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APES- Pollution Flashcards

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6044232875TroposphereThe first layer of the atmosphere, adjacent to the surface of the earth, temperature decreases with increasing altitude and extends to an altitude of about ten miles, all life exists on it, responsible for the greenhouse effect0
6044244284StratosphereThe second layer of the atmosphere, from the top of the troposphere to 30 miles above the surface of the earth, temperature increases with increasing altitude, ozone layer in the lower portion1
6044249594Ozonecolorless, odorless reactive gas comprised of three oxygen atoms, found naturally in the earth's stratosphere, absorbs the ultraviolet component of incoming solar radiation to protect the earth2
6044258485MesosphereThe third layer of the atmosphere, temperature decreases with increasing altitude3
6044272770ThermosphereExtends to outer space, 300 miles outside the surface of the earth4
6044743110Primary Air PollutantsAir pollutants that are released directly from their source into the atmosphere5
6050075042Secondary Air PollutantsAir pollutants that form as the products of chemical reactions that occur among primary pollutants and other chemicals present in the atmosphere6
6050077532Clean Air Act1970, establishes national standards for the allowable outdoor concentration of six criteria air pollutants to protect human health, establishes industrial emission standards for 189 hazardous air pollutants that pose a serious hazard to human health or the environment.7
6050085679Carbon Monoxide (CO)Primary pollutant that is the product of incomplete combustion reactions during the burning of fossil fuels, by automobiles, prevents hemoglobin in red blood cells from binding with oxygen, results in headaches and death if ingested in high concentrations8
6050102486Catalytic ConverterRemoves carbon monoxide from motor vehicle exhaust9
6050104668Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)Primary pollutant that is formed as a product of the reaction between nitrogen and oxygen in the high-temperature environment of fossil fuel combustion, nitric oxide (NO) formed first then oxidized into NO2, reddish brown gas, plays central role in the formation of photochemical smog, precursor to the atmospheric formation of the nitric acid that falls to the earth as acid rain, results in irritation of the respiratory system, aggravation of asthma and bronchitis, impaired plant growth, decreased visibility, catalytic converters remove it from motor vehicles10
6050116857Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx)NO (Nitric oxide) + NO2 (nitrogen dioxide)11
6050119136Sulfur Dioxide (S02)Primary pollutant, formed as a product of the reaction between sulfur and oxygen during the combustion of coal, further oxidized in the atmosphere to sulfur trioxide (SO3), with SO3 forms acid rain, results in aggravation of breathing problems, plant damage, reduced visibility, can be removed from coal smoke with scrubbers12
6050132804Oxides of Sulfur (SOx)SO3 (Sulfur Trioxide) + SO2 (Sulfur Dioxide)13
6050139772ScrubbersUse calcium carbonate (CaCO3) or calcium oxide (CaO) solution to wash the sulfur pollutants out of smoke14
6050143269Tropospheric or Ground Level Ozone (O3)Secondary pollutant, major component of photochemical smog, ozone easily reacts to shed a single oxygen atom, transforms into a more stable oxygen (O2) molecule, results in irritation of the respiratory system and eyes, disintegration of plastic and rubber products15
6050149996Particulate Matter (PM-10)Category of primary pollutants that includes a variety of particulates both solid and liquid, emitted from coal-fired power plants, agricultural operations (plowing of fields/harvesting of crops) tobacco smoke, construction, motor vehicles, particulate matter with an average diameter of 10 mm or less is classified as PM-10, results in respiratory system irritation, aggravate asthma and bronchitis, can cause mutations or cancer, can be removed with electrostatic precipitator16
6050161962Electrostatic PrecipitatorRemoves particulates by imparting a negative charge on them and attracting them to positively charged plates where they are scraped off and removed to a landfill17
6050167921LeadPrimary pollutant, released as a result of leaded gasoline and peeling of lead-based paint in older homes, lead gasoline/paint banned in US18
6050175934Nitric Oxide or Nitrogen Monoxide (NO)Primary pollutant involved in the formation of photochemical smog and precursor to acid rain, formed as a product of the reaction between nitrogen and oxygen in the high-temperature environment of fossil fuel combustion, reacts quickly in air to form nitrogen dioxide, catalytic converters remove it from motor vehicle exhaust19
6050185773Photochemical SmogBrown hazy air pollutant over large cities, formed through cars and sunlight, morning traffic releases nitrogen oxides and VOCs into the air, ultraviolet radiation in sunlight promotes a series of reactions that result in the formation as of many as 100 different compounds including ozone, Oxidants: nitrogen dioxide, peroxyacyl nitrates (PANs) and aldehydes, warmer air temperatures increase rate of the reactions that form smog20
6050194998PANs (Peroxyacyl Nitrates) and AldehydesPhotochemical oxidant, irritates the respiratory system and eyes, damage living tissues, peak at noon21
6050207324Heat Island EffectHeat- loving reactions to heat- absorbing properties of the materials of buildings that create photochemical smog22
6050215494Temperature InversionsTrap pollutants over a city for several days or weeks because in a valley surrounded by mountains, occurs when a layer of warm air sits atop cooler polluted air over a city and prevents the cool air from rising and dispersing its pollutants23
6050225778Sulfuric Acid and Sulfate Salts (H2SO4 or SO4^2-)Secondary pollutant that is formed when sulfur oxides react with water in the atmosphere24
6050228084Nitric Acid and Nitrate Salts (HNO3 or NO3)Secondary pollutant that is formed when nitrogen oxides react with water in the atmosphere25
6050231821BufferWhen soils contain lime/limestone to serve as a neutralizer for the acids and minimizes ecosystem damage26
6050237613RadonNaturally occurring radioactive gas, seeps into buildings from underground deposits, will accumulate to dangerous levels without adequate ventilation, when inhaled the alpha particles emitted will damage lung tissues and increases risk of lung cancer27
6050245987Sick Building SyndromePresence of these living organisms in a building can result in it, condition that causes an abnormally high incidence of headaches, coughing, sneezing, burning eyes, and illness among the employees or residents of the building28
6050254475Greenhouse GasesIncrease amount of heat that is trapped in the atmosphere, results in enhancement of the natural greenhouse effect, Four major: carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, chlorofluorocarbons29
6050265394Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)Category of manmade primary pollutants that includes the variety of inert, stable molecules that are made of a combination of chlorine and fluorine atoms attached to a carbon backbone, once used in coolants in fridges and ACs, long half-life in the atmosphere, ozone depleting chemicals30
6050270823Montreal ProtocolReduced production and release of CFCs to prevent them from destroying stratospheric ozone molecules31
6050274972Kyoto ProtocolTo reduce climate change, enacted in 2005, requires industrialized countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to 5% below their 1990 levels between 2008 and 2012, US and Australia not agree32
6050286300HalonsOzone depleting chemical, chemical use in fire extinguishers33
6050288640Methyl BromideOzone depleting chemical, fumigant used to disinfect soils34
6050292006Dobson Units (DU)Total ozone concentrations measured in it, One DU= a column of ozone 0.01 mm thick at a temperature of 0 degrees celsius and one atmospheric pressure, normal concentration of ozone in the atmosphere is 300 DU35
6050298665Polar Stratospheric CloudsWhen the sun reappears in the spring, and ozone-depleting reactions begin again, facilitate conditions that allow ozone-depleting reactions to destroy ozone at an unusually high rate36
6050305879Acid DepositionOxides of sulfur and nitrogen can be oxidized in the atmosphere and react with water to form acids, which then fall back to the earth as acid rain, snow, fog, hail, sleet, and the dry deposition of acidic particulates, oxides of sulfur and nitrogen are primary pollutants that form the acidic molecules37
6050310135Global Climate ChangeRecent and ongoing rise in global average temperature near Earth's surface, caused mostly by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.38
6050315377Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)CFC replacement, greenhouse gas, unreactive, nonflammable, nontoxic, insoluble in water, used as coolants in fridges and ACs, etc., depletes stratospheric ozone39
6050321436Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)Another CFC replacement, greenhouse gas40
6050322174Indoor Air PollutionCan accumilate and increase in concentration due to poor vetilation (cigarette smoke, formaldehyde, radon, bacteria, yeast, mold, carbon monoxide)41
6050327367Ozone DepletionCaused by halogens in stratosphere that destroy ozone molecules42
6050330258Ozone HoleReduction in ozone concentration over Antartica43
6050330259Ozone LayerLayer of gaseous ozone in the stratosphere that protects life on earth by filtering out most harmful ultraviolet radiation from sun44
6050333954Rowland and Molina1974, proposed hypothesis that increased CFC concentrations in the stratosphere are responsible for depleting the stratospheric ozone layer45
6050337977Volatile Organic Compound (VOC)many hydrocarbons, man-made & natural. Help form photochemical smog. Form from fossil fuel production leaks, gas pumps, dry cleaning, industrial solvents. Limited by Clean Air Act. To reduce, seal leaks, switch to diff. dry-cleaning methods, capture solvents for reuse, prevent gasoline vaporization.46
6050607132DensityMass/volume47
6050607178Atmospheric PressureForce (mass/unit area) of air, caused by the bombardment of a surface by the molecules in air48
6050609913Industrial SmogType of air pollution consisting mostly of a mixture of sulfur dioxide, suspended droplets of sulfuric acid formed from some of the sulfur dioxide, and suspended solid particles49
6050613139Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)Process of removing carbon dioxide gas from coal- burning power and industrial plants and storing it somewhere (usually underground or under the seabed) so that it is not released into the atmosphere, essentially forever50

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