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Lecture/Outline

Issues

Blackboard - Discussion Pages

Charles E. Ophardt, Professor of Chemistry, Elmhurst College, Elmhurst, IL 60126, charleso@elmhurst.edu, Copyright 2004

1. Structure and composition of the atmosphere (Text Chap. 11)

A. Troposphere and Stratosphere (ozone layer) Text p. 323-24
B. Composition Text p. 324-25	Molecule graphics: oxygen , nitrogen , argon , carbon dioxide, water vapor (also review p. p.124, 217)
C. Oxygen, Nitrogen, and Carbon Cycles Text p. 43-47	(review p. 316, 317, 381-82 ProfO Notes: Carbon Cycle ProfO Notes: Nitrogen Cycle
D. Weather, climate, and prevailing winds, temperature inversions	Text p. 339

QUES. 1: Review the composition of the atmosphere. What gases are present? Amounts? Where did the gases come from?	Text p. 324-25 and links above
QUES. 2: Review the layers (such as troposphere, stratosphere, etc) found in the atmosphere. Characteristics, properties, molecules present.	Text p. 323-24 and links above
QUES. 3: Use the Carbon Cycle and some specific chemical reactions to explain how planting more trees would help the global warming problem, while deforestation caused by "slash and burn" timber industries and subsistence farmers will make the problem worse.	ProfO Notes: Carbon Cycle

2. Types and sources of air pollutants (p. 326-338)

A. Six major air pollutants	(Brief introduction) - more details in Topic 8 Atmospheric Pollutants - good list with brief descriptions of each
carbon monoxide	Carbon Monoxide
sulfur oxides	Sulfur Dioxide
nitrogen oxides	Nitrogen oxides
Volatile organic compounds (VOC)	VOC
ozone in the troposphere	No Room to Breathe: Photochemical Smog and Ground-Level Ozone - A brief Review.
suspended particles	Suspended Particles
Smog	What is Smog? Donora Killer Smog of 1948
B. Stationary Sources:	Electric Power Plants, metal smelters, metal finishing Sulfur oxides and particulates - industrial smog

QUES. 4: In the above outline section 2, a number of molecules and compounds in the atmosphere are mentioned. List the word equations and/or word descriptions for the formation of ONE of the following: ozone, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, VOC's. Also list the major natural and/or man-made source of the molecule. Each student pick one not already done.

(See Sections 1-3 above and some are listed in text p. 320-328). ozone in the troposphere carbon dioxide carbon monoxide nitrogen oxides sulfur oxides VOC's.

3. Acid Rain Text p. 193-196, 332-334

A. Acid and Bases, pH (Text p. 181-192)	ProfONotes: Acids & Bases ProfONotes: pH of Acid Rain
B. Sulfur and nitrogen oxides reacting with water to make acids (Text p. 195, 332-33)	ProfONotes: Comprehensive Acid Rain What is Acid Rain? Acid Rain FAQs ProfO Notes: Formation of nitrogen oxides graphic ProfO Notes: Nitric Acid Rain graphic Acid Rain Effects Index - EPA Acid Rain Map of the U.S. 2005 pH Sulfur Dioxide Reductions 1980-2000 Trends in Sulfate Depositions - 1989-2000 Trends in Nitrate Depositions - 1989-2000 Map of Ecologically Sensitive Areas
C. Health effects - animal and plant life, human health Text p. 194, 333	Acid Rain Effects Index - EPA
D. Effects of Acid Rain on Buildings Text p. 195	Acid Rain and Buildings -USGS

QUES. 5: List the definitions, characteristics, pH ranges, and examples of both: acids and bases. Give a couple of examples of each. Each student pick one.	(Text p. 181-192) ProfONotes: Acids & Bases ProfONotes: pH of Acid Rain
QUES. 6: Write the chemical equations and/or word descriptions to show how the following gases make acids: Carbon dioxide, Nitrogen oxides, and Sulfur Dioxide (use as model). Calcium oxide plus water makes a base , calcium hydroxide. Each student pick one.	(Text p. 333) ProfONotes: Comprehensive Acid Rain ProfO Notes: Carbonic Acid ProfO Notes: Nitric Acid ProfO Notes: Sulfurous Acid ProfO Notes: Sulfuric Acid
QUES. 7: What are the environmental effects of Acid Rain? Any direct health effects? Try to distinguish between sulfur oxides as gases effects vs. acid rain itself.	(Text p. 194-95, 333)

D. Possible control measures of Acid Rain Text p. 334

Overview of the EPA Acid Rain Program Sulfur Dioxide Trading Allowance System Progress Mapping of Results - Look to bottom of page Progress Report - 10 years - 2004

NOTES: U.S. Air Pollution Legislation in the Clear Air Acts o 1970, 1977, and 1990: Air pollution can be controlled by laws to establish desired standards and by mandating the technology to achieve the standards. This is sometimes referred to as the " command and control law" approach and was the established procedure prior to 1990. The EPA set a specific standard of how much of a specific pollutant would be allowed and then mandated the best available technology to achieve this standard. In the 1990 Clear Air Act a new approach is being used to use market forces to allow companies to decide what approach is best for them. Each year the EPA sets a certain total amount of sulfur dioxide that may be emitted. Each company is given the " rights" to emit a certain amount of sulfur dioxide. These rights may be bought and sold from other companies and allows the company to decide for itself when to build new, improve, or phase out existing facilities.

QUES. 8: For each of the three pollution control measures (immediately right), list the air pollutant(s) that is to be controlled and one or two sentences indicating how it is controlled. Each student pick one.

1. Automobile Catalytic Converter (text p. 331-32) Converter - Howstuff works Catalytic Converter - Coal Electric Power Plants - p. 334 2. sulfur dioxide scrubbers, 3. electrostatic precipitators or bag filters,

QUES. 9: Review the three web sites on the EPA Sulfur Dioxide Trading System. Explain any further details of the system. Is this a valid, good approach to controlling air pollution (YES) or is there something inherently or ethically wrong with a plan that says in effect that it is OK to emit a certain amount of pollution? (NO)

Overview of the EPA Acid Rain Program Sulfur Dioxide Trading Allowance System Progress Report - 10 years - 2004 Sulfur Dioxide Reductions 1980-2000