Chemistry - Atmosphere change

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how can we get an idea of what the atmosphere used to be like? (what evidence is there?)
evidence from ancient rocks or ice (gas trapped), compare to other planets to see how their atmosphere has changed
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one theory suggests the early earth was covered with...
Volcanes
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That mainly released three gases: H2O (vapor), __ and ___ (as well as other gasses like ammonia and ethane)
C02 and N2 (nitrogen)
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both venu and __ have a current similar atmosphere to early earths, suggesting volcanic activity
mars
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What happened to the H2O gas when the earth later cooled?
H2O gas condensed to form oceans
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what evidence do we have for this?
The CO2 would have dissolved in the water, forming carbonate ions. these would react with metal ions in the water to form insoluble carbonate compounds that we can find a layer of today
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how was oxygen produced? (through what reaction)
Photosynthesis - H2O + CO2 -(+light)--> glucose + O2
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CO2 was used during photosynthesis to make glucose. some of this glucose got trapped in biomass that transformed to fossil fuels from heat and pressure. give examples of the fossil fuels
coal, crude oil, natural gas
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Algae formed in the sea. How did this impact carbon dioxide & Oxygen levels?
Algae converted carbon dioxide into oxygen, and trapped the carbon as fossil fuels so there was an increase in O2 and decrease in CO2
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How else was CO2 decreased?
Dissolved in the sea to form shells of sea creatures which, when they died, became limestone
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How were Nitrogen levels increased?
Ammonia, released from volcanoes, reacted with oxygen to form Nitrogen
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What did methane /ammonia react with to be removed from atmosphere?
O2 [CH4 + 2O2 ---> CO2 + 2H2O and 4NH3 + 3O2 ---> 2N2 + 6H2O]
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How do humans contribute to climate change?
Burn fossil fuels that release the carbon dioxide back into the air, altering climate
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

one theory suggests the early earth was covered with...

Back

Volcanes

Card 3

Front

That mainly released three gases: H2O (vapor), __ and ___ (as well as other gasses like ammonia and ethane)

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

both venu and __ have a current similar atmosphere to early earths, suggesting volcanic activity

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What happened to the H2O gas when the earth later cooled?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

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