26/11/23

There’s One Earth

(Edexcel)

W Richards

The Weald School

 26/11/23
Evolution of the Earth’s Atmosphere
Carbon Methane Ammonia Oxygen Nitrogen Others
dioxide
Present day
atmosphere contains
78% nitrogen, 21%
oxygen, 1% noble
gases and about
0.03% CO2
Over 100OC 12-22OC

4 Billion years 3 Billion years 2 Billion years 1 Billion years Present day

40-50OC
 26/11/23
Evolution of the Earth’s Atmosphere
Volcanic activity
Some of the oxygen is
releases CO2, methane,
converted into ozone.
ammonia and water The ozone layer blocks
vapour into the out harmful ultra-violet
atmosphere. The water rays which allows for the
vapour condenses to development of new life.
form oceans.

4 Billion years 3 Billion years 2 Billion years 1 Billion years Present day

Green plants evolve which take in CO2 and

give out oxygen. Carbon from CO2
becomes locked up in sedimentary rocks as
carbonates and fossil fuels. Methane and
ammonia react with the oxygen and
nitrogen is released. Nitrogen is also
produced as a result of denitrifying
bacteria on nitrates from decaying plants.
 The Greenhouse Effect
26/11/23

We get heat
A lot of this heat is
from the sun:
_______ back into space.

However, most of it is kept inside the

Earth by a layer of gases that prevent
the heat escaping by _______ and
then re-radiating it back again.
This is called the _________ Effect. It has always been around, but is
currently being made worse due to:
1) Burning (releasing CO2)
2) __________ (removing trees that remove CO2)
3) Increased micro organism activity (from rotting ______)
4) Cattle and rice fields (they both produce _______)
These changes will cause GLOBAL WARMING and RISING SEA LEVELS
Words – methane, radiated, absorbing, deforestation, waste, greenhouse
Global Warming
26/11/23

Facts:
1) The 10 warmest years
of the last century
have all occurred
within the last 15
years
2) Sea level has risen by
between 12 and 24cm
in the last 100 years
3) Rainfall has risen by
1%
 Global Warming
26/11/23

How do we monitor global warming?

Monitor the height of sea levels

Measure the size of polar ice sheets
Monitor the salinity (salt content) of the oceans
Measure glacier movement
Monitor changes in climate from space

How do we fight it?

Invest in renewable energy

Meet the Kyoto protocol to cut CO2 emissions by 5.2% by 2012
Enhance plankton growth which takes in CO2 and gives out O2
 26/11/23
Hydrocarbons and crude oil
Crude oil is a mixture of HYDROCARBONS
(compounds made up of carbon and hydrogen).
Some examples:

H H
Longer chains mean…

Increasing length
H C C H
H H
1. Less ability to flow
Ethane
2. Less flammable
H H H H
H C C C C H 3. Less volatile
H H H H
4. Higher boiling point
Butane
 Fractional distillation
26/11/23

Crude oil can be separated by fractional distillation. The oil is evaporated

and the hydrocarbon chains of different lengths condense at different
temperatures:

Fractions with
low boiling
points condense
at the top

Fractions with
high boiling
points condense
at the bottom
 Separating air
26/11/23

Air can be separated into the different gases that make it up.
To do this you first have to cool air down to -2000C and turn it
into a liquid:
Remove
CO2 and
H2O vapour
Nitrogen

Liquid air Fractional Argon

(-200OC) distillation
Oxygen

In this chamber the air is gradually heated up again and

the different parts of air “distil” off at different
temperatures according to their boiling points
 Burning Fossil Fuels
26/11/23

Burning fossil fuels like oil and coal causes pollution.

Oil contains carbon:
H H O O
O O H H
C C
H O
H O O H O
H

Carbon dioxide is a “greenhouse

gas” – it helps cause global warming

Coal contains carbon, sulphur and other particles:

Sulphur + oxygen sulphur dioxide
Sulphur dioxide causes acid rain. Particles can cause
“global dimming” – sunlight is absorbed by the
particles in the atmosphere.
 Burning Fuels
26/11/23

H H O O
O H
Lots of C
O
C
H
oxygen: H O
H O O H O
H
Methane + Oxygen Carbon + Water
dioxide
H O
H H O H
O O
C O
H C H H
Some H O
O
oxygen: H H C
O H O
H
C O
O O
H H H
H
Methane + Oxygen Carbon + Water
monoxide
H O
H H H
Little C O C
O O
oxygen: H
H
H H

Methane + Oxygen Carbon + Water

 Ethanol as a fuel
26/11/23

Ethanol is an important chemical. Many

countries are increasing the amount of
ethanol put into their petrol supplies: Ford Escape E85 –
runs on 85% ethanol
Ethanol is a “clean burning” energy source and produces little
or no greenhouse gases. How is it made?

The “renewable” way Sugar is produced from

standard crops like
Sugar ethanol + carbon dioxide sugar cane and corn

What’s the point?

When ethanol burns it only produces small amounts of carbon
dioxide. Another alternative is hydrogen, which produces no
carbon dioxide but is difficult to produce.
Disposal of waste
26/11/23

1) Landfill sites - most waste does not

_________ which means that landfill sites
are quickly filled up. Research is being
carried out on __________ materials.

2) Burning – this releases carbon

dioxide which causes the
________ effect, as well as
other ________ gases.

3) _______ – the best option, but

difficult for materials like plastic

Words – recycling, greenhouse,

decompose, biodegradable, poisonous
 Recycling
26/11/23

Why recycle?

1) Less space will be needed for landfill sites

2) Recycled metals only need about 1/10th of the energy to
produce compared to producing new metals
3) Recycling paper reduces the amount of water and energy
needed to produce it
4) Recycled glass only needs 80% of the energy to produce
compared to producing new glass
5) Recycling saves on raw materials
6) Less excavation and mining costs
 Electrolysis of brine
26/11/23

Sodium chloride (salt) is made of an alkali metal and a

halogen. When it’s dissolved we call the solution “brine”,
and we can electrolyse it to produce 3 things…

Chlorine gas (Cl2) – used to Hydrogen gas (H2) – used

kill bacteria and to make to manufacture ammonia
acids, bleach and plastics and margarine

Sodium
chloride (brine)
NaCl(aq)

Sodium hydroxide
(NaOH(aq)). Used to
Positive Negative make soap, paper and
ceramics
electrode electrode