Worksheet Ch.14
– ATMOSPHERE AND ATMOSPHERIC
CHEMISTRY
PART A – CLOZE EXERCISE
1. The bottom layer of the atmosphere is the ________________________________ and the next layer up is called the
_____________________________________________ .
2. The most significant feature of atmospheric chemistry is the occurrence of ___________________________________
resulting from the absorption by molecules of ________________________________________ designated
_______________________________________ .
3. In addition to its essential role in protecting organisms from
______________________________________________________ ,
the atmosphere serves as a source of carbon dioxide for ____________________________________________ and molecular
oxygen used by organisms for _______________________________________________ .
4. The important atmospheric trace gases are ………………………………………………………...................
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………............
5. At very high altitudes, normally reactive species such as atomic oxygen, O, persist for long periods of time
because ………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
The fact that hydrogen has not been lost to outer space from Earth’s atmosphere is due to the existence of …
……………………………………………………………………………………………….. .
6. The value of the solar constant is ________________________________________ . The three means for
moving heat energy through the atmosphere are ……………………………………………………………
………………………………………………..
7. The maximum intensity of incoming solar radiation occurs at a wavelength around ___________________
and outgoing radiation from Earth has maximum intensity at a wavelength of around __________________
8. Water and carbon dioxide keep Earth warm by …………………………………………………………….. .
………………………………………………… Albedo refers to …………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………….
9. Meteorology is the study of .....................…………………………………………………………………… .
Short-term variations in the state of the atmosphere constitute ______________________________ defined in
terms of …………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………. Longer-term variations and trends within a particular
geographical region in the factors just mentioned are described as __________________________________
10. Water vapour is particularly important in transferring energy in the atmosphere because it carries
energy in the form of ……………………………………………….. .
11. An atmospheric condition that is particularly important for air pollution and sometimes affected by
topography is that of …………………………………………………………………………………………….
12. A heat dome over cities is an example of _______________________________________ .
13. Photochemical reactions may be initiated when molecules split apart by absorbing …………………………..
1|Page
Fundamentals of Environmental Chemistry.
Stanley. E. Manahan
© 2001 CRC Press LLC
………………………………………. to produce _____________________________ . An atmospheric
molecule designated by an asterisk, such as NO2*, is ………………………………………………………….
14. An atmospheric species designated with a dot, such as HO•, is a ………………………………………………
possessing an …………………………………………………………………………… .
15. Having absorbed energy from a photon of electromagnetic radiation, loss of energy by a reaction such as
O2* O + O is known as _____________________________________ whereas loss of energy by the
immediate emission of light is _______________________________________ .
16. A region of the atmosphere at an altitude of 50km and higher is the ___________________________
characterized by the presence of ______________________ . The reaction H3C• + H3C• C2H6 showing the
combination of two _____________________________________ is an example of a ………………….. .
……………………………………………………………………….. The single most important reactive
intermediate species in atmospheric chemical processes is ________________________________________
17. The atmosphere is normally at least slightly acidic because of the presence of a low level of ………………. .
…………………………………………….. More strongly acidic pollutant acids found in the atmosphere are
……………………………………………………………………………………... The only water-soluble
base present at significant levels in the atmosphere is __________________________________ .
18. The reaction O2 + hO + O is of particular importance in the stratosphere because it leads to the formation
of ___________________________________ .
19. The atmospheric “nonpollutant” species of most concern is ___________________________________
because of its potential to cause …………………………………………………………………..
PART B – SHORT ANSWER
20. List the five most common gases in the atmosphere and correspond their measured concentrations.
21. Explain the meaning of “h” when it appears in an atmospheric chemical reaction.
22. What is the most abundant hydrocarbon in the atmosphere? What is its significance in relation to pollutant
formation in the atmosphere?
23. Give a reaction that explains why NO2 is a key species involved in air pollution and the formation of
photochemical smog.
2|Page
Fundamentals of Environmental Chemistry.
Stanley. E. Manahan
© 2001 CRC Press LLC