Chapter 1

a. Calculate the volume of air in liters that you might inhale (and exhale) in an 8-hour working day. Assume that each breath has a volume of about \(0.5 \mathrm{~L}\), and that you are breathing 15 times a minute. b. From this calculation, you can see that breathing exposes you to large volumes of air. Name five things that you can do to improve the quality of the air that you and others breathe.

Our atmosphere can be characterized both as a thin veil that supports life and as a few vertical miles of chemicals. Explain what makes each description accurate. Also state which feature(s) of our atmosphere each description emphasizes and which ones it omits.

Give three examples of particulate matter found in air. Explain the difference between \(\mathrm{PM}_{2.5}\) and \(\mathrm{PM}_{10}\) in terms of size and health effects.

Radon is one of the noble gases, found in Group \(8 \mathrm{~A}\) on the periodic table. Which properties does it share with the other inert gases? In which way is it distinctly different?

a. The concentration of argon in air is approximately \(0.9 \%\). Express this value in ppm. b. The air exhaled from the lungs of a smoker has a concentration of \(20-50 \mathrm{ppm} \mathrm{CO}\). In contrast, air exhaled by nonsmokers is \(0-2\) ppm CO. Express each concentration as a percent. c. In a tropical rain forest, the water vapor concentration may reach \(50,000 \mathrm{ppm}\). Express this as a percent. d. In the dry polar regions, water vapor may be a mere \(10 \mathrm{ppm}\). Express this as a percent.

Express each of these numbers in scientific notation. a. \(1500 \mathrm{~m}\), the distance of a foot race b. \(0.0000000000958 \mathrm{~m}\), the distance between \(\mathrm{O}\) and \(\mathrm{H}\) atoms in a water molecule c. \(0.0000075 \mathrm{~m}\), the diameter of a red blood cell d. \(150,000 \mathrm{mg}\) of \(\mathrm{CO}\), the approximate amount breathed daily

Write each of these values as a "regular" number. a. \(8.5 \times 10^{4} \mathrm{~g}\), the mass of air in an average room b. \(1.0 \times 10^{7}\) gallons, the volume of crude oil spilled by the Exxon Valdez c. \(5.0 \times 10^{-3} \%\), the concentration of \(\mathrm{CO}\) in the air on a city street d. \(1 \times 10^{-5} \mathrm{~g}\), the recommended daily allowance of vitamin D

Classify each of these substances as an element, a compound, or a mixture. a. a sample of "laughing gas" (dinitrogen monoxide, also called nitrous oxide) b. steam coming from a pan of boiling water c. a bar of deodorant soap d. a sample of copper e. a cup of mayonnaise f. the helium filling a balloon

These gases are found in the atmosphere in small amounts: \(\mathrm{CH}_{4}, \mathrm{SO}_{2}\) and \(\mathrm{O}_{3}\). a. What information does each chemical formula convey about the number and types of atoms present? b. Give the names of these gases.

Hydrocarbons are important fuels that we burn for many different reasons. a. What is a hydrocarbon? b. Rank these hydrocarbons by the number of carbons they contain: propane, methane, butane, octane, ethane. c. We suggested "mother eats peanut butter" as a memory aid for the names of the first four hydrocarbons. Propose a new one that includes pent-, the prefix that indicates five carbon atoms.

Write balanced chemical equations to represent these reactions. Hint: Nitrogen and oxygen are both diatomic molecules. a. Nitrogen reacts with oxygen to form nitrogen monoxide. b. Ozone decomposes into oxygen and atomic oxygen (O). c. Sulfur reacts with oxygen to form sulfur trioxide.

Balance these equations in which ethane \(\left(\mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{4}\right)\) burns in oxygen. a. \(\mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{4}(g)+\mathrm{O}_{2}(g) \longrightarrow \mathrm{C}(s)+\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}(g)\) b. \(\mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{4}(g)+\mathrm{O}_{2}(g) \longrightarrow \mathrm{CO}(g)+\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}(g)\) c. \(\mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{4}(g)+\mathrm{O}_{2}(g) \longrightarrow \mathrm{CO}_{2}(g)+\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}(g)\)

Count the atoms on both sides of the arrow to demonstrate that these equations are balanced. a. \(2 \mathrm{C}_{3} \mathrm{H}_{8}(g)+7 \mathrm{O}_{2}(g) \longrightarrow 6 \mathrm{CO}(g)+8 \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}(l)\) b. \(2 \mathrm{C}_{8} \mathrm{H}_{18}(g)+25 \mathrm{O}_{2}(g) \longrightarrow 16 \mathrm{CO}_{2}(g)+18 \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}(l)\)

Platinum, palladium, and rhodium are used in the catalytic converters of cars. a. Give the chemical symbol for each metal. b. Locate each metal on the periodic table. c. What can you infer about the properties of these metals, given that they are useful in this application?

Nail polish remover containing acetone was spilled in a room \(6 \mathrm{~m} \times 5 \mathrm{~m} \times 3 \mathrm{~m}\). Measurements indicated that \(3600 \mathrm{mg}\) of acetone evaporated. Calculate the acetone concentration in micrograms per cubic meter.

The AIRNOW website (EPA) states that "Quality of air means quality of life." Demonstrate the wisdom of this statement for two air pollutants of your choice.

A headline from the Anchorage Daily News in Alaska (January 17, 2008): "Family in car overcome by carbon monoxide. Fire department saves five after slide into snow bank." a. If your car is in a snow bank and the engine is running, CO may accumulate inside the car. Normally, however, CO does not accumulate in the car. Explain. b. Why didn't the occupants detect the \(\mathrm{CO}\) ?

A headline from the Pioneer Press in St. Paul, Minnesota (January 8,2008 ): "Man dies after exposure to gas; carbon monoxide sickens five others." a. Name two possible sources of \(\mathrm{CO}\) inside a home. b. The level measured was \(4700 \mathrm{ppm}\). Express this value as a percent. c. How does this level compare with the U.S. ambient air quality standards set by the EPA? d. Name three symptoms that the survivors most likely experienced. e. Where in a home should you install CO detectors? Note: Adjacent to a furnace is not usually recommended.

Explain why \(\mathrm{CO}\) is named the "silent killer." Select two other pollutants for which this name would not apply and explain why not.

For many states, the ozone season runs from May 1 to October 1. Why are ozone levels typically not reported in the winter months?

The EPA characterizes ozone as "good up high, bad nearby." Explain.

Prior to 1990 , diesel fuel could contain as much as \(2 \%\) sulfur. New regulations have changed this, and today most diesel fuel is ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) containing a maximum of \(15 \mathrm{ppm}\) sulfur. ULTRA-LOW SULFUR HIGHWAY DIESEL FUEL (15 ppm Sulfur Maximum) Required for use in all model year 2007 and later highway diesel vehicles and engines. Recommended for use in all diesel vehicles and engines. a. Express 15 ppm as a percent. Likewise, express \(2 \%\) in terms of ppm. How many times lower is the ULSD than the older formulation of diesel fuel? b. Write a chemical equation that shows how burning diesel fuel containing sulfur contributes to air pollution. c. Diesel fuel contains the hydrocarbon \(\mathrm{C}_{12} \mathrm{H}_{26}\). Write a chemical equation that shows how burning diesel adds carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. d. Comment on burning diesel fuel as a sustainable practice, both in terms of how things have improved and in terms of where they still need to go.

A certain city has an ozone reading of \(0.13 \mathrm{ppm}\) for 1 hour, and the permissible limit is \(0.12\) for that time. You have the choice of reporting that the city has exceeded the ozone limit by \(0.01\) ppm or saying that it has exceeded the limit by \(8 \%\). Compare these two methods of reporting.

Look up the ozone air quality data for two states, one in the Sun Belt and one not. Account for any difference you find.

At certain times of the year, inhabitants of the beautiful city of Santiago, Chile, breathe some of the worst air on the planet. a. Driving private cars has been severely restricted in Santiago. How specifically does this improve air quality? b. Although the population of Santiago is comparable to that in other cities, its air quality is much worse. Suggest geographical features that might be responsible.

a. Explain why jogging outdoors (as opposed to sitting outdoors) increases your exposure to pollutants. b. Jogging indoors at home can decrease your exposure to some pollutants, but may increase your exposure to others. Explain.

One can purchase a carbon monoxide monitor that immediately sounds an alarm if the concentration of \(\mathrm{CO}\) reaches a threshold. In contrast, most radon detection systems sample the air over a period of time before an alarm sounds. Why the difference?

Select a profession of your choice, possibly the one you intend to pursue. Name at least one way that a person in this profession could have a positive effect on air quality.

"Air pollution is a diffuse problem, the shared fault of many emitters. It is a classic example of the tragedy of the commons." Source: Introduction to Air in California, by David Carle, 2006. Explain the phrase "tragedy of the commons" and how air pollution is a classic example.

Mercury, another serious air pollutant, is not described in this chapter. If you were a textbook author, what would you include about mercury emissions? How would you connect mercury emissions to the sustainable use of resources? Write several paragraphs in a style that would match that of this textbook.

The EPA oversees the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards. Use the EPA website to find when the program started and to find the list of the most recent winners of the award. Pick one winner and summarize in your own words the green chemistry advance that merited the award.

Ultrafine particles have diameters less than \(0.1 \mu \mathrm{m}\). In terms of their sources and health effects, how do these particles compare with \(\mathrm{PM}_{2.5}\) and \(\mathrm{PM}_{10}\) ? Use the Internet to locate the most up-to-date information.

Consider This \(1.4\) asks you to consider how our world would be different if the oxygen content of the atmosphere were doubled. Develop your answer into an essay. Title your essay "An Hour in the Life of ..." and describe how things would be different for a person of your choice. If an hour is too short to make your point, substitute "A Morning ..." or "A Day ...".

You may have admired the beauty of hardwood floors. Polyurethane is the finish of choice for floors because it is more durable than varnishes and shellacs. Until recently, polyurethane was always an oil-based paint. But recently, the Bayer Corporation developed a water-based polyurethane that reduces the amount of VOCs by 50-90\%. In 2000, Bayer was awarded a Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge award for this development. Prepare a summary of this work. Also check stores to see if any water-based polyurethanes are available in your area.