FRQ AP Env Sci

  • Carbon Monoxide ( sources, issues, solutions )

  • Carbon Monoxide ( CO ) is a colorless, oderless, and poisonous gas. It is formed when carbon-containing compounds/materials, such as gasoline, natural gas, or wood burn incompletely.

  • Carbon monoxide can lead to a variety of issues, most specifically health issues. Exposure to CO can lead to poisioning in which lead to a variety of heath-related issues, including headaches, dizziness, confusion, and sometimes death. Carbon monoxide reduces the amount of oxygen that can be carried through our blood, providing it towards our body’s organs. 

  • Some ways we can reduce carbon monoxide emissions is through the improvement of ventilation, appliance maintenance, and the avoidance of idling car garages. There are various, little things we can do to reduce these emissions through simple improvements to our everyday lives.

  • Coal  ( issues, solutions )

  • Coal is burned in the acts of producing electricity, in which many pollutants are released into the atmosphere, water, and land. Coal pollution can lead to various negative impacts on our enviornment such as climate change, formation of acid rain, and ozone depletion, which leads to an increased chance of health-related issues. 

  • Some ways we as individuals can lessen the pollution emitted through the usage of coal is through the improvement of energy efficiency, the usage of renewable energy, and the reduction of methane emissions through coal usage.

Some examples are:

  • Turn off lights and electronics when not in use

  • Use energy-efficient appliances

  • Set your thermostat higher in the summer and lower in the winter

  • Invest in solar, wind, or battery storage

  • Use renewable energy sources to power your home

  • NOx ( sources, issues, solutions )

  • The term, Nitrogen Oxide ( NOx ), is often used to include both Nitric Oxide ( NO ) and Nitrogen Dioxide ( NO2 ), in which both react, forming NOx. 

  • The primary source of Nitrogen Oxide ( NOx ) is through the combustion process from the exhaust of motor vehicles, the burning of coal/natural gas/oil, and during the processes of arc welding, electroplating, engraving, and dynamic blasting.

  • The issues of NOx primarily relate to respiratory problems caused by the elevated exposure of Nitrogen Dioxide ( NO2 ) levels, which can irritate already present health issues, such as asthma and increase suspectibility to respritory infections when exposed to high concentrations. 

  • Additionally, NOx can also contribute towards enviornmental issues, such as acid rain and ozone formation, when reacting with other chemicals in the atmosphere.

  • Key solutions to lessen the emissions of Nitrogen Oxides consist of the following:

    • Switching to cleaner fuel sources, such as natural gas

    • Optimizing combustion processes in vehicles and power plants

    • Implimenting advanced emission control technologies ( SCR )

    • Promoting sustainable transportation

    • Regulating industrial processes

    • Improving agricultural practices to minimize nitrogen fertilizer use

  • Ozone ( source, how it's formed, issues )

  • Ozone ( O3 ) is a gas that is made up of 3 oxygen atoms. It can be a natural part of the atmosphere or even a harmful air pollutant. Ozone is formed when ultraviolet radiation from the sun breaks up Oxygen Molecules ( O2 ) into individual, Oxygen Atoms. These then recombine with other Oxygen Molecules, creating Ozone ( O3 ) molecules.

  • Ozone comes from various sources, the main ones being vehicles, industrial sources        ( factories, power plants, etc ), fossil fuels, consumer products, and wildfires.

  • Ozone ( O3 ) pollution can lead to a variety of issues, the main ones being cardiovascular-related issues, such as lung damage, chest pain, and breathing difficulties. It is also found to worsen health-issues such as asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema.

  • Experimental Design ( independent, dependent, control, experimental, constants. )

  • ( Refer To Your Noise Pollution Experiment )

  • Independent Variable: A variable whose variation doesn’t depend on that of another.

  • Dependent Variable: A variable whose value depends on that of another.

  • Control Group: The group in the experiment that does not receive treatment being tested.

  • Experimental Group: The group of participants in a study who recieve the variable being tested.

  • Constants: A factor that does not change during the experiment.

  • Percent Change ( New - Original ÷ Orignal x 100 )

  • Basic Multiplication And Division