Preview

royal college

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
874 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
royal college
NAME: K

Class: Form 2 URANUS

CHEMISTRY PROJECT

Air pollution
Description of air pollution
Smog hanging over cities is the most familiar and obvious form of air pollution. But there are different kinds of pollution—some visible, some invisible—that contribute to global warming. Generally any substance that people introduce into the atmosphere that has damaging effects on living things and the environment is considered as air pollution.
Air pollutant Carbon dioxide dioxide when they breathe, carbon dioxide is widely considered to be a pollutant when associated with cars, planes, power plants, and other human activities that involve the burning of fossil fuels such as gasoline and natural gas. In the past 150 years, such activities have pumped enough carbon dioxide into the atmosphere to raise its levels higher than they have been for hundreds of thousands of years
Methane
Other greenhouse gases include methane—which comes from such sources as swamps and gas emitted by livestock—and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which were used in refrigerants and aerosol propellants until they were banned because of their deteriorating effect on Earth's ozone layer.
Sulfur dioxide
Another pollutant associated with climate change is sulfur dioxide, a component of smog. Sulfur dioxide and closely related chemicals are known primarily as a cause of acid rain. But they also reflect light when released in the atmosphere, which keeps sunlight out and causes Earth to cool. Volcanic eruptions can spew massive amounts of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere, sometimes causing cooling that lasts for years. In fact, volcanoes used to be the main source of atmospheric sulfur dioxide; today people are.

Sources of air pollution
There are various locations, activities or factors which are responsible for releasing pollutants into the atmosphere. These

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    An important issue affecting the world today is climate change due to the increase in the amount of greenhouse gases that is released into the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases are gases that accumulate in the atmosphere due to human activity and the earth's natural biological and chemical processes. The four major greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide , methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2011). The main contributing factor to climate change is the abundance of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Due to the burning of fossil fuels, solid waste, trees, and other chemical reactions carbon dioxide is absorbed into the atmosphere enhancing the greenhouse effect.…

    • 1501 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Greenhouse Gases

    • 319 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Greenhouse Gases: Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a greenhouse gas in the atmosphere that may raise average temperatures on Earth. The burning of fossil fuels could be responsible for the increased levels of carbon dioxide. If current trends continue, future concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide in parts per million (ppm) could reach the levels shown in the accompanying table. The CO2 concentration in the year 2000 was greater than it had been at any time in the previous 160,000 years.…

    • 319 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Watershed Case Study Essay

    • 2010 Words
    • 9 Pages

    It is predicted that the concentration of CO2 will triple to what the pre-industrial average of 280 ppm. Currently, according to the CO2 detector on Mauna Loa Observatory is registering 398.78 ppm. Kaster (1998) states that,” Of the 7.1 gigatons of carbon released each year about 3.3 Gt C accumulates in the atmosphere.” An increase of air pollutants is a result of continued use of fossil fuels. Air pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides and hydrocarbons are produced as fossil fuels are used (Union of Concerned Scientist, n. d.). Carbon monoxide causes headaches and aggravates people with heart disease. Nitrogen dioxide and nitric oxides create smog, a yellowish-brown “cloud” layer that settles on the ground. And these substances irritate lungs causing issues like bronchitis and pneumonia. Sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides are the primary components of acid rain and snow that affect plants and buildings. Hydrocarbons are another pollutant made from burning fossil fuels. Smog is also tropospheric ozone, which affects lungs, and crop yields. In addition, fossil fuels produce small particles that irritate the lungs. Pollution also impacts water and land. Oil spills leave shorelines uninhabitable for animals. Coal mining adds water pollutants by adding sulfur…

    • 2010 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Sci 210-1301a-02

    • 544 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Carbon dioxide concentration has been increasing and it is because of the burning fossil fuel and rainforest burning as well. The pre industrial atmospheric concentration was a mere 270ppm or 270 parts per million but since the year 2012 is has increased to 400ppm. This can cause the man made part of the green house effect and can be blamed on the scientist for the global warming of the past century and plus more years. It is also believed that the concentration of methane in an extremely small amount which is measured also in the parts per millions has increased and had an effect on the greenhouse effect but is unknown what the specific reasoning is for it.…

    • 544 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Cap and Trade Paper 1

    • 3704 Words
    • 10 Pages

    Since the time of the Industrial Revolution, human activities have polluted the air with large amounts of greenhouses gasses. These gasses are thick covering the Earth in the atmosphere creating and trapping more heat on Earth’s surface; this is known as the greenhouse effect. While the greenhouse effect is needed to support life on Earth, a continuous buildup of these gasses becomes harmful. Greenhouses gasses come from burning fossil fuels, deforestation, industrial processes, and some agriculture practices. When the carbon dioxide is released by these activities it is trapped in the lower part of the troposphere heating the surface of the Earth thus creating global warming. The most significant greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide; it can cause the most substantial increase in temperature.…

    • 3704 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Asthma and Air Pollution

    • 1925 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Air pollution is the initiation of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or damages the natural environment into the atmosphere. Air pollution occurs when the air contains gases, fumes, dust, or other harmful agents. According to Morgan (2003), air pollution was not a problem until the 19th century and Industrial Revolution because pollution was readily diluted in the atmosphere (Morgan, Environmental Health, 2003, p. 247). Air pollution occurs in many forms but can generally be thought of as gaseous and particulate contaminants that are present in the earth 's atmosphere (Air Pollution - Its Nature, Sources, and Effects, 2013). Natural sources of air pollution include forest fires, dust storms, and volcanic eruptions (Morgan, Environmental Health, 2003, p. 249).…

    • 1925 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The Carbon Cycle

    • 3147 Words
    • 13 Pages

    CO2 can enter the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels, in manufacturing processes, and other energy-reliant activities. However, not all emitted carbon remains in the atmosphere; oceans and plant matter absorb some, and some escapes the atmosphere. It is the remaining CO2 in the atmosphere that is causing climate change. To illustrate, the following diagram depicts the cycle of carbon in the atmosphere.…

    • 3147 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    These fumes and chemicals usually originate from factories, automobiles, dust, pollen, and fungus such as mold. A gas known as ozone plays a major part in air pollution. Smog is created when ozone contaminates the air. Another hazardous gas is carbon dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas. This toxic vapor is responsible for global warming. Although many things release carbon dioxide when breathing, it is considered a contaminant (pollutant) when it is linked with automobiles, aircrafts, factories, and other human related doings that use and burn fossil fuels such as gasoline and natural gas. The reason air pollution is dangerous is because it is possible for it to be poisonous. Inhaling these toxins forming in the air can lead to heart or lung disease. Also, air from mold and dust insides many buildings are also likely to affect your…

    • 933 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Four Greenhouse Gases

    • 449 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Where have you learned about this one before??... Carbon Dioxide is the most human related gas found in the greenhouse gases. The burning of fossil fuels and the emissions from cars create carbon dioxide. My science class also learned a few days ago that carbon dioxide is released into the air as a result of cutting down trees. Trees store carbon dioxide and usually release carbon dioxide, yet when an overwhelming amount goes into the atmosphere that is bad and at the fault of a human.…

    • 449 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Air pollution affects everything from agriculture and ecosystems to human health, on a global scale. The five major air pollutants are ground-level ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide (Donnatelle, 2010). A majority of these pollutants are the result of human action. One example being coal power plants. These plants release greenhouse gas emissions and particle air pollution. The burning of the coal creates pollutant byproducts. Other forms of industrial pollution, exhaust fumes, burning wood, and several forms of indoor air pollutants result in air contamination. The combination of various air contaminates can be extremely toxic. The pollutants irritate the lungs and may even cause respiratory diseases and cancer in humans (Donnatelle, 2010).…

    • 1424 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Over the past century, human activities have released large amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The majority of greenhouse gases come from burning fossil fuels to produce energy, although deforestation, industrial processes, and some agricultural practices also emit gases into the atmosphere.…

    • 729 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Greenhouse gases are the cause of global climate change. The main greenhouse gasses are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons. Although most of these gases are natural, they are all being put into the air at a much more dangerous rate than normal. Water vapor, the greatest natural contributor to global warming, and lasts about nine days in the atmosphere. Water vapor is in the atmosphere more recently, because there has been more water that has evaporated because of the hotter temperatures. Water vapor increases as the earth’s atmosphere warms, but so does the possibility of clouds and precipitation. Bigger and more dangerous storms have been occurring recently due to the warm water vapor in the atmosphere.…

    • 386 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Green House Gas

    • 1462 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Since the beginning of Industrial Revolution, concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide have all risen dramatically because of human activities. Fossil fuel combustion, land-use change, increasingly intensive agriculture, and an expanding global human population are the primary causes for these increases. Other greenhouse gases found in our planet's atmosphere include water vapor and ozone. Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere by the burning of solid waste, wood and wood products, and fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, and coal).…

    • 1462 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    green house gas effects

    • 1069 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution (taken as the year 1750), the burning of fossil fuels and extensive clearing of native forests has contributed to a 40% increase in the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide, from 280 to 392.6 parts-per-million (ppm) in 2012.[5][6] This increase has occurred despite the uptake of a large portion of the emissions by various natural "sinks" involved in the carbon cycle.[7][8] Anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions (i.e., emissions produced by human activities) come from combustion of carbon based fuels, principally wood, coal, oil, and natural gas.…

    • 1069 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    These dramatic changes are due to an increase in carbon dioxide gases that are being emitted into the earth’s atmosphere. This increase in gases in turn causes an increase in the greenhouse effect and therefore an increase in temperatures.…

    • 317 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays