Chemistry of the Atmosphere

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Quiz Questions

1.
1. What are the approximate percentages of nitrogen and oxygen in the Earth atmosphere today?
- A.
  Nitrogen 79%, oxygen 20% the rest is made up of other gases including carbon dioxide, water vapour and noble gases.
- B.
  Oxygen 79%, nitrogen 20% the rest is made up of other gases including carbon dioxide, water vapour and noble gases.
- C.
  Oxygen 20%, carbon dioxide 79% the rest is made up of other gases including nitrogen, water vapour and noble gases.
- D.
  Nitrogen 79%, carbon dioxide 20% the rest is made up of other gases including oxygen, water vapour and noble gases.
2.
2. What was the composition of the early Earths atmosphere approximately one billion years after its formation ?
- A.
  Mostly nitrogen with large amounts of carbon dioxide and very little oxygen.
- B.
  Mostly carbon dioxide and nitrogen with some oxygen. Small amounts of methane and ammonia may also have been present.
- C.
  Mostly carbon dioxide with very little oxygen. Small amounts of methane and ammonia may also have been present.
- D.
  Similar to the current Earths atmosphere.
3.
3. How was large amounts of carbon dioxide removed from the Earths early atmosphere?
- A.
  When marine animals, plants and plankton die they sink to the seabed and get buried by layers of sediment. This keeps the carbon dioxide locked up.
- B.
  Absorption by the oceans to create carbonate precipitates which formed sediment on the seabed.
- C.
  Green plants and algae absorbed carbon dioxide using it for photosynthesis.
- D.
  All of the above
4.
4. Photosynthesis is when..
- A.
  Glucose and oxygen react together in the presence of chlorophyll and light to produce carbon dioxide and water.
- B.
  Carbon dioxide and water react together in the presence of chlorophyll and light to produce glucose and oxygen. This takes place in the palisade mesophyl cells.
- C.
  Glucose and oxygen react together producing carbon dioxide, water and energy. This takes place in the mitochondria.
- D.
  Carbon dioxide and water react together in the mitochondria to produce glucose and oxygen. Sunlight and chlorophyll is needed for this process.
5.
5. Scientists use many resources to create their theories of the early earth. Which one of these is incorrect?
- A.
  The gases released by volcanoes todays are likely to be similar to those produces when volcanoes were erupting billions of years ago.
- B.
  The atmosphere of planets where there isn't life such as Jupiter and Saturn can be used to predict what Earths atmosphere might be like.
- C.
  Evidence of rocks such as "red beds" contains lots of iron oxide. This could only have been created when there was lots of oxygen in the atmosphere. The age of these red beds can be used to predict the points at which oxygen reached a certain level in the atmosphere.
- D.
  Fossilised remains of early bacteria and simple organisms have been found which shows they did not rely on oxygen to release energy but used other gases such as carbon dioxide. These are older than fossils of those that use oxygen which is suggestive of our model of the early atmosphere.
6.
6. What are greenhouse gases?
- A.
  Gases that reflect heat away from the Earth which helps the Earth stay cool.
- B.
  Gases that absorb the short wave radiation given out by the sun which warms the Earth by trapping it inside.
- C.
  Gases that U.V waves from leaving the earth.
- D.
  Gases that absorb the reflected long wave radiation from Earth and then re-radiates it in all directions.
7.
7. What is a carbon footprints?
- A.
  Footprints made by animals in carbon based sedimentary rocks.
- B.
  The amount of carbon released by the human population every year.
- C.
  A measure of the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases released over the full lifecycle of a product, event or service.
- D.
  A measure of the amount of carbon dioxide released when burning fossil fuels in power stations and car engines.
8.
8. What two products are formed when a hydrocarbon fuel is completely combusted?
- A.
  Carbon Dioxide and hydrogen
- B.
  Water and carbon dioxide
- C.
  Water and hydrogen
- D.
  Carbon monoxide and soot.
9.
9. What gas other than carbon dioxide will be formed if the fuel contains sulfur impurities and is burnt in plenty of oxygen?
- A.
  Sulfur dioxide
- B.
  Sulfur
- C.
  Sulfuric acid
- D.
  Sulfur oxide
10.
10. Under what conditions will nitrogen oxides form when a hydrocarbon fuel is burnt?
- A.
  Low temperature
- B.
  High pressure
- C.
  Low pressure
- D.
  High temperature
11.
11. Which issue is caused by the gases sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides?
- A.
  Climate change
- B.
  Global warming
- C.
  Acid rain
- D.
  Global dimming
12.
12. Which issue is caused by carbon particulates?
- A.
  Global warming
- B.
  Climate change
- C.
  Acid rain
- D.
  Global dimming
13.
13. How does carbon monoxide damage the body?
- A.
  It binds to haemoglobin in red blood cells which means that less oxygen is able to be transported around the body. This lack of oxygen in the blood can lead to fainting, coma or even death. It is both colourless and odourless so is very difficult to detect.
- B.
  The poisonous gas is able to penetrate the blood brain barrier (BBB) which affects the central nervous system and can cause fainting, coma or even death. The gas is both colourless and odourless so is very difficult to detect.
- C.
  Carbon monoxide gas is a small simple covalent molecule which is able to diffuse into the lungs. This blocks the lungs and reduces the amount of oxygen that can make it into the blood and can cause fainting, coma or even death. The gas is both colourless and odourless so is very difficult to detect.
- D.
  Carbon monoxide gas is a very poisonous gas which can cause difficulty breathing putting strain on the heart. It can cause fainting, coma or even death. The gas is both colourless and odourless so is very difficult to detect.
14.
14. Why do cattle farms have a large carbon footprint?
- A.
  As cattle farms have lots of large mammals they produce a huge amount of carbon dioxide from respiration. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas which traps heat in the atmosphere.
- B.
  Cows are ruminants. This means they have a four chambered stomach and during the breakdown of grass and plants, bacteria in their stomachs produce methane gas which is a greenhouse gas and is emitted by belching.
- C.
  Cows pass wind...a lot! This gas contains carbon dioxide which is a powerful greenhouse gas. This gas traps heat into the atmosphere warming the Earth.
- D.
  To feed all the cattle, a large amount of food is needed as well as heating to store the cattle inside at night. This uses fossil fuels which gives out a lot of carbon dioxide gas which is a green house gas.
15.
15. Which of these is a risk of climate change?
- A.
  Coastal erosion
- B.
  Blizzards
- C.
  Rising sea levels
- D.
  All of the above

Quiz Outcomes

1.
Result 1