Air Pollution Study Guide

1. What is air pollution? Pollution of air. Anything that will negatively effect air quality. 2. What is the difference between a primary pollutant and secondary pollutant? Primary Pollutant Any pollutant that directly enters the atmosphere by humans Secondary Pollutant Results when multiple primary pollutants react chemically with each other or other substances in the atmosphere and combine. 3. Give an example of a primary pollutant. Soot 4. Give an example of a secondary pollutant. Smog 5. What was added to cars through the Clean Air Act which cleaned exhaust before pollutants were released into the air? Catalytic Converters 6. What is the main cause of smog? Cars and Industry 7. What is temperature inversion? Warm/polluted air is released from cars and industries. This warm air wants to rise (As warm air naturally does). Cold air from the atmosphere, traps the warm air below from escaping, leading to humans and living things stuck breathing this polluted air. 8. What types of places would have a greater chance of experiencing temperature inversion? Valleys 9. Substances that have a pH less than 7 are considered __Acids___. 10. Substances that have a pH greater than 7 are considered ___Bases____. 11. Substances that have a pH of 7 are ___Neutral____. 12. What is the pH of acid rain? 5-5.5 13. What are the negative effects of acid rain? - Changes the pH of Soil - Changes the pH of Surface Water - Effects exposed bird/reptile eggs

Breaks down building materials

14. What is the ozone layer? Protects living things from harmful UV(Ultraviolet) radiation. 15. What is ozone composed of? 3 Oxygen Atoms chemically bonded 16. What are CFCs? Chloroflourocarbons 17. Where can CFCs be found? Refridgerators, Air Conditioners, Aerosol Cans (Hairspray, Spray Paint) 18. When do CFCs become harmful? When they enter the stratosphere 19. Where is the hole in the ozone layer? Antarctica 20. What effects does the thinning ozone have on humans, plants, and animals. - Increase Skin Cancer and skin aging in humans - Exposed bird/reptile eggs can be killed - Genetic mutations in plants and animals - Disrupts food chains if plants are killed - Interferes with plants undergoing photosynthesis. 21. What are the major green gases? Methane, Carbon Dioxide, Nitrous Oxide 22. What is the greenhouse effect? The trapping of hot air in a localized region. On a smaller scale than Global Warming. 23. What are the impacts of global warming? - Rising Sea Levels - Flooding/Droughts - Heat Waves - Increases in Disease (Malaria, Dengue Fever)