UNIVERSIDAD DE GUANAJUATO

DEPARTAMENTO DE INGENIERA QUMICA

CIENCIA Y TECNOLOGA AMBIENTAL (SEPTIEMBRE 2014)
ATMOSPHERE EXERCISES
1. In general terms, what is meant by "photochemical smog"? What are
the initial reactants in the process? Why is sunlight required?
2. What is meant by a "primary" pollutant and by a "secondary" pollutant?
Give examples.
3. What is the chemical reaction by which most atmospheric NO

initially
is produced? From which two sources do most urban NO

arise?
4. Describe the strategies by which reduction of urban ozone levels have
been attempted. What difficulties have been encountered in these
efforts?
5. Describe the processes bv which the "three-way catalyst" works to
transform air pollutants released by an automobile engine.
6. Define the term aerosol, and differentiate between "coarse" and "fine"
particulates. What are the usual origins of these three types of
atmospheric particles.
7. What are the main sources of formaldehyde in indoor air? What are
its effects?
8. What are the main sources of nitrogen dioxide and of carbon monoxide in
indoor air?
9. What are the two forms of asbestos? Why is asbestos of environmental
concern?
10. What is the two-step mechanism by which the hydroxyl free radical is
produced in clean air?
11. Explain why OH

reacts more quickly to abstract hydrogen from
other molecules than does HOO

.
12. What is the fate of OH

radicals that react with NO

? with
NO2

? with other OH

?
13. What is the fate of NO
2

molecules that photodissociate? that react

with ozone? that react wi th RC(O)OO

radi cals?
14. Why does the production of high concentrations of NO

lead to an
increase in ozone levels in air? Why does this not occur if much NO

is
present?
15. Describe both the homogeneous and the heterogeneous mechanisms
by which sulfur dioxide is oxidized in the atmosphere. What are the
oxidizing agents? Are any of the processes affected by pH?
16. What is the nature of the radioactive emissions and particles?
Why are the former more dangerous to health?
17. Explain the origin of radon in buildings.
18. Explain why the "daughters" of radon are more dangerous to health
than is radon itself.
19. Explain the chain reaction for stratospheric ozone depletion.
20. Deduce the formulas for the CFCs 12, 113, 123, 134.