1. The layer that contains most of the mass of the atmosphere is the

A. StratosphereB. TroposphereC. MesosphereD. Exosphere

Strato

sphere

Troposp

here

Meso

sphere

Exosp

here

12%

0%4%

85%

2. Which of the following is a secondary pollutant?

A. H2SO4

B. O3

C. NO2

D. A and BE. A, B and C

H2SO4 O3NO2

A and B

A, B and C

14% 14%

19%

48%

5%

Other secondary pollutants include • PAN’s (peroxyl nitrates) which are powerful respiratory and eye

irritants • Aldehydes and Ketones

3. The size of particulate matter that is considered the most hazardous is

A. < 2.5 microns (micrometers)B. > 2.5 microns (micrometers)

C. They are considered equally hazardous

< 2.5 micr

ons (micr

ometers)

> 2.5 micr

ons (micr

ometers)

They are co

nsidere

d equal..

63%

4%

33%

Our body’s mechanisms to keep the respiratory system free from particulate matter (nose hairs, cilia and mucus in trachea) are least effective at keeping the smallest particulate matter (less than 2.5 micrometers) out of our lungs.

4. Source(s) of NOx’s include(Remember that the x indicates the category of nitrogen oxides can have different numbers of oxygen atoms – NO or NO2)

A. Vehicle exhaustB. FertilizersC. Both A and BD. Neither A nor B

Vehicle exhaust

Ferti

lizers

Both A and B

Neither A

nor B

18%

5%

64%

14%

5. Which of the following is/are effect(s) of NOx‘s?

A. Acid rainB. Formation of ground level

ozoneC. It is a greenhouse gasD. A and BE. A, B and C

Acid ra

in

Form

ation of gro

und leve...

It is a

greenhouse

gas

A and B

A, B and C

20% 20% 20%20%20%

Several different chemical reactions can occur to produce secondary pollutants from NOx’s

NO2 can react with water vapor to form nitric acid.

NO2 can under go a photolytic reaction to from ground level ozone.

NO2 can react with hydrocarbons to form PAN’s.

N2O is the nitrogen compound that is a strong greenhouse gas. N2O is the nitrogen compound that can come from either vehicles or fertilizers.

6. How is N2 converted into NO2 compounds?

A. Through evaporation of volatile organic compounds.

B. Through combustion in engines at high temperatures.

C. By photolysis in the atmosphere.

D. Through evaporation of inorganic fertilizers.

Through evaporati

on of ...

Through co

mbustion in

...

By photolysis

in th

e atm...

Through evaporati

on of ...

8% 12%0%

80%

The atmosphere is 78% N2. This molecule is normally very stable. However the high temperatures reached in combustion engines allows N2 in the air to react with oxygen to form NO2.

Vehicle emissions are a major source of NO2 due to the temperature reached in the combustion engines.

High temperatures

7. Which pollutant comes from BOTH volcanoes and coal plant emissions?

A. MercuryB. MethaneC. LeadD. SO2

Mercu

ry

Meth

aneLe

adSO2

26%

70%

0%4%

Coal power plants are a source of mercury.SO2 is produced by both coal power plants and volcanoes.

8. Smelting is the process through which

A. Particulates are removed from smokestack emissions.

B. CO and hydrocarbon emissions are reduced in car emissions.

C. Metals are extracted from their ore compounds.

D. SO2 is converted into sulfuric acid.

Particu

lates are

remove

d...

CO and hydroca

rbon emi...

Meta

ls are

extracte

d fro...

SO2 is

conve

rted in

to su

l...

4% 0%

96%

0%

Example: Copper containing compound CuFeS2 is smelted to produce pure copper.

Some ore compounds, like CuFeS2, contain sulfur and can result in SO2 emissions.

9. The conversion of SOx compounds into sulfuric acid happens

A. In the smokestacks of coal plants.

B. through reaction with water in the atmosphere.

C. through photochemical reactions in the atmosphere.

D. when a thermal inversion occurs.

In the sm

okestack

s of c

oa...

thro

ugh reac

tion with

w...

thro

ugh photoch

emical ..

.

when a therm

al inversi

o...

4%13%17%

65%

10. Pollution that consists mostly of SO2, H2SO4 droplets, and soot is called

A. Photochemical smog.B. Brown air smog.C. Yellow air smog.D. Industrial smog.

Photoch

emical s

mog.

Brown air

smog.

Yellow air

smog.

Industrial

smog.

27%

46%

4%

23%

The primary components of gray smog (also known as industrial smog) are soot (particulates) and sulfur dioxide. Coal burning is a major source.

Brown smog (also known as photochemical smog) gets its color from nitrogen compounds. Since sunlight provides the energy required for the photochemical reactions, sunny days increases level of brown smog. Brown smog also contains O3

11. The use of light energy to promote a reaction is called

A. A catalytic converter.B. PhotolysisC. Solar converter.D. A thermal reaction.

A catalyti

c converte

r.

Photolys

is

Solar converte

r.

A therm

al reacti

on.

12% 8%8%

72%

Photo= light

Photolysis is a reaction that breaks apart a molecule using the sun’s light energy. (lysis= to break).Can also be called photochemical reactions.

12. Which of the following is true of ozone?

A. It is a primary pollutant.B. It is beneficial in the

troposphere.C. It is created through

photochemical reactions.D. It is a very stable molecule.

It is a

primary

polluta

nt.

It is b

eneficial in

the tr

o...

It is c

reated th

rough

ph...

It is a

very st

able molecu

le.

10%5%

55%

30%

13. What are VOCs?

A. Volatile Organic Compounds.B. Vehicle Oxidized Compounds.C. Vaporized Ozone Compounds.D. Vaporous Olefactory Compounds

Volatile Orga

nic Compou...

Vehicle O

xidized Compo...

Vaporized O

zone Compo...

Vaporous O

lefactory

Co...

93%

0%4%4%

14. What is not a source of VOCs?

A. LandfillsB. Cleaning fluidsC. PaintsD. CarsE. All of the above are

sources of VOC’s

Landfills

Cleaning fluidsPain

tsCars

All of t

he above are sour..

.

4% 0%

72%

8%16%

Methane which can be released from landfills (due to anaerobic breakdown of organic matter) is an example of an volatile organic compound.

Evaporation of fuels and solvents are key sources of VOC’s.

VOC’s are part of photochemical reactions that produces harmful ground –level ozone.

15. A thermal inversion means a layer of _________ air above the air in lower atmosphere, and a thermal inversion tends to __________ air pollution levels.

A. colder; reduceB. colder; increaseC. warmer; reduceD. warmer; increase

A. colder;

reduce

B. colder; i

ncrease

C. warm

er; reduce

warmer; i

ncrease

0%

48%

9%

43%

The normal pattern is for the air to be warmest close to the earth. (Temperatures decrease as the altitude increases in the troposphere.) This pattern allow the surface air to rise since the warmer air is less dense. Some of the pollutants are carried away through this process.

When a layer of warm air is above colder air, the surface air does not rise so pollutants remain trapped near the surface.

16. Which of the following will make air pollution worse?

A. High PrecipitationB. Sunny climateC. Windy weatherD. Flat topographyE. All of the above.

High Precip

itation

Sunny clim

ate

Windy w

eather

Flat t

opography

All of t

he above.

12%

48%

16%20%

4%

A sunny climate will increase the formation of secondary pollutants through photochemical reactions. The role of the sun in O3 production is why ozone levels are generally at their highest on sunny days in the afternoon .

The other factors will help dissipate (break up/drive off) the air pollution.• Rain can help clean the air of particulate

matter.• Wind will disperse pollution.• A flat topography allow the wind to disperse

pollution and reduce the formation of thermal inversions that traps in pollution.

17. The air pollutant which interferes with the blood’s capacity to carry oxygen is

A. Sulfur dioxide (SO2)

B. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)

C. Carbon monoxide (CO)D. Carbon dioxide (CO2)

E. Lead (Pb)

SO2NO2 CO

CO2Le

ad

0% 0%

14%

0%

86%

18. Significant sources of lead pollution (past and present) include all of the following except

A. Car emissionsB. PaintsC. Coal plantsD. Pipes

Car emiss

ions

Paints

Coal plants

Pipes

38%

13%

33%

17%

Until the 1970’s lead was used in gasoline and paint.

19. Which of the following pollutants causes neurological damage?

A. SO2

B. NO2

C. VOCsD. O3

E. Lead

SO2NO2

VOCs O3Le

ad

0%

9%

77%

0%

14%

20. Which of the following pollutants is most likely to be a carcinogen?

A. SO2

B. NO2

C. VOCsD. COE. Lead

SO2NO2

VOCs COLe

ad

10%

30%

0%5%

55%

Examples of VOC’s linked to cancer include benzene and formaldehyde.

21. What classifies precipitation as acid precipitation?

A. pH < 5.6B. pH > 5.6C. pH < 7D. pH > 7

pH < 5.6

pH > 5.6

pH < 7pH > 7

25% 25%25%25%

The pH of rain is normally slightly acidic due to CO2 in the atmosphere, some of which reacts to form carbonic acid.

When other components, decrease the pH below 5.6 it is considered acid rain.

22. Bananas have a pH of 5 and oranges have a pH of 3. How much higher is the H+ concentration in oranges than bananas? (How many times more acidic?)

A. 2 timesB. 20 timesC. 10 timesD. 100 times

2 times

20 times

10 times

100 times

25% 25%25%25%

10 x

10x

4 is 10 x more acidic, than 5. 3 is 10 more acidic than 4 so the overall difference is 100 x

10x

10=

100

x

23. Two soils suffer from acid deposition: a limestone-based soil, and a basalt-based soil. Which soil would be better able to neutralize some of the acid.

A. limestone-basedB. Basalt-basedC. They’d be equally able to

neutralize the soilD. Impossible to tell

limesto

ne-bas

ed

Basalt-

based

They’d be equally

able ..

Impossi

ble to te

ll

25% 25%25%25%

Calcium carbonate reacts with acids, which is why shells of animals and limestone building materials are especially vulnerable to the effects of acids.

The reaction is a neutralization reaction, so the presence of limestone in soil will help to reduce the acidity of the soil.

Egg with shell removed by acidic vinegar. (It is larger due to osmosis)

CaCO3 (s) + H2SO4(aq) ---------> CaSO4 + H2O + CO2 (g)

Calcium carbonate is used in antacid tablets. Lime is used as a soil additive for acidic soil.

24. Which of the following pollutants will cause the most damage to the lungs when inhaled?

A. SO2

B. NO2

C. O3

D. Pb

SO2NO2 O3 Pb

25% 25%25%25%

25. What is a NAAQ?A. A division of the EPA that

regulates air pollutionB. An air quality standardC. A class of toxic indoor air

pollutantsD. The ability to do something

naturally A division of t

he EPA tha...

An air quality

stan

dard

A class

of toxic

indoor a

ir...

The ability to

do someth

i..

25% 25%25%25%

26. Which of the following laws regulate air pollutants such as SOx and NOx?

A. Montreal ProtocolB. Kyoto ProtocolC. Clean Air ActD. Healthy Skies

Initiative

Montre

al Pro

toco

l

Kyoto

Proto

col

Clean Air Act

Healthy Skies I

nitiative

25% 25%25%25%

27. What does a catalytic converter do?

A. It converts O3 to O2.

B. It removes particulates from coal plant emissions.

C. It converts NO2 to N2O.

D. It reduces CO and hydrocarbon emissions from cars.

It converts

O3 to

O2.

It remove

s parti

culate

s f...

It converts

NO2 to

N2O.

It reduce

s CO and hydro

...

25% 25%25%25%

A catalytic converter performs a series of reactions that convert CO into CO2 and completes the combustion of unburned HC’s (reduces VOC emissions). A 3-way catalytic converter also breaks down nitric oxides (NOx) into N2 (Not N2O – which is a very strong greenhouse gas).

28. What fibrous material was used as fireproofing material and causes lung cancer?

A. FormaldehydeB. AsbestosC. TrichloroethaneD. Radon-222

Form

aldehyde

Asbesto

s

Trichloro

ethane

Radon-222

25% 25%25%25%

29. Where does Radon-222 come from?

A. Outgassing of toxic gases in building materials.

B. Groundwater contamination.C. Decay of Uranium minerals in the

ground.D. Photochemical reactions in the

atmosphere.

Outgas

sing o

f toxic

gases .

.

Groundwate

r contamina...

Decay o

f Uranium m

ineral...

Photoch

emical re

actions .

.

25% 25%25%25%

30. Persistent swelling of the tubes within the lungs best describes which condition?

A. AsthmaB. EmphysemaC. Chronic bronchitisD. Lung cancer

Asthma

Emphysema

Chronic

bronch

itis

Lung c

ancer

25% 25%25%25%

Emphysema destroys the walls of the alveoli of the lungs, resulting in a loss of surface area available for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide during breathing. This produces symptoms of shortness of breath, coughing, and wheezing. In severe emphysema, difficulty in breathing leads to decreased oxygen intake, which causes headaches and symptoms of impaired mental ability.

The tubes within the lungs are the bronchi and bronchioles (smaller branches).

Emphysema is damage to the alveoli which are the tiny air sacs at the ends of the bronchioles.

1. B2. D3. A4. A5. D6. B7. D8. C9. B10.D11.B

11.B12.C13.A14.E15.D16.B17.C18.C19.E20.C

21. A22. D23. A24. C25. B26.C27.D28.B29.C30.C