Chapter 14 | Unit 14 Punjab board class 10 notes chemistry chapter number 14 the atmosphere Pdf download short questions, long questions, Mcqs, and Multiple-choice Questions.
The atmosphere Punjab Class 10 Notes
Table of Contents
Explain the phenomenon of decreasing temperature in the troposphere?
The troposphere is the layer of the atmosphere closest to the Earth’s surface where the weather takes place. A small concentration of carbon dioxide and water vapour in the atmosphere plays a major role in regulating air temperature. They allow solar energy to pass through and absorb thermal radiation emitted from the planet’s surface. Therefore, these gases absorb much of the outgoing radiations and result in an increase in temperature. As the concentration of gases in the troposphere decreases rapidly with altitude, correspondingly the temperature also decreases at a rate of 6oC per kilometre.
state the major sources of CO and CO2 emission
Sources of CO and CO2Â emissions
i) The largest human source of CO and CO2Â emissions is from the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum and natural gas. Fossil fuels burnt in the combustion of automobiles or kiln of an industry emit CO and CO2.
ii) Volcanoes emit clouds of dust and poisonous gases including CO and CO2.
iii) Forest fires and burning of wood release CO2Â and CO. Emission of CO dominates in the limited supply of oxygen
CO2 is responsible for heating up the atmosphere, how?
Carbon dioxide (CO2) gas acts as a glass wall of a greenhouse around the Earth. It allows the heat rays of the Sun to pass through it and reach the Earth. The Earth’s surface absorbs some of this energy and heats up. It cools down by giving off a different form of energy, called infrared radiation. But before all this radiation can escape to outer space, the increased concentration of CO2Â in the atmosphere absorbs some of it, which makes the atmosphere warmer. Thus CO2Â prevents heat energy from escaping from the atmosphere. So, CO2Â is responsible for heating up the atmosphere. Exessive heating due to CO2Â is called global warming.
CO is a hidden enemy, explain its action.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gas that has no odour, colour or taste and can be very dangerous to health. This means that we have no way to detect the problem until we become ill. CO can cause harmful health effects by reducing oxygen delivery to the body’s organs (like the heart and brain) and tissues. Exposure to higher concentrations of CO can cause headaches, fatigue and death. The initial symptoms are flu-like but without a fever. High-level poisoning can result in vomiting, loss of consciousness, shortness of breath and blurred vision.
What threats are to human health due to SO2 gas as an air pollutant?
SO2Â is a colourless gas with an unpleasant and irritating odour. It causes suffocation and severe respiratory problems to people suffering from asthma, bronchitis and emphysema.
Which air pollutant is produced on the anaerobic decomposition of organic matter?
Anaerobic decomposition of organic matter takes place in the absence of oxygen through bacterial activity. The main products of anaerobic decomposition are methane, CO2Â and H2S.
How acid rain increases the acidity of soil?
Acid rain is formed when rainwater dissolves acidic air pollutants such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide producing H2SO4Â and HNO3. Acid rain enters the soil and increases its acidity. Acid rain leaches many of the existing soil nutrients from the soil, which can seriously damage the roots of trees, thus, making it virtually impossible for them to survive. They get dry and die. It increases the toxic metals in the soil that poisons the vegetation.
Point out two serious effects of ozone depletion.
Effects of ozone depletion
i) Depletion of ozone allows ultraviolet (UV) radiation of the Sun to reach the Earth that can cause harm to human health. Exposure to UV rays can result in skin cancers, sunburns and premature ageing of the skin.
ii) It can disrupt the food chain changing the lifecycle of plants.