AP Environmental Science – Unit 7 - Atmospheric Pollution

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to Atmospheric Pollution as outlined in AP Environmental Science Unit 7.

Air pollution

Harmful substances in the air that affect health and environment.

Sulfur dioxide (SO2)

A gas from burning fossil fuels that causes acid rain.

Haze

Airborne particles that reduce visibility.

Photochemical oxidant

A chemical formed by sunlight reacting with pollutants.

Smog

Polluted air made of smoke and fog.

Lead (Pb)

A toxic metal that harms the brain and nervous system.

Hydrocarbons

Compounds from fuel that contribute to smog.

Primary pollutant

Pollution released directly from a source.

Secondary pollutant

Pollution formed by reactions in the atmosphere.

Photochemical smog

Smog made from sunlight reacting with NOx and VOCs.

Sulfurous smog

Smog caused by sulfur compounds, usually from coal.

Evaporate

When a liquid turns into a gas.

Sublimate

When a solid turns directly into a gas.

Formaldehyde

A chemical in building materials that irritates lungs.

Thermal inversion

Warm air traps cooler air and pollution below.

Inversion layer

The warm layer that traps pollutants.

PM10

Particles smaller than 10 micrometers that can enter lungs.

PM2.5

Tiny particles that can reach deep into the lungs.

Indoor air pollutants

Harmful substances found inside buildings.

Asbestos

A fiber that causes lung disease when inhaled.

Radon-222

A radioactive gas from soil that can cause cancer.

Sick building syndrome

Illness caused by poor indoor air quality.

Vapor recovery nozzle

A gas pump part that captures fuel vapors.

Catalytic converter

A car part that reduces exhaust pollution.

Electrostatic precipitator

A device that removes particles from smokestacks.

pH

A scale that measures acidity or basicness.

Acid

A substance with pH below 7.

Base

A substance with pH above 7.

Acid rain

Rain made acidic by air pollution.

Noise pollution

Harmful or annoying sound in the environment.

Decibel (dB(A))

A measure of sound adjusted for human hearing.