Chapter 17: Atmospheric Science and Air Pollution

Transcription

1 Name: Per. Due Dates: See the HW Guides for Week 1 and 2 of this unit EPA s 6 Criteria Pollutants (plus 2) Air Pollutant List Major Anthropogenic and Natural Sources (if applicable) Carbon monoxide (CO) Sulfur dioxide (SO₂ or SO x ) Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂ or NO x ) Tropospheric ozone (O₃) Human Health Risks Describe 1 Environmental Impacts Describe 1 Particulate matter 1

2 Lead Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) Mercury Using chemical equations and/or descriptions to explain how the following secondary pollutants are formed Pollutant Reaction SO 3 (sulfer trioxide) and H 2 SO 4 (sulfuric acid) Tropospheric O 3 from NO 2 HNO 3 (Nitric acid) 2

3 Using chemical equations and/or descriptions AND pictures to explain how the ozone hole formed. Do not just copy the picture in your textbook, but create your own representation. In your picture, indicate the difference between ozone-hole formation and global climate change. Are there any similarities between the two? 3

4 Chapter 17 Study Questions: Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper: 4 1. Describe the difference between a primary pollutant and a secondary pollutant. 2. Consider the photochemical smog pollution that has plagued Los Angeles, Tehran, Mexico City, and other metropolitan areas. Describe several ways in which major cities have tried to improve the air quality. 3. Explain the differences between the Clean Air Act of 1970 and What impact has this legislation had on improving air quality in the United States? 4. Explain how a spray-tower scrubbers work to remove pollutants from the air. 5. Where is the ozone layer located? How and why is stratospheric ozone beneficial for people, whereas tropospheric ozone is harmful? Read the following scenario and answer the following multiple choice questions. Thousands of young families moved "over the hills" and into the San Fernando Valley, a suburb of Los Angeles, after World War II. New neighborhoods were springing up, replacing orange groves and open space; roads and schools quickly sprang into existence, trying to keep pace with the rapid population growth. Ringed by beautiful mountains, the entire Los Angeles basin looked like a new, green, sun-filled paradise to the families seeking a fresh start. In the early 1950s, one of the common family chores in Los Angeles was to carry the trash out to the stone incinerator behind the garage where each family burned all of their dry trash. "Wet" garbage was collected and taken to a city dump, where it was burned by the city. Everyone throughout the city either used an incinerator or burned things in an open trash pile; there were over 400,000 backyard trash incinerators. On warm afternoons, eyes would sometimes sting and burn. People would stop, close their eyes, and let the cleansing tears refresh irritated eyes. They accepted this as a normal part of life in sunny California. 1) Part of the reason that people's eyes would sting was: A) the lead emissions from the burning trash B) the carbon monoxide from the burning trash C) the smoke and particulates from the burning trash D) the excess water vapor from the burning trash E) the plastics and chemicals in the burning trash 2) In the 1950s, Los Angeles became famous for its smog. One part of the problem was: A) the increase in the number of automobiles B) heavy industry along the coastline C) natural gas leaks from wells D) pollution from the dams on the Colorado River E) dust from inland farms 3) One key to the puzzle of Los Angeles smog is the fact that: A) the offshore breezes carry inland pollution to coastal Los Angeles B) the Hadley cell for that area drops cool air, and pollution, right over Los Angeles C) Los Angeles and its suburbs are all ringed by mountains D) incoming tides in the harbor push air pollution ahead of them E) there are so many rainy days, increasing the acidic deposition 4) The Los Angeles smog problem is made much worse by: A) the foggy climate, which leads to acidic deposition B) nearby mountains and the warm sunshine, which cause inversion layers C) the convection cells, which bring pollutants from other cities D) the high cloud levels, which deplete the local ozone layer E) the onshore breezes, which prevent pollution from dispersing

5 5) In the mid-1950s, a researcher in Los Angeles was able to create smog by setting up a large, clear chamber and using it to expose auto exhaust to sunlight. He was demonstrating: A) the cause of acidic deposition B) point source pollution C) non-point source pollution D) the cause of ozone depletion E) photochemical reactions 6) In 1958 trash collection programs were established, and backyard incinerators were banned in the hope of reducing smog. However, it was estimated that massive amounts of gasoline were evaporating from storage tanks, fuel pump nozzles, and delivery trucks. This was also considered a serious contributor to smog, and over the next 20 years several new rules, and several new devices, were put in place to alleviate it. There was still a great deal of smog, now identified as photochemical smog, despite the changes. The major remaining problem was: A) indoor pollution from new houses, with new furniture B) the influx of new manufacturing, with new chemicals C) too many coal-fired power plants along the coast D) the large distances traveled daily by solitary commuters E) insufficient city funding to improve waste dumps 5

6 Read the following prompt and answer the practice FRQ questions a) Support Councilwoman Smith s statement that nitrogen-based fertilizers cause other environmental problems by describing one such problem. b) Identify a nitrogen-containing primary pollutant that contributes to the formation of photochemical smog. Describe how that primary pollutant forms and explain why Councilman Budd was wrong. c) Identify one secondary pollutant that is a component of photochemical smog and describe the following. i. How the secondary pollutant forms ii. ONE human health effect of the pollutant iii. ONE environmental effect of the pollutant d) Earth s natural nitrogen cycle occurs in several steps. Describe one chemical transformation that occurs in the natural nitrogen cycle (how the atoms in a nitrogen containing molecule are rearranged through a chemical reaction into another molecule) and discuss the importance of that transformation to an ecosystem. Be sure to include the balanced chemical equation for this transformation (you will need to use a source outside of your textbook for this). 6