.2

Describe and explain how the surface and atmosphere of the Early Earth have changed and evolved to form the present day Earth

4.9.1.1

4.9.1.2

Draw your matching here

4.1.1.2

Which gas made up most of the Earth's early atmosphere? Give your answer in words not symbols.

4.9.1.2

For 200 million years, the Earth's atmosphere has contained about four-fifths nitrogen, one-fifth oxygen, and small proportions of various other gases. Which of the following is not one of these other gases?

Water vapour

Chlorine

Carbon Dioxide

Helium

4.9.1.2

4.9.1.3 How oxygen increased

Algae first produced gas X about 2.7 billion years ago. Soon after that, gas X started appearing in the atmosphere. What is gas X? Give the full name, not the symbols.

4.9.1.3

What gas that is important for life today was NOT present in the early atmosphere? Give the full name, not the symbol.

4.9.1.3

What biological process led to a fall in carbon dioxide and rise in oxygen levels of the early atmosphere?

4.9.1.3

What gas that is important for life today was NOT present in the early atmosphere? Give the full name, not the symbol.

4.9.1.3

What gas in our atmosphere is thought to have come from plants and algae alone? Give the name, not the symbols.

4.9.1.3

Which gas is released into the atmosphere by plants as they photosynthesise?

Oxygen

Argon

Carbon Dioxide

Nitrogen

4.9.1.3

The equation below shows a common reaction.
carbon dioxide + water --> glucose + oxygen
What is the name of the reaction?

4.9.1.3

4.9.1.4 How carbon dioxide decreased

What organisms removed carbon dioxide from the early atmosphere?

4.9.1.4

What process do plants and animals perform that adds carbon dioxide to the atmosphere?

4.9.1.4

The __________ is a natural 'reservoir' for dissolved carbon dioxide. What one word completes the sentence?

4.9.1.4

Did carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere increase or decrease when sedimentary rocks and fossil fuels that contain carbon were formed?

4.9.1.4

What biological process led to a fall in carbon dioxide and rise in oxygen levels of the early atmosphere?

4.9.1.4

4.9.2.1 Greenhouse gases

What is the relationship between CO₂ level (blue) and average temperature (red)?

As CO₂ increases, temperature decreases

As CO₂ decreases, temperature increases

As CO₂ increases, temperature increases

There is no relationship between the two

4.9.2.1

What was the average temperature in celsius in 2000?

13.7

14.4

310

370

4.9.2.1

Why is the earth getting warmer?
Extra greenhouse gases in our atmosphere are the main reason that Earth is getting warmer. Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane, trap the Sun's heat in Earth's atmosphere.
It's normal for there to be some greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. They help keep Earth warm enough to live on. But too many greenhouse gases can cause too much warming.
Which of the following is TRUE?

More greenhouse gases are making our earth colder

Too many greenhouse gases can cause too much warming

It is NOT normal to have SOME greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

Greenhouse gases release heat from the atmosphere

4.9.2.1

What are greenhouse gases?
Greenhouse gases are gases in Earth’s atmosphere that trap heat. They let sunlight pass through the atmosphere, but they prevent the heat that the sunlight brings from leaving the atmosphere. The main greenhouse gases are:
Water vapor (H₂0)
Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
Methane (CH₄)
Ozone (O₃)
Nitrous oxide (N₂O)
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Which of the following is true about greenhouse gases?

The allow the earth to cool down by increasing the amount of snow

They trap/keep heat inside the atmosphere

They stop sunlight from getting through the atmosphere

They appear green when you see them

4.9.2.1

Overall, greenhouse gases are a good thing. Without them, our planet would be too cold, and life as we know it would not exist. But there can be too much of a good thing. Scientists are worried that human activities are adding too much of these gases to the atmosphere.
If there were not greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, why would that be a problem?

The earth would have more plants than animals

The earth would be too cold for things to live

The earth would get smaller

The earth would be too hot and would burn up

4.9.2.1

Over the last century, humans have burned coal, oil, and gasoline in our cars, trucks, planes, trains, power plants, and factories. Burning such fossil fuels, known as combustion, produces CO₂ as a waste product.
What human activity is causes the biggest increase in the amount of greenhouse gases?

Combustion

Ocean Exchange/uptake

Photosynthesis

Respiration

4.9.2.1

Which gas molecules are the best at absorbing infrared radiation (heat energy)

4.9.2.1

MS-ESS3-5

What might happen if the greenhouse effect didn't exist?

It would be too cold for humans to survive on Earth

The earth's temperature would be much more comfortable

The sun's rays would never reach the surface of the earth

The earth wouldn't have an atmosphere

4.9.2.1

Why does too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere cause climate change?

It cools down our planet

It traps heat and warms up Earth

It blocks out UV rays

It lets sunlight escape

4.9.2.1

Which type of wave is sunlight?

Long wavelength

Short wavelength

4.9.2.1

Which type of wave is infrared?

Long wavelength

Short wavelength

4.9.2.1

Which of these is a greenhouse gas?

Oxygen

Argon

Carbon dioxide

Nitrogen

4.9.2.1

Which of these gases below is not a greenhouse gas?

Methane

Oxygen

Nitrous Oxide

Water Vapour

4.9.2.1

4.9.2.2 Human activities which contribute to an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

Global warming – an increase in the temperature of the Earth – will result in climate change.
What is one possible human cause of global warming and climate change?

Deforestation

Volcanic eruption and activity

Global dimming

Rising sea level

4.9.2.2

Raising large-scale livestock leads to large releases of methane into the environment.

Nokorɛ

Ɛnyɛ ampa

4.9.2.2

Which of these is NOT an effect of global warming?

Extreme weather (storms, floods, heat waves, etc.)

Dying Coral Reefs

Shrinking polar ice caps

More fossil fuels available

4.9.2.2

When humans burn fossil fuels, most of the carbon quickly enters the ____ as carbon dioxide.

water

sun

atmosphere

ocean

4.9.2.2

Which of these does NOT add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere?

Cooking with a natural gas stove

Burning wood

Planting trees

Riding in a bus

4.9.2.2

4.9.2.3 Global climate change

The following graph shows the average "Temperature Anomaly" (temperature difference) from 1880-Present. This graph was taken from climate.nasa.gov.

The average global temperature has been on a rising trend since the 1960s.

Nokorɛ

Ɛnyɛ ampa

8.ESS.1

In the last 100 years, about how much has the average global temperature changed? (To the nearest tenth)

8.ESS.1

What do you suppose might be the cause of this change in the average global temperature?

8.ESS.1

How much more carbon dioxide was in our atmosphere in 2017 than in 2006 (answer in ppm)?

8.ESS.1

What was the highest historical carbon dioxide level (2nd graph)? What is our carbon dioxide level now (1st graph)? Why is this information useful to us?

8.ESS.1

What trend does the NASA graph above show?

Steady temperature cycles then a sudden recent increase

Unsteady temperature cycles then sudden stable temperatures

Recent decrease in temperatures

Continual steady temperatures

"So if you’ve heard that the world’s weather has been getting more extreme, it’s not just a lot of hot air. It’s also a bunch of warm water".
Explain why an average temperature increase of 0.8 degrees celcius over the past century causes such crazy changes in our weather. (10)

"Climate change might be the biggest threat facing humanity. Just about everyone has heard that the end of the world is coming if we don't drastically change our system. So why is there no panic? Why don't you care? We see celebrities and politicians warning us about our impending doom but the plain fact is the average everyday person does not concern themselves with climate change".
Fully explain why the average person does not care about climate change.

What is global warming?

The average temperature of the Earth increasing

New record cold temperatures

Warm summers

The average temperature of the Earth decreasing

4.9.2.3

Explain, in as much detail as you can, why the results shown in the graph could cause widespread concern

4.9.2.1

4.9.2.2

4.9.2.3

What is one possible effect of global warming and climate change.

Deforestation

Volcanic eruption and activity

Global dimming

Rising sea level

4.9.2.2

4.9.2.3

What is global warming?

Warm summers

New record cold temperatures

The average temperature of the Earth decreasing

The average temperature of the Earth increasing

4.9.2.3

Global warming – an increase in the temperature of the Earth – will result in climate change.
What is one possible human cause of global warming and climate change?

Deforestation

Volcanic eruption and activity

Global dimming

Rising sea level

4.9.2.2

4.9.2.3

What is one possible effect of global warming and climate change.

Deforestation

Volcanic eruption and activity

Global dimming

Rising sea level

4.9.2.3

4.9.2.4 The carbon footprint and its reduction

What is the name of one of the measures that we looked at that measures how much carbon dioxide we impact on the environment?

4.9.2.4

Click here to view a video on carbon footprint

4.9.3 Common atmospheric pollutants and their sources

When coal is burned as a fuel the emissions released include carbon dioxide, water and sulphur dioxide.
Match the product with the type of pollution is causes by drawing one line from each product

4.9.3.1

4.9.3.2

Match each pollution to its cause

Draggable item		Corresponding Item
Soot / Particulates		Acid rain
Carbon Dioxide		No harm
Sulfur dioxide		Global warming
Water		Toxic
Carbon monoxide		Global Dimming

4.9.3.1

4.9.3.2

Sulfur + oxygen -->

4.9.3.1

Hydrogen + oxygen -->

4.9.3.1

Butane + oxygen -->

4.9.3.1

Earth and Space Science Website

Watch the video on How Sunscreen Hurts Coral

Watch the video on Is it OK to be Smart?

Watch the video on How Trees clean the air (above) and the video on Are Trees Renewable Resources?
Comprehension Questions
1) Why are trees categorized as a renewable fuel source?
2) Describe the financial incentives for burning wood for energy.
3) Describe how burning wood for energy harms the environment.
3) Dscribe how burning wood for energy harms the environment.
4) Why is Oregon particularly motivated to use wood for biofuel?
5) Describe the event that Margie Hoffman related to her support of using wood as a biofuel.
6) How has fire suppression made wildfires more dangerous?
7) Identify at least two ways that fire helps living organisms.

Watch the video on Are Trees Renewable Resources?
Critical Thinking Questions
8) How could you explain why using wood should not be eligible to receive financial incentives as a renewable resource?
9) Compare and contrast wood and coal as fuel sources. Are there factors beyond carbon dioxide emissions that might make wood a better fuel source than coal?
10) Why might Oregon consider using wood for biofuel one of the best options for maintaining a healthy forest? 11) How might it benefit the state more than alternative methods for removing wood waste?
12) Brainstorm alternative wood uses rather than biofuel that could still help Oregon prevent wildfires.
13) If sequoias need fire to regenerate, how has a century of fire suppression most likely affected sequoia forests?
14) How might the increasing number of fires due to climate change affect the natural fire linked to the sequoia regeneration cycle?

Carbon monoxide is also produce in car engines.
Name the process that produces carbon monoxide

4.9.3.2

Which pollutant is formed in car engines from the reaction between two gases that occur naturally in the atmosphere?
Tick one box

Carbon dioxide

Oxides of Nitrogen

Carbon particles

Sulfur dioxide

4.9.3.1

When coal is burned as a fuel the emissions released include carbon dioxide, water and sulphur dioxide.
Match the product with the type of pollution is causes by drawing one line from each product

4.9.3.1

4.9.3.2

C9 Chemistry of the Atmosphere

C9 Chemistry of the Atmosphere

Look at the diagram of the gases in Earth's atmosphere. Name the gas shown by label 3.

Look at the picture. It shows the gases in the atmosphere. Which label, 1, 2 or 3, shows gases including carbon dioxide and noble gases?

In what form (solid, liquid or gas) is the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?

Coal and oil are two examples of fossil fuels. What is a third?

What sedimentary rock is made up of mainly calcium carbonate?

The Earth's atmosphere has changed during the last 4.6 billion years. What is the approximate percentage of nitrogen and of oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere today?

The approximate percentage of carbon dioxide in the Earth's early atmosphere was 95%. Which are two reasons why the percentage of carbon dioxide has decreased since the Earth's early atmosphere?

What is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere?

The atmosphere is composed of mainly

What is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere?

The atmosphere is composed of mainly

Look at the pie chart showing the composition of the Earth's present day atmosphere. From the information in the graph, what is the percentage of oxygen in the atmosphere?

There is limited evidence of the early atmosphere because the time scale is very long, covering __________ years. Which number completes the sentence?

Less than 10% of the Earth's early atmosphere was made up of the present day's most abundant atmospheric gas. What is the name of that gas? Give your answer as a word, not symbols.

Look at the picture below. As well as sand and silt, what else buried the dead animals and plants?

What sedimentary rock is made from the shells and skeletons of dead marine animals?

Earth's atmosphere was formed billions of years ago. What released the gases into the atmosphere?

Earth's atmosphere was formed billions of years ago. What gas is thought to have formed most of the atmosphere at first? Give the name, not the formula.

In the Early Atmosphere, what caused the increase in carbon dioxide?

Describe and explain how the surface and atmosphere of the Early Earth have changed and evolved to form the present day Earth

Draw your matching here

Which gas made up most of the Earth's early atmosphere? Give your answer in words not symbols.

For 200 million years, the Earth's atmosphere has contained about four-fifths nitrogen, one-fifth oxygen, and small proportions of various other gases. Which of the following is not one of these other gases?

Algae first produced gas X about 2.7 billion years ago. Soon after that, gas X started appearing in the atmosphere. What is gas X? Give the full name, not the symbols.

What gas that is important for life today was NOT present in the early atmosphere? Give the full name, not the symbol.

What biological process led to a fall in carbon dioxide and rise in oxygen levels of the early atmosphere?

What gas that is important for life today was NOT present in the early atmosphere? Give the full name, not the symbol.

What gas in our atmosphere is thought to have come from plants and algae alone? Give the name, not the symbols.

Which gas is released into the atmosphere by plants as they photosynthesise?

The equation below shows a common reaction.carbon dioxide + water --> glucose + oxygenWhat is the name of the reaction?

What organisms removed carbon dioxide from the early atmosphere?

What process do plants and animals perform that adds carbon dioxide to the atmosphere?

The __________ is a natural 'reservoir' for dissolved carbon dioxide. What one word completes the sentence?

Did carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere increase or decrease when sedimentary rocks and fossil fuels that contain carbon were formed?

What biological process led to a fall in carbon dioxide and rise in oxygen levels of the early atmosphere?

What is the relationship between CO2 level (blue) and average temperature (red)?

What was the average temperature in celsius in 2000?

Why is the earth getting warmer?

Over the last century, humans have burned coal, oil, and gasoline in our cars, trucks, planes, trains, power plants, and factories. Burning such fossil fuels, known as combustion, produces CO2 as a waste product. What human activity is causes the biggest increase in the amount of greenhouse gases?

Which gas molecules are the best at absorbing infrared radiation (heat energy)

What might happen if the greenhouse effect didn't exist?

Why does too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere cause climate change?

Which type of wave is sunlight?

Which type of wave is infrared?

Which of these is a greenhouse gas?

Which of these gases below is not a greenhouse gas?

Global warming – an increase in the temperature of the Earth – will result in climate change. What is one possible human cause of global warming and climate change?

Raising large-scale livestock leads to large releases of methane into the environment.

Which of these is NOT an effect of global warming?

When humans burn fossil fuels, most of the carbon quickly enters the ____ as carbon dioxide.

Which of these does NOT add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere?

The average global temperature has been on a rising trend since the 1960s.

In the last 100 years, about how much has the average global temperature changed? (To the nearest tenth)

What do you suppose might be the cause of this change in the average global temperature?

How much more carbon dioxide was in our atmosphere in 2017 than in 2006 (answer in ppm)?

What was the highest historical carbon dioxide level (2nd graph)? What is our carbon dioxide level now (1st graph)? Why is this information useful to us?

What trend does the NASA graph above show?

"So if you’ve heard that the world’s weather has been getting more extreme, it’s not just a lot of hot air. It’s also a bunch of warm water".Explain why an average temperature increase of 0.8 degrees celcius over the past century causes such crazy changes in our weather. (10)

What is global warming?

Explain, in as much detail as you can, why the results shown in the graph could cause widespread concern

What is one possible effect of global warming and climate change.

What is global warming?

Global warming – an increase in the temperature of the Earth – will result in climate change. What is one possible human cause of global warming and climate change?

What is one possible effect of global warming and climate change.

What is the name of one of the measures that we looked at that measures how much carbon dioxide we impact on the environment?

When coal is burned as a fuel the emissions released include carbon dioxide, water and sulphur dioxide. Match the product with the type of pollution is causes by drawing one line from each product

Match each pollution to its cause

Sulfur + oxygen -->

Hydrogen + oxygen -->

Butane + oxygen -->

Carbon monoxide is also produce in car engines. Name the process that produces carbon monoxide

Which pollutant is formed in car engines from the reaction between two gases that occur naturally in the atmosphere?Tick one box

When coal is burned as a fuel the emissions released include carbon dioxide, water and sulphur dioxide. Match the product with the type of pollution is causes by drawing one line from each product

Look at the diagram of the gases in Earth's atmosphere. Name the gas shown by label 3.

Look at the picture. It shows the gases in the atmosphere. Which label, 1, 2 or 3, shows gases including carbon dioxide and noble gases?

In what form (solid, liquid or gas) is the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?

Coal and oil are two examples of fossil fuels. What is a third?

What sedimentary rock is made up of mainly calcium carbonate?

The equation below shows a common reaction.
carbon dioxide + water --> glucose + oxygen
What is the name of the reaction?

What is the relationship between CO₂ level (blue) and average temperature (red)?

Global warming – an increase in the temperature of the Earth – will result in climate change.
What is one possible human cause of global warming and climate change?

"So if you’ve heard that the world’s weather has been getting more extreme, it’s not just a lot of hot air. It’s also a bunch of warm water".
Explain why an average temperature increase of 0.8 degrees celcius over the past century causes such crazy changes in our weather. (10)

Global warming – an increase in the temperature of the Earth – will result in climate change.
What is one possible human cause of global warming and climate change?

When coal is burned as a fuel the emissions released include carbon dioxide, water and sulphur dioxide.
Match the product with the type of pollution is causes by drawing one line from each product

Carbon monoxide is also produce in car engines.
Name the process that produces carbon monoxide

Which pollutant is formed in car engines from the reaction between two gases that occur naturally in the atmosphere?
Tick one box

When coal is burned as a fuel the emissions released include carbon dioxide, water and sulphur dioxide.
Match the product with the type of pollution is causes by drawing one line from each product

The equation below shows a common reaction.
carbon dioxide + water --> glucose + oxygen
What is the name of the reaction?

What is the relationship between CO₂ level (blue) and average temperature (red)?

Global warming – an increase in the temperature of the Earth – will result in climate change.
What is one possible human cause of global warming and climate change?