The Atmosphere and

Environment
Angelica Willianto
FEP 10A
Chemistry

Composition of air
The air in our atmosphere is
composed of molecules of
different gases. The most
common gases are nitrogen
(78%), oxygen (about 21%),
carbon dioxide (0.03%), and
argon (almost 1%). Other
molecules are present in the
atmosphere as well, but in very
small quantities.

How do you separate

the gases in air?
Fractional distillation is a process that can separate gases from
one another if they can be converted into a liquid form. To
perform this separation on air, it must be cooled to a very low
temperature so that it liquefies. Once this is done, the air can be
passed into the bottom of a fractionating column. This column
slowly raises the temperature until the oxygen and nitrogen in the
air are separate from one another. From there, two tubes
separately pipe off the gases.
This process can be repeated on the oxygen because in many
cases, there are still trace amounts of argon found in the oxygen.

Pure nitrogen, oxygen and argon can be removed from the air by
the end of the final fractional distillation. The nitrogen is used in a
number of different settings, especially the food and grocery
industries.

Air Pollution
Pollution adds additional molecules, including carbon dioxide and
ozone, to the lower parts of the atmosphere. While small amounts
of both are natural at ground level in the troposphere, their
amounts have been increasing because of the burning of fossil
fuels. Carbon dioxide, a by-product of the burning, is called a
greenhouse gas because it contributes to global warming. Ozone
emitted in the troposphere damages plants and causes
respiratory problems, unlike the good ozone in the stratosphere
that protects the Earth from the Suns ultraviolet light.
Larger particles of pollution in the lower atmosphere can also
cause respiratory problems. Though relatively small, ultrafine
aerosols, emitted by burning fossil fuels and possibly trees and
other vegetation, can cause significant respiratory problems for
some individuals.

Acid rain
Acid rain results when sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides
(NOX) are emitted into the atmosphere and transported by wind
and air currents. The SO2 and NOX react with water, oxygen and
other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acids. These then mix
with water and other materials before falling to the ground.

Reducing air pollution

1. Use public mode of transportation: Encourage people to
use more and more public modes of transportation to reduce
pollution. Also, try to make use of car pooling. If you and your
colleagues come from the same locality and have same timings
you can explore this option to save energy and money.
2. Conserve energy: Switch off fans and lights when you are
going out. Large amount of fossil fuels are burnt to produce
electricity. You can save the environment from degradation by
reducing the amount of fossil fuels to be burned.

3. Understand the concept of Reduce, Reuse and

Recycle: Do not throw away items that are of no use to you. Infact reuse them for some other purpose. For e.g. you can use old
jars to store cereals or pulses.
4. Emphasis on clean energy resources: Clean
energy technologies like solar,wind and geothermal are on high
these days. Governments of various countries have been
providing grants to consumers who are interested in
installing solar panels for their home. This will go a long way to
curb air pollution.
5. Use energy efficient devices: CFL lights consume less
electricity as against their counterparts. They live longer,
consume less electricity, lower electricity bills and also help you
to reduce pollution by consuming less energy.
Several attempts are being made world wide on a personal,
industrial and governmental levels to curb the intensity at which
Air Pollution is rising and regain a balance as far as the
proportions of the foundation gases are concerned. This is a direct
attempt at slacking Global warming. We are seeing a series of
innovations and experiments aimed at alternate and
unconventional options to reduce pollutants. Air Pollution is one of
the larger mirrors of mans follies, and a challenge we need to
overcome to see a tomorrow.

Catalytic converters
A catalytic converter is a device used to reduce the emissions
from an internal combustion engine (used in most modern day
automobiles and vehicles). Not enough oxygen is available to
oxidize the carbon fuel in these engines completely into carbon
dioxide and water; thus toxic by-products are produced. Catalytic

converters are used in exhaust systems to provide a site for

the oxidation and reduction of toxic by-products (like nitrogen
oxides, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons) of fuel into less
hazardous substances such as carbon dioxide, water vapor, and
nitrogen gas.

How it works
A catalytic converter is a simple device that uses
basic redox reactions to reduce the pollutants a car makes. It
converts around 98% of the harmful fumes produced by a car
engine into less harmful gases. It is composed of a metal housing
with a ceramic honeycomb-like interior with insulating layers. This
honeycomb interior has thin wall channels that are coated with a
washcoat of aluminum oxide. This coating is porous and increases
the surface area, allowing more reactions to take place and
containing precious metals such as platinum, rhodium, and
palladium. No more than 4-9 grams of these precious metals are
used in a single converter.
The converter uses simple oxidation and reduction reactions to
convert the unwanted fumes. Recall that oxidation is the loss of
electrons and that reduction is the gaining of electrons. The
precious metals mentioned earlier promote the transfer of
electrons and, in turn, the conversion of toxic fumes.
The last section of the converter controls the fuel-injection
system. This control system is aided by an oxygen sensor that
monitors how much oxygen is in the exhaust stream, and in turn
tells the engine computer to adjust the air-to-fuel ratio, keeping
the catalytic converter running at the stoichiometric point and
near 100% efficiency.

Flue gas desulfurisation

There are two ways of minimizing the effects of sulfur dioxide

pollution.
The most direct approach is to remove sulfur from fossil fuels
before they are burnt. However, this method is too expensive
and technologically difficult to accomplish.
A cheaper way is to remove sulfur dioxide from the waste
gases formed when fossil fuels undergo combustion. The
waste gases are called flue gases. The process of removing
sulfur dioxide from flue gases is called desulfurisation.

A sulfur dioxide passes through the plant, it reacts with an

aqueous suspension of calcium carbonate to form solid calcium
sulfite and carbon dioxide gas.
Calcium carbonate + sulfur dioxide -> calcium sulfite +
carbon dioxide
The calcium sulfite is further oxidized to calcium sulfate by
atmospheric oxygen.
Calcium sulfite + oxygen -> calcium sulfate
Besides calcium carbonate, calcium oxide can also be used for
desulfurisation.

Calcium oxide + sulfur dioxide -> calcium sulfite

Depletion of the ozone

layer
What is ozone layer?
Ozone layer is a deep layer in earths atmosphere that contain
ozone which is a naturally occurring molecule containing three
oxygen atoms. These ozone molecules form a gaseous layer in
the Earths upper atmosphere called stratosphere. This lower
region of stratosphere containing relatively higher concentration
of ozone is called Ozonosphere. The ozonosphere is found 15-35
km (9 to 22 miles) above the surface of the earth. The average
concentration of ozone in the atmosphere is around 0.6 parts per
million. The thickness of the ozone layer differs as per season and
geography. The highest concentrations of ozone occur at altitudes
from 26 to 28 km (16 to 17 miles) in the tropics and from 12 to 20
km (7 to 12 miles) towards the poles.
The ozone layer has the capability to absorb almost 97-99% of the
harmful ultraviolet radiations that sun emit and which can
produce long term devastating effects on humans beings as well
as plants and animals.
Why ozone layer is necessary?
An essential property of ozone molecule is its ability to block solar
radiations of wavelengths less than 290 nanometers from
reaching Earths surface. In this process, it also absorbs ultraviolet
radiations that are dangerous for most living beings. UV radiation
could injure or kill life on Earth. Though the absorption of UV
radiations warms the stratosphere but it is important for life to

flourish on planet Earth. Research scientists have anticipated

disruption of susceptible terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems due
to depletion of ozone layer.
Ultraviolet radiation could destroy the organic matter. Plants and
plankton cannot thrive, both acts as food for land and sea
animals, respectively. For humans, excessive exposure to
ultraviolet radiation leads to higher risks of cancer (especially skin
cancer) and cataracts. It is calculated that every 1 percent
decrease in ozone layer results in a 2-5 percent increase in the
occurrence of skin cancer. Other ill-effects of the reduction of
protective ozone layer include increase in the incidence of
cataracts, sunburns and suppression of the immune system.
Causes of ozone layer depletion
During the last several decades, human activities have resulted in
considerable reduction in the ozone layer of the atmosphere.
Ozone depletion occurs when destruction of the stratospheric
ozone is more than the production of the molecule.
Natural causes of depletion of ozone layer: Ozone layer has
been found to be affected by certain natural phenomena such as
Sun-spots and stratospheric winds. But this has been found to
cause not more than 1-2% depletion of the ozone layer and the
effects are also thought to be only temporary. It is also believed
that the major volcanic eruptions (mainly El Chichon in 1983 and
and Mt. Pinatubo in 1991) has also contributed towards ozone
depletion.
Man-made causes of depletion of ozone layer: The
main cause for the depletion of ozone is determined as
excessive release of chlorine and bromine from man-made
compounds such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). CFCs
(chlorofluorocarbons), halons, CH3CCl3 (Methyl chloroform),

CCl4 (Carbon tetrachloride), HCFCs (hydrochlorofluorocarbons), hydrobromofluorocarbons and

methyl bromide are found to have direct impact on the
depletion of the ozone layer. These are categorized as
ozone-depleting substances (ODS).

Global warming
The Carbon Cycle
All living things are made of carbon. Carbon is also a part of the
ocean, air, and even rocks. Because the Earth is a dynamic place,
carbon does not stay still. It is on the move!
In the atmosphere, carbon is attached to some oxygen in a gas
called carbon dioxide.
Plants use carbon dioxide and sunlight to make their own food
and grow. The carbon becomes part of the plant. Plants that die
and are buried may turn into fossil fuels made of carbon like coal
and oil over millions of years. When humans burn fossil fuels,
most of the carbon quickly enters the atmosphere as carbon
dioxide.
Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas and traps heat in the
atmosphere. Without it and other greenhouse gases, Earth would
be a frozen world. But humans have burned so much fuel that
there is about 30% more carbon dioxide in the air today than
there was about 150 years ago, and Earth is becoming a warmer
place. In fact, ice cores show us that there is now more carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere than there has been in the last
420,000 years.

The greenhouse effect

Greenhouse gases are gases that trap radiation.
Many greenhouses gases exist naturally, and it is human
actions that are increasing their concentrations within the lower
atmosphere. It is believed that as the amount of greenhouse
gases in the atmosphere increases, the amount of long-wave
(infra-red)radiation in the lower atmosphere also increases, thus
raising temperatures.

The table below outlines the major sources of

greenhouses gases:

Gas:

Source:

Use:

Absorbs
Oceans, lakes, rivers,
Water
limited
reservoirs. Humans have
vapour
outgoing
little impact upon levels.
radiation.

Burning of fossil fuels,

and forests, breathing
Carbon
animals, less produced
dioxide
by southern hemisphere
(less land).

Way it increases
global warming:
Water vapour and
clouds are
responsible for
nearly 98% of the
natural greenhouse
effect.

Absorption
of long
Approximately 50%.
wave
radiation.

Much from break down

of organic matter by
Methan
bacteria (rice paddy
e (CH4)
fields) cows, swamps
marshes.

As above.

Approximately 18%.

Naturally from some

oxygen atoms. Ozone in
Filters short
the troposphere is due
Ozone
wave UV
Difficult to estimate.
to chemical reactions
radiation.
between sunlight and
agents of pollution.

CFCs

Fridges and aerosols.

Nitrate fertilisers,
Nitrous
transport and power
oxide
stations (combustion).

25%, but increasing

due to ability to
survive within the
atmosphere for 100
years.
Absorption
of long
Approximately 6%.
wave
radiation.