Environmental

Chemistry
ATMOSPHERE
The Earth’s Atmosphere
▪ Earth is unique among planets of our solar
system in having an atmosphere that is
chemically active and rich in oxygen.
▪ It is believed that three billion or four billion
years ago. The Earth's atmosphere consisted
mainly of ammonium, methane, and water.
▪ There was little, if any, free oxygen present.
▪ Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun
probably penetrated the atmosphere, rendering
the surface of the Earth sterile.
▪ However, the same UV radiation may have
triggered the chemical reaction that eventually
led to life on Earth.
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The Earth’s Atmosphere
▪ Primitive organisms used energy from the sun to
break down carbon dioxide (produced by volcanic
activity) to obtain carbon which they incorporated in
1 2
their own cell.
▪ The major by-product of this process called
photosynthesis is oxygen.
▪ Another important source of oxygen is the
photodecomposition of water vapor by UV light.
3 4
▪ Over time, the more reactive gases such as ammonia
and methane have largely disappeared, and today our
atmosphere consists mainly of oxygen ang nitrogen
▪ Biological processes determine to a great extent the
atmospheric concentration of these gases, one of
5 6
which is reactive oxygen and the other unreactive
nitrogen.
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Cycle of Nitrogen
• Molecular nitrogen, with its triple bond, is a very
stable molecule.
• Through biological and industrial Nitrogen Fixation
(conversion of molecular nitrogen into nitrogen
compounds) atmospheric nitrogen gas is converted
into nitrates and other compounds suitable for
assimilation by algae and plants.
• Another important mechanism for producing nitrates
from nitrogen gas is lightning.
• The steps are:
𝑵𝟐(𝒈𝒂𝒔) + 𝑶𝟐(𝒈𝒂𝒔) − 𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒄 𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒈𝒚 → 𝟐𝑵𝑶(𝒈)
𝟐𝑵𝑶(𝒈𝒂𝒔) + 𝑶𝟐(𝒈𝒂𝒔) → 𝟐𝑵𝑶𝟐 (𝒈𝒂𝒔)
𝟐𝑵𝑶𝟐(𝒈𝒂𝒔) + 𝑯𝟐 𝑶(𝒍) → 𝑯𝑵𝑶𝟐(𝒂𝒒) + 𝑯𝑵𝑶𝟑(𝒂𝒒)

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Cycle of Nitrogen
• About 30 million tons of 𝐻𝑁𝑂3 (nitric acid) are
produced in this way annually.
• Nitric acid is converted to nitrate salts in the soil.
• The nutrients are taken up by the plants, which in turn
are ingested by animals.
• Animals use the nutrients from plants to make proteins
and essential biomolecules.
• Denitrification reverses nitrogen fixation to complete
the cycle.

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Oxygen Cycle & Layers of the Atmosphere
• The oxygen cycle is so complicated by the fact that
oxygen takes so many different chemical forms.
• Photosynthesis is the major mechanism by which
molecular oxygen is regenerated from carbon dioxide and
water.
• Scientists divide the atmosphere into several different
layers according to temperature variation and
composition.
• The most active region is the troposphere, the layer of
the atmosphere closest to the to Earth’s surface.
• Troposphere contains about 80% of the total mass of air
and practically all the atmosphere’s water vapor.
• Troposphere is the thinnest layer of the atmosphere (10
km), but it is where all the dramatic events of weather
(rain, lightning, hurricanes, etc. ) occurs
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Layers of the Atmosphere
• Temperature decreases almost linearly with
increasing altitude in the troposphere.
• Above the troposphere is the stratosphere, it
is consists of Nitrogen, Oxygen, and Ozone.
• In the stratosphere, the air temperature
increases with altitude.
• This warming effect is the result of
exothermic reactions triggered by UV
radiation from the sun.
• One of the products of the reaction
sequence in the troposphere is the ozone
(𝑂3 ), which serves to prevent harmful UV
rays from reaching Earth’s surface.
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Layers of the Atmosphere
• In the mesosphere, above the stratosphere, the
concentration of ozone and other gases is low, and
the temperature decreases again with increasing
altitude.
• The thermosphere or the Ionosphere, is the
uppermost layer of the atmosphere.
• The increase in temperature in this region is the
result of the bombardment of molecular oxygen and
nitrogen and atomic species by energetic particles
𝑁2 → 2𝑁 ∆𝐻0 = 941.4kJ/mol
such as electrons and protons from the sun.
• The reactions are as follows: 𝑁 → 𝑁+ + 𝑒− ∆𝐻0 = 1400 kJ/mol

• In reverse, this processes liberate the equivalent 𝑂2 → 𝑂2+ + 𝑒 − 𝐻0 = 1400 kJ/mol

amount of energy, mostly as heat. Ionized particles
are responsible for the reflection of radio waves back
toward Earth.
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Depletion of Ozone in the Stratosphere
• The formation of ozone in the stratosphere begins with the Photodissociation of oxygen
molecules by solar radiation at wavelength below 240nm.
𝑂2 −𝑈𝑉 (240𝑛) → O + O
• The highly reactive O atom combine with oxygen molecules to form ozone as follows:
𝑂 + 𝑂2 + 𝑀 → 𝑂3 + 𝑀
• M is the inert substance such as 𝑁2 .
• The role of M in this exothermic reaction is to absorb some of the excess energy released
and prevent the spontaneous decomposition of the 𝑂3 molecules.
• The energy that is not absorbed by M is given off as heat.
• As the M molecules themselves become de-excited, they release more heat to the
surrounding.
• In addition, ozone itself absorbs UV light between 200 and 300 nm.

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Depletion of Ozone in the Stratosphere
• As the process continues when O and 𝑂2 recombine to form 𝑂3 , further
warming the stratosphere.
• If the stratospheric ozone were compressed into a single layer at STP on
Earth, that layer would by only 3 mm thick.
• Although the concentration of ozone in the stratosphere is very low, it is
sufficient to filter out solar radiation in the 200 to 300 nm range.
• Therefore, stratosphere, act as our protective shield against UV radiation
which can induce skin cancer, cause genetic mutation, and destroy crops and
other forms of vegetation.
• The formation and destruction of ozone by natural processes is a dynamic
equilibrium that maintains a constant concentration of ozone in the
stratosphere.

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Depletion of Ozone in the Stratosphere
• Since the mid-1970s scientists have been concerned about the harmful effects of CFC on the
ozone layer.
• CFC generally known by the trade name Freons.
• CFC were first synthesized in the 1930s.
• Some of the common ones are 𝐶𝐹𝐶𝑙3 (𝐹𝑟𝑒𝑜𝑛 11) , 𝐶𝐹2 𝐶𝑙2 𝐹𝑟𝑒𝑜𝑛 12 ,
𝐶2 𝐹3 𝐶𝑙3 𝐹𝑟𝑒𝑜𝑛 113 , and 𝐶2 𝐹4 𝐶𝑙2 (𝐹𝑟𝑒𝑜𝑛 114).
• These substances are readily liquefied, relatively inert, nontoxic, noncombustible, and
volatile, they have been used as coolant in refrigerators and air conditioners, in place of
highly toxic liquid sulfur dioxide (𝑆𝑂2 ) and ammonia (𝑁𝐻3 ).
• Large quantities of CFCs are also used in the manufacture of disposable foam product such
as cups and plates, as aerosol propellants in spray cans, and as solvents to clean newly
soldered electronic circuit.
• Most of the CFCs produced for commercial and industrial use are eventually discharged into
the atmosphere

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Depletion of Ozone in the Stratosphere
• Because of the relative inertness of CFCs, they slowly diffuse unchanged up to the
stratosphere where UV radiation of wavelength between 175 and 220 nm causes them to
decompose:
𝐶𝐹𝐶𝑙3 → 𝐶𝐹𝐶𝑙2 + 𝐶𝑙 𝐶𝐹2 𝐶𝑙2 → 𝐶𝐹2 𝐶𝑙 + 𝐶𝑙
• The reactive chlorine atoms then undergo the following reactions:
𝐶𝑙 + 𝑂3 → 𝐶𝑙𝑂 + 𝑂2 𝐶𝑙𝑂 + 𝑂 → 𝐶𝑙 + 𝑂2
• The overall result of the reaction is the net removal of an 𝑂3 molecule from the
stratosphere.
• The oxygen in the reaction ( 𝐶𝑙𝑂 + 𝑂 → 𝐶𝑙+ ) are supplied by the photochemical
decomposition of molecular oxygen and ozone.
• The Cl atom plays the role of a catalyst in the reaction mechanism scheme in the reaction :
𝐶𝑙 + 𝑂3 → 𝐶𝑙𝑂 + 𝑂2 and in 𝐶𝑙𝑂 + 𝑂 → 𝐶𝑙 + 𝑂2

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Depletion of Ozone in the Stratosphere
• The Cl atom plays the role of a catalyst in the reaction mechanism scheme in the reaction
: 𝐶𝑙 + 𝑂3 → 𝐶𝑙𝑂 + 𝑂2 and in 𝐶𝑙𝑂 + 𝑂 → 𝐶𝑙 + 𝑂2
• Since Cl is not used up, therefore, Cl can take part in many such reactions.
• In fact Cl atom can destroy up to 100,000 𝑂3 molecules before it is removed by some
other reaction.

• 𝐶𝑙𝑂 (chlorine monoxide) species is an intermediate because it is produced in the first

elementary step (𝐶𝑙 + 𝑂3 → 𝐶𝑙𝑂 + 𝑂2 ) and consumed in the second step (𝐶𝑙𝑂 + 𝑂 →
𝐶𝑙 + 𝑂2 )
• The second preceding mechanism for the destruction of ozone has been supported by the
detection of ClO in the atmosphere in recent year.

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Depletion of Ozone in the Stratosphere
• Another group of compounds that can destroy stratospheric ozone are the nitrogen
oxides, generally denoted as 𝑁𝑂𝑥 (Examples of 𝑁𝑂𝑥 are 𝑁𝑂 and 𝑁𝑂2
• These compounds come from the exhaust of high altitude supersonic aircraft and from
human and natural activities on Earth.
• Solar radiation decomposes a substantial amount of the other nitrogen oxides to nitric
oxide (NO) which participates in the destruction of ozone as follows:
𝑂3 → 𝑂2 + 𝑂
• In this case NO is the catalyst and 𝑁𝑂2 is the
𝑁𝑂 + 𝑂3 → 𝑁𝑂2 + 𝑂2 intermediate. Nitrogen dioxide also react with
𝑁𝑂2 + 𝑂 → 𝑁𝑂 + 𝑂2 chlorine monoxide to form chlorine nitrate.
overall : 2𝑂3 → 3𝑂2 𝐶𝑙𝑂 + 𝑁𝑂2 → 𝐶𝑙𝑂𝑁𝑂2
• Chlorine nitrate is relatively stable and serves as a “chlorine reservoir”, which plays a role in
the depletion of the stratospheric ozone over the North and South Poles.

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The Greenhouse Effect
• Carbon dioxide is only a trace gas in Earth’s atmosphere with a concentration of about 0.33
% by volume, but it plays a critical role in controlling our climate.
• Greenhouse Effect describes the trapping of heat near Earth’s surface by gases in the
atmosphere, particularly carbon dioxide.
• The glass roof of a greenhouse transmit
visible sunlight and absorbs some of the
outgoing infrared (IR) radiation,
thereby trapping heat.
• Carbon dioxide act somewhat like a
glass roof, except that the rise in the
temperature in the greenhouse is due
mainly to the restricted air circulation
inside.
• Calculations shows that if the
atmosphere did not contain carbon
dioxide. Earth would be 300 𝐶cooler

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The Greenhouse Effect
• The transfer of carbon dioxide to and • Carbon dioxide is also a by-product of the
from the atmosphere is an essential part fermentation of sugar.
𝐶6 𝐻12 𝑂6(𝑎𝑞) − 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑡 → 2𝐶2 𝐻5 𝑂𝐻(𝐿) + 2𝐶𝑂2∗𝑔)
of the carbon cycle.
• Carbohydrates and other complex carbon-
• Carbon dioxide is produced when any containing molecules are consumed by
of carbon or carbon-containing animals, which respire and release 𝐶𝑂2 as an
compouds is burned in a excess of end product of metabolism
oxygen. 𝐶6 𝐻12 𝑂6(𝑎𝑞) + 6𝑂2 → 6𝐶𝑂2(𝑔) + 6𝐻2 𝑂(𝑙)
• Many carbonates give off 𝐶𝑂2 when • Another major source of 𝐶𝑂2 is volcanic
heated, and all give off 𝐶𝑂2 when activity.
treated with acid. • Carbon dioxide is removed from the
𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3(𝑠) → 𝐶𝑎𝑂(𝑠) + 𝐶𝑂2 atmosphere by photosynthetic plants and
certain microorganisms.
𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3(𝑠) + 2𝐻𝐶𝑙(𝑎𝑞) → 𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑙2(𝑎𝑞) + 𝐻2 𝑂(𝑙) + 𝐶𝑂2
6𝐶𝑂2(𝑔) + 6𝐻2 𝑂(𝑙) → 𝐶6 𝐻12 𝑂6(𝑎𝑞) + 6𝑂2(𝑔)

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The Greenhouse Effect
• After the plants and animals die, the carbon • By contrast, the thermal radiation emitted by
dioxide in their tissues is oxidized to 𝐶𝑂2 Earth’s surface is characterized by wavelength
longer than 4000 nm (IR) region, because of the
and returns to the atmosphere. much lower average surface temperature compared
• In addition there is a dynamic equilibrium to that of the sun.
between atmospheric 𝐶𝑂2 and carbonates • The outgoing IR can be absorbed by water and
in the ocean and lakes. carbon dioxide, but not by nitrogen and oxygen.
• The solar radiant received by Earth is
distributed over a band of wavelength
between 100 and 5000 nm, but much of it
is concentrated in the 400 to 700 nm,
which is the visible region of the spectrum.

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The Greenhouse Effect
• All molecules vibrate. • On the other hand, all heteronuclear
• To vibrate more energetically, a molecule diatomic molecules are IR-active, that is,
must absorb a photon of specific they all absorb IR radiation because their
wavelength in the IR region. dipole moments constantly change as the
bond length change.
• First, however, its dipole moment must
change during the course of a vibration.
• If the molecule is homonuclear like 𝑁2 and
𝑂2 , there can be no change in the dipole
moment, the molecule has zero dipole
moment no matter how far or close
together the two atoms are.
• We call such molecules IR-inactive
because they cannot absorb IR radiation.

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The Greenhouse Effect
• A polyatomic molecule can vibrate in • Carbon dioxide is nonpolar, one of its four
more than one way. ways of vibration shows that it is IR-active.
• Water, for example, can vibrate in
different ways.

• Because water is a polar molecule, any of

these vibration results in a change in dipole
moment because there is a change in bond
length.
• Therefore, an 𝐻2 𝑂 molecule is IR active.

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The Greenhouse Effect • The total amount of water vapor in our
atmosphere has not altered noticeable over
• Upon receiving a photon in the IR region, a the years, but the concentration of 𝐶𝑂2 has
molecule of 𝐻2 𝑂 𝑜𝑟 𝐶𝑂2 is promoted to a been steady since the turn of the century as
higher vibrational energy level. a result of the burning of fossil fuel
𝐻2 𝑂 + ℎ𝑣 → 𝐻2 𝑂∗ (petroleum, natural gas, and coal).
𝐶𝑂2 + ℎ𝑣 → 𝐶𝑂2∗
• The asterisk denotes vibrationally excite
molecule.
• These energetically excited molecules soon
lose their excess energy either by collision
with other molecules or by spontaneous
emission of radiation.
• Part of this radiation is emitted to outer
space and part returns to Earth’s surface.

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The Greenhouse Effect
• In addition to 𝐶𝑂2 and 𝐻2 𝑂 , other
greenhouse gases, such as the CFs, 𝐶𝐻4 ,
𝑁𝑂𝑋 , 𝑁2 𝑂 also contribute appreciably to
the warming of the atmosphere
• It is predicted by some meteorologists that
buildup of greenhouse gases continue at its
current rate.
• Earth’s average temperature will increase
by about 10 C to 30 C in the twenty-first
century.
• That increase in temperature seems
insignificant, but actually, it is large
enough to disrupt the delicate thermal
balance on Earth and could cause glaciers
and ice caps to melt.
• To combat the greenhouse effect we must lower
carbon dioxide emissions.
• This can be done by improving energy efficiency in
automobiles and in household heating and lighting
and by developing non-fossil fuel energy source,
such as photovoltaic cells.
• Nuclear energy is a viable alternative, but its use is
highly controversial due to the difficulty of
disposing of radioactive waste and the fact that
nuclear power stations are more prone to accidents
than conventional power stations.
• The proposed phasing out of CFCs, the most potent
greenhouse gas, will help to slow down the
warming trend.
• The recovery of methane gas generated at landfills
and the reduction of natural gas leakages.
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The Greenhouse Effect
• The proposed phasing out of CFCs, the
most potent greenhouse gas, will help to
slow down the warming trend.
• The recovery of methane gas generated at
landfills and the reduction of natural gas
leakages.
• The preservation of Amazon jungle forest,
tropical forest in Southeast Asia, and other
large forest is vital to maintaining the
steady-state concentration of 𝐶𝑂2 in the
atmosphere
• Sample Problem to Solve:
• Which of the following gases qualify as a
greenhouse gas: 𝑁𝑂, 𝐶𝑂, 𝐶𝑙2 , 𝑁𝑂2, 𝐻2 , 𝑁𝑒
• Strategy to answer:
• To behave as greenhouse gases, either
the molecule must posses a dipole
moment or some of its vibrational
motion must generate a temporary dipole
moment.
• Answer:
• Only 𝐶𝑂, 𝑁𝑂, and 𝑁𝑂2, , which are all
polar molecule, qualify as greenhouse
gases.
• Both 𝐶𝑙2 and 𝐻2 , are homonuclear
diatomic molecules. Ne is atomic.
• 𝐶𝑙2 , 𝐻2 and Ne are all IR-inactive
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The Acid Rain
• Every year acid rain causes hundreds of
millions of dollars’ worth of damage to
stone buildings and statues throughout the
world.
• The term “stone leprosy” is used by some
environmental chemists to describe the
corrosion of stone by acid rain.
• Acid rain is also toxic to vegetation and
aquatic life.
• Many well-documented cases show
dramatically how acid rain has destroyed
agricultural and forest land and killed
aquatic organisms.
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The Acid Rain
• Atmospheric 𝐶𝑂2 is in equilibrium • There𝑆𝑂2 :
with rainwater, this is the reason why
carbon dioxide would not be
expected to result in pH less than
5.5.
• Sulfur dioxide (𝑆𝑂2 ) and to a lesser
extent, nitrogen oxides (𝑁𝑂𝑋 ) from
the emissions are believed to be
responsible for the high acidity of
rainwater.
• Acidic oxides, such as 𝑆𝑂2 , react
with water to give the corresponding
acids.
are several sources of atmospheric
• Volcanic eruption (nature source)
• Many metals exists combined with sulfur
• Extracting metals often entails smelting, or
roasting, the ores – that is, heating the metal
sulfide in air to form the metal oxide and 𝑆𝑂2
2𝑍𝑛𝑆(𝑠) + 3𝑂2(𝑔) → 2𝑍𝑛𝑂(𝑠) + 2𝑆𝑂2 (𝑔)
• Therefore, Smelting is a major source of 𝑆𝑂2
• The burning of fossil fuels in industry, in
power plants, and in homes.
• All in all, some 50 to 60 million tons of
𝑆𝑂2 are released into the atmosphere each
year
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The Acid Rain
• In the atmosphere, 𝑆𝑂2 is almost
all oxidized to 𝐻2 𝑆𝑂4 (sulfuric
acid) in the form of aerosol,
which ends up in wet
precipitation.
• The mechanism for the
conversion of 𝑆𝑂2 to 𝐻2 𝑆𝑂4 is
quite complex and not fully
understood.
• The reaction is believed to be
initiated by the hydroxyl radical
(OH):
OH+𝑆𝑂2 → 𝐻𝑂𝑆𝑂2
• The 𝐻𝑂𝑆𝑂2 radical is further oxidized to 𝑆𝑂3
𝐻𝑂𝑆𝑂2 + 𝑂2 → 𝐻𝑂2 + 𝑆𝑂3
• The sulfur trioxide formed would then
rapidly react with water to form sulfuric
acid:
𝑆𝑂2 + 𝐻2 𝑂 → 𝐻2 𝑆𝑂4
• 𝑆𝑂2 can also be oxidized to 𝑆𝑂3 and then
converted to 𝐻2 𝑆𝑂4 , on particles by
heterogeneous catalysts.
• Eventually, the acid rain can corrode
limestone and marble (𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3 ):
𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3(𝑠) + 𝐻2 𝑆𝑂4 (𝑎𝑞) → 𝐶𝑎𝑆𝑂4 (𝑠) + 𝐻2 𝑂(𝑙) + 𝐶𝑂2(𝑔)
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The Acid Rain
• Sulfur dioxide can also attack calcium carbonate (𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3 ) directly:
2𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3(𝑠) + 2𝑆𝑂2(𝑔) + 𝑂2(𝑔) → 2𝐶𝑎𝑆𝑂4(𝑠) + 2𝐶𝑂2(𝑔)
• There are two ways to minimize the effect of 𝑆𝑂2 pollution.
• The most direct approach is to remove sulfur from fossil before combustion, but this
is technologically difficult to accomplish.
• Remove sulfur dioxide as it is formed.
• In one process powdered limestone is injected to into the power plant boiler or
furnace along with the coal at high temperature, this will happens:
𝐶𝑎𝐶𝑂3(𝑠) → 𝐶𝑎𝑂(𝑠) + 𝐶𝑂2(𝑔)
The quicklime (𝐶𝑎𝑂 ) react with 𝑆𝑂2 to form calcium sulfide and some calcium
sulfate:
𝐶𝑎𝑂(𝑠) + 𝑆𝑂2 → 𝐶𝑎𝑆𝑂3(𝑠)
2𝐶𝑎𝑂(𝑠) + 2𝑆𝑂2(𝑔) + 𝑂2(𝑔) → 2𝐶𝑎𝑆𝑂4(𝑠)

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Common procedure for removing 𝑆𝑂2 from burning fossil fuel.
Powdered limestone decomposes into CaO, which reacts with 𝑆𝑂2 to form
𝐶𝑎𝑆𝑂3 . The remaining 𝑆𝑂2 is combined with an aqueous suspension of CaO to form
𝐶𝑎𝑆𝑂3

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Photochemical Smog
• The word smog was coined to describe the
combination of smoke and fog that
shrouded London during 1950s.
• The primary cause of the noxious cloud
was sulfur dioxide.
• Today, photochemical smog, which is
formed by the reaction of automobile
exhaust in the presence of sunlight is much
more common.
• Automobile exhaust consists mainly of
NO, CO, and various unburned
hydrocarbons.
• These gases are called Primary Pollutants
because they set in motion a series of
photochemical reactions that produce
Secondary Pollutants.
• The Secondary Pollutants such 𝑁𝑂2 and
𝑂3 are responsible for the buildup of smog.
• Nitrous oxide is the product of the reaction
between atmospheric nitrogen and oxygen
at high temperatures inside an automobiles
engine:
𝑁2(𝑔) + 𝑂2(𝑔) → 2𝑁𝑂(𝑔)
• Once released into the atmosphere, nitric
oxide is oxidized to nitrogen dioxide:
2𝑁𝑂(𝑔) + 𝑂2(𝑔) → 2𝑁𝑂2(𝑔)
• Sunlight causes the photochemical
decomposition of 𝑁𝑂2 (at a wavelength
shorter than 400 nm) into NO and O.
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28
Photochemical Smog
• Sunlight causes the photochemical • Ozone can be formed also by a series of
decomposition of 𝑁𝑂2 (at a wavelength very complex reactions involving unburned
shorter than 400 nm) into NO and O. hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and
oxygen.
𝑁𝑂2 (𝑔) + ℎ𝑣 → 𝑁𝑂(𝑔) + 𝑂(𝑔)
• One of the products of these reactions is
• Atomic oxygen is a highly reactive species peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN):
that can initiate a number of important
reactions, one of which is the formation of
ozone:
𝑂(𝑔) + 𝑂2(𝑔) + 𝑀 → 𝑂3(𝑔) + 𝑀
• Where M in some inert substance such as
𝑁2 Ozone attack the C=C linkage in
rubber.
• PAN is powerful lachrymator, or tear
• This can cause automobiles tires to producer, and causes breathing difficulties.
crack
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Photochemical Smog • Initially the concentration of 𝑁𝑂2 is quite
low.
• As soon as the solar radiation penetrates
the atmosphere, though, more 𝑁𝑂2 is
formed from NO and 𝑂2
• The concentration of ozone remains fairly
constant at a low level in the early
morning.
• As the concentration of unburned
hydrocarbons and aldehydes increases in
the air, the concentration of 𝑁𝑂2 and 𝑂3
also rise rapidly.
• The actual amount depend on the location,
traffic, and weather conditions, but their
presence is always accompanied by haze.

Jens Martensson 30
Photochemical Smog • The oxidation of hydrocarbons produces
various organic intermediates, such as
alcohols and carboxylic acids, which are
all less volatile than the hydrocarbons
themselves.
• These substances eventually condense into
small droplets of liquid.
• The dispersion of these droplets in air
called an Aerosol, scatter sunlight and
reduces visibility.
• This interaction also makes the air look
hazy.

Jens Martensson 31
Photochemical Smog
• As the mechanism of photochemical
smog formation has become better
understood, major efforts have been
made to reduce the buildup of primary
pollutants.
• Most automobiles are now equipped • A recent technological innovation to
with catalytic converters designed to combat photochemical smog is to coat
automobile radiator and air conditioner
oxidize CO and unburned hydrocarbons
compressors with a platinum catalysts.
to 𝐶𝑂2 and 𝐻2 𝑂 and to reduce NO and
𝑁𝑂2 to 𝑁2 and 𝑂2 . • So equipped, a running car can purify
the air that flows under the hood by
• More efficient automobile engines and converting ozone and carbon
better transportation system would also monoxide to oxygen and carbon
help decrease air pollution in urban dioxide.
areas. 𝑂3(𝑔) + 𝐶𝑂(𝑔) − 𝑃𝑡 → 𝑂2(𝑔) + 𝐶𝑂2(𝑔)

Jens Martensson 32
32
Thank You
Shared by: Victor Oribe, PhD
oribevictor@mseuf.edu.ph