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Atmosphere

parts of atmosphere - 4 regions  

  • troposphere - where people live, goes to about 12 km
  • stratosphere - reaches 50 km
  • mesosphere - reaches 85 km
  • thermosphere - past mesosphere
  • temperature change opposite in successive region
  • pressure change remains constant (decreases as elevation increases)

atmospheric composition - made up of mostly nitrogen, oxygen  

  • nitrogen = 78%
  • oxygen = 21%
  • argon, carbon dioxide, water vapor = next most commonly found gases
  • oxygen reacts more than nitrogen (triple bond)
  • photodissociation - photons from the sun breaking chemical bonds
    • O2 + energy >> 2O
    • mostly dissociated at very high elevations
  • photoionization - loss of electron due to molecule absorbing radiation
  • ozone (O3) forms from photodissociated oxygen and oxygen molecules
    • most ozone found in stratosphere
  • chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) - depletes the ozone layer
    • harmless in lower atmosphere
    • reaches higher atmosphere >> more radiation >> more photodissociation
    • chloride w/ oxygen forms chlorine monoxide

troposphere composition - like atmosphere, mostly nitrogen/oxygen  

  • acid rain - due to nitrogen oxides in air
    • NOx from fossil fuel burning
    • kills animals, corrodes metals/stone
  • carbon monoxide - along w/ cyanide, bonds to hemoglobin better than oxygen
  • photochemical smog - stagnant air mass due to nitric oxide
    • ozone acts as pollutant in lower atmosphere
  • carbon dioxide/methane - contributes to greenhouse effect
Subject: 
Chemistry
Subject X2: 
Chemistry

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