Air Pollution and Chemistry Overview

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to air pollution and its chemistry, including definitions and explanations of primary and secondary pollutants, important compounds, and regulatory frameworks.

Primary Pollutants

Substances directly emitted into the atmosphere from various sources, such as vehicle exhaust and industrial processes.

Secondary Pollutants

Pollutants formed through chemical reactions in the atmosphere, such as ground-level ozone and sulfur trioxide.

Particulate Matter (PM)

A mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets in the air, which can harm health and the environment.

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)

A group of gases consisting of nitrogen monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and nitrous oxide, often produced by combustion processes.

Sulfur Oxides (SOx)

Gases produced primarily from burning fossil fuels, such as sulfur dioxide and sulfur trioxide, which can cause acid rain.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Organic chemicals that can easily become vapors or gases, often emitted from vehicles, industrial processes, and solvents.

Ground-level Ozone

A harmful air pollutant formed by the reaction of sunlight with pollutants such as VOCs and NOx.

Anthropogenic Sources

Pollution sources that result from human activities, such as vehicle emissions and industrial production.

Natural Sources

Pollution sources that occur due to natural events, such as volcanic eruptions and wildfires.

Clean Air Act

A federal law that regulates air emissions from stationary and mobile sources to protect public health and the environment.

Acid Rain

Precipitation that contains high levels of sulfuric or nitric acids, resulting from sulfur and nitrogen compounds in the atmosphere.

Atmospheric Convection Cycle

The process by which warm air rises, cools and can lead to precipitation, transporting pollutants through the atmosphere.