Year 11 - Science
Atmospheric pollutants
Atmosphere and changing climate
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit explores the composition and evolution of Earth's atmosphere, evidence of climate change, and effects of pollutants like sulphur dioxide. It highlights scientific explanations, ethical considerations, risk evaluation, and the role of peer review in communication.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe how pollutants can be produced by impurities in fuels and by incomplete combustion.
Key Notes
- Carbon monoxide gas is toxic.
- Carbon particulates contribute to health issues and global dimming.
- Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are formed through burning fuels, and form acids in water.
- Catalytic converters help complete combustion reactions and the removal of nitrogen monoxide from exhaust gases.
- Hydrogen can be used as a fuel in cars and this has advantages and disadvantages.
Vocabulary To Learn
- pollutant: a substance that causes damage to air, water or land
- greenhouse gas: a gas that contributes to global warming by reducing the amount of radiation leaving Earth's atmosphere
- particulates: tiny solid particles such as soot (C) that can be found in air pollution
- global dimming: a reduction in the amount of radiation reaching Earth's surface caused by particulates in the atmosphere
- catalytic converter: a device, containing catalysts, that helps reduce the amount of pollutants emitted from car exhausts
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Only industrial activities contribute to atmospheric pollution. Atmospheric pollutants are always visible.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
Carbon monoxide gas is toxic. Carbon particulates contribute to health issues and global dimming.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'pollutant'
a substance that causes damage to air, water or land. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: Only industrial activities contribute to atmospheric pollution. Atmospheric pollutants are always visible. Correction: Discuss natural sources of pollutants, like volcanoes. Explain that many harmful pollutants are invisible.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Acid rain and chemical weathering Study Guide
- Burning hydrocarbons Study Guide
- Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere Study Guide
- Earth's atmosphere Study Guide
- Earth's atmosphere (approximate values) Study Guide
- Evolution of Earth's atmosphere Study Guide
- Global climate change and the effects Study Guide
- Greenhouse gases Study Guide
- Human activity and climate change Study Guide
- Ozone layer: a story of global success Study Guide
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