Chemistry of the Environment

Name the layers of the Atmosphere (THE SMART MEN TAKE-THE ELEVATOR)

Troposphere

Stratosphere

Mesosphere

Thermosphere

Exosphere

The lowest part of the atmosphere where Earth's weather and air pollution occur, extending up to 10–15 km.

troposphere

A phenomenon where the normal lapse rate reverses, and cold air at Earth's surface is trapped under warmer air

thermal inversion

A layer of constant temperature between the troposphere and stratosphere.

tropopause

Temperature decreases with altitude, and meteors burn up in this layer, leaving fiery trails.

mesosphere

What are the two main components of the atmosphere?

Nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%).

Name a trace gas in the atmosphere with a concentration of 0.9%.

Argon

____ in the troposphere are crucial for the formation of compounds responsible for pollution.

Free radicals

These oxidative species are produced through ozone photolysis with ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the atmosphere, which creates excited oxygen atoms that react with water vapor.

hydroxyl radicals (•OH)

Its role is to protect life on Earth by absorbing and converting harmful ultraviolet rays into heat through photodissociation.

ozone layer

These solid and liquid particulates alter the radiative processes of the Earth, impacting atmospheric temperature and climate.

Air pollutants are classified into 2. Mainly: ___ as “directly emitted” and _____ as “formed through chemical reactions”.

Primary & secondary