Air

Air

What is Air?

-Air is a precious resource that most of us take for granted. 

Air supplies us with oxygen, which is essential for our bodies to live. 

Without it, we would die within minutes.

-Pure air is a mixture of several gases that are invisible and odourless. 
It consists of about 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and less than 1% of argon, 
carbon dioxide, and other gases — as well as varying amounts of water vapour. 

Chemistry Nugget ! 
Adults breathe in about 10-20 cubic metres of air every day. 
That’s about 20,000 breaths. 

Children breathe almost twice that amount because they are smaller, 
and their respiratory systems are still maturing.

Composition of Dry Air

Composition of Dry Air

Air Pollution

Air Pollution

The air that we breathe in is not clean. It contains pollutants. Pollutants are substances which cause pollution and have undesirable effects on people and the environment.


Air pollution is caused by:
-The chemicals released by the factorys, cars and many more. 
-The massive amount of fuels burnt causes massive increase of carbon dioxide resulting in gobal warming. 
-Deforestation also plays a part in air pollution and gobal warming.
-CFCs in the atmosphere forming a hole and making more uv rays the come to earth .
-Natural events and human activities.

Acid Rain

Acid Rain

Acid rain formed as a consequence of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen combing with atmospheric moisture. It is slightly acidic as it contains a small amount of natural nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide.

 Acid rain corrodes buildings and sculptures, especially those made of stone and metal

 Acid rain cause deforestation

 Acid rain kills plants by damaging their roots and leaching out the nutrient from the soil. It has led to nutrients from the soil. It has led to deforestation in many parts of the American continent and in Europe

Acid rain causes lakes to be acidified. This kills fish and other marine life.

Reducing Air Pollution

Reducing Air Pollution

It is everyone's duty to reduce pollution and protect the environment. To overcome air pollution, the emission of air pollutants must be provided. 
Reducing Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogen Oxide and Unburned Hydrocarbons 


Carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and unburned hydrocarbons emissions from motor vehicles can be reduced by installing catalytic converters to the exhausts. 

A catalytic converter
It converts carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide; nitrogen oxides to nitrogen and unburned hydrocarbons to water and carbon dioxide.


Reducing Sulfur Dioxide and Nitrogen Oxides Emissions 
Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides can be removed from waste gases by treating them with calcium hydroxide, After that, the waste gases are released into the atmosphere. 

Ways to reduce emission of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides

 Using cleaner petrol and diesel with no sulfur

Using natural gas for factories and power stations 

Treating waste gases before releasing them into the atmosphere

Global Warming

Global Warming

Global warming is when the earth's temperature rises.  It happens when greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, water vapor, nitrous oxide, and methane) trap heat and light from the sun in the earth’s atmosphere, which increases the temperature. It is estimated that the earth's temperature would increase by 1.4°C to 5.8°C by 2100 if the trend continues.

Reducing Carbon Dioxide Emissions 
- Move your fridge and freezer
Placing them next to the cooker or boiler consumes much more energy than if they were standing on their own. For example, if you put them in a hot cellar room where the room temperature is 30-35ºC, energy use is almost double and causes an extra 160kg of CO2 emissions for fridges per year and 320kg for freezers.

- Clean or replace filters on your furnace and air conditioner
Cleaning a dirty air filter can save 350 pounds of carbon dioxide a year

- Cover your pots while cooking
Doing so can save a lot of the energy needed for preparing the dish. Even better are pressure cookers and steamers: they can save around 70%!

For more information go to  --> http://globalwarming-facts.info/50-tips.html