Chapter One

THE AIR WE BREATHE

What is in the air that we breathe?
Can air be dangerous to our health?
How can understanding chemistry help us decide?

WHERE ARE WE LEAVING ?

In the Tropospher
The lowest layer of
atmospher layers

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF TROPOSPHER

Atmospheric pressure
changes with altitude
temperature changes

In Troposphere :
Altitude increases P and T
decrease

In Thermosphere :
Altitude increases P
decrease, T increases

The Composition of Our Air in Troposphere

Other gasses
Gas

% volume

Argon (Ar)

0.934%

CO2

350 mmv

Ne

18.18 ppmv

He

5.24 ppmv

CH4

1.7 ppmv
1.14 ppmv
0.55 ppmv

Kr
H2

Its a mixture a physical combination of two or

more substances present in variable amounts.

1.2

ONE BREATH HAS 2.0 X 1022

MOLECULES
20 000 000 000 000 000 000 000

How many N2 molecules

Are in a breath of air?
N2 in the air =78%

Ozone (O3)
If one breath of air contains 2 x 1022 molecules and atoms, and
the acceptable ozone level is 0.12 ppm, how many molecules
of O3 are in each breath?
2 x 1022 molecules and atoms in a breath of air x

0.12 O3 molecules
1 x 106 molecules
and atoms in air

= 2 x 1015 O3 molecules in a breath

How many oxygen atoms are in ozone in each breath?
2 x 1015 O3 molecules x 3 O atoms___

1 O3 molecules

= 6 x 1015 O atoms

1.12

Concentration Terms
Parts per hundred (percent)
Atmosphere is 21% oxygen = 21 oxygen molecules
per 100 molecules of air

Parts per million (ppm)

Midday ozone levels reach about 0.4 ppm =
0.4 ozone molecules
1 x 106 molecules of air

Parts per billion (ppb)

Sulfur dioxide in the air should not exceed 30 ppb =
30 sulfur dioxide molecules
1 x 109 molecules of air

WHEN PEOPLE BREATHE

Whats in
a Breath? Typical Composition of Inhaled and Exhaled Air
Substance

Inhaled air
(%)

Exhaled air
(%)

Nitrogen
Oxygen
Argon
Carbon
dioxide

78.0
21.0
0.9
0.04

75.0
16.0
0.9
4.0

Water

0.0

4.0

Classifying Matter

All Matter
NO

Pure
Substances
NO

Elements

Can it be broken
down into
simpler ones by
chemical means?

Can it be separated by
a physical process?

YES

Mixtures
YES

Compounds

1.6

Three States of Matter

Matter - anything
that occupies space
and has mass.

1.5

Classifying Matter
Classify each of these as an element, a compound, or a mixture:
carbon dioxide compound
nickel

element

cocaine

compound

fluorine

element

water

compound

table salt

compound

soap

mixture

sea water

mixture

1.6

A space filling model for a

water molecule, H2O
Oxygen atom

A molecule is a combination of a
fixed number of atoms held
together in a certain spatial
arrangement.
Two hydrogen atoms

The chemical formula

symbolically represents the type
and number of each element
present.
1.7

Many nonmetals occur as diatomic

(made up of two atoms) molecules

H2

N2

O2

Cl2

1.7

Naming Binary Compounds

1. Name the more metallic element first, followed by the name of
the less metallic element, modified with the suffix ide
KBr postassium bromide
BeO beryllium oxide
ZnS zinc sulfide

1.8

Naming Binary Compounds

2. Prefixes are used to designate the number of each type
of element:
number of atoms
prefix
1
mono
2
di
3
tri
4
tetra
5
penta
6
hexa
7
hepta
8
octa
9
nona
10
deca
1.8

CHEMICAL EQUATIONS
Reactant(s) Product(s)
Carbon + Oxygen Carbon Dioxide
C (s) + O2 (g) CO2 (g)

Reactant bonds are broken; Product bonds are made

Same number and type of atoms on both sides of equation

Chemical reactions are characterized by the rearrangement

of atoms when reactants are transformed into products

C + O2
reactants

CO
product

This is an example of a
combustion reaction

But the number of atoms on each side of the arrow

must be equal (Law of Conservation of Mass)

2 C + O2

2 CO (balanced)

2 carbon atoms

two carbon atoms

2 oxygen atoms

two oxygen atoms

1.9

2C

O2

2 CO

1.9

Balancing equations:
-if an element is present in just one compound on each
side, balance it first
-balance anything that exists as a free element last
- balance polyatomic ions as a unit
- check when done same number of atoms, and same
total charge on both sides
C3H8 + O2
C3H8 + 5 O2
3 C atoms
8 H atoms
10 O atoms

CO2 + H2O
3 CO2 + 4 H2O
3 C atoms
8 H atoms
10 O atoms

1.9

Direct Source of Sulfur Trioxide

Coal

O2

SO2

(1-3% sulfur)

2 SO2

O2

2 SO3

Good News: Since 1985 we have seen a 25% reduction in SO2

emissions in the U.S.
1.11

Direct Source of Nitrogen Oxides

N2

+ O2 + high temp

High temperatures
from auto engine or
2 NO
coal-fired power
plant
(nitrogen oxide)

Simplified version of
chemistry that occurs

NO is very reactive:
2 NO

O2

2 NO2

1.11

QUALITY OF THE AIR

Air Quality Index (AQI) : USA
Air Pollution Index (API) : Hong Kong,
China,
Malaysia
Indeks Standar Pencamaran Udara
(ISPU) :
(Air Pollution Standard Index /APSI)
Indonesia

AIR QUALITY STANDARDS

How are standards
established?
Through risk assessment
--consider the toxicity of the
compound and the exposure.
Toxicity: How dangerous a
compound is.
Exposure: Refers to the length
of contact with the pollutant and
the concentration of the
pollutant

EPAs Air Quality Index

Air Quality Index
(AQI) Values

Levels of Health
Concern

Colors

When the AQI

is in this range:

...air quality
conditions are:

...as symbolized
by this color:

050

Good

Green

51100

Moderate

Yellow

101150

Orange

151200

Unhealthy for
sensitive groups
Unhealthy

201300

Very unhealthy

Purple

301500

Hazardous

Maroon

Red

1.3

HUBUNGAN ISPU DAN KONDISI

LINGKUNGAN
Kategori

Rentang

Karbon
monoksida (CO)

Sulfur dioksida
(SO2)

Nitrogen (NO2)

Ozon (O3)

Luka pada
Beberapa spesies
tumbuhan akibat
kombinasi dengan
O3 (Selama 4 Jam)

Tidak ada efek

Partikulat

Baik

0-50

Tidak ada efek

Sedikit berbau

Luka pada
Beberapa spesies
tumbuhan akibat
kombinasi dengan
SO2 (Selama 4 Jam)

Sedang

51 - 100

Perubahan kimia
darah tapi tidak
terdeteksi

Berbau

Luka pada
Beberapa spesies
tumbuhan

Luka pada
Beberapa spesies
tumbuhan

Terjadi penurunan
pada jarak pandang

101 - 199

Peningkatan pada
kardiovaskular pada
perokok yang sakit
jantung

Bau dan kehilangan

warna. Peningkatan
reaktivitas
pembuluh
tenggorokan pada
penderita asma

Penurunan
kemampuan pada
atlit yang berlatih
keras

Bau, Meningkatnya
kerusakan tanaman

Jarak pandang
turun dan terjadi
pengotoran debu di
mana-mana

Sangat
Tidak Sehat

200-299

Meningkatnya
kardiovaskular pada
orang bukan perokok
yang berpenyakit
Jantung, dan akan
tampak beberapa
kelemahan yang terlihat
secara nyata

Meningkatnya
sensitivitas pasien
yang berpenyakit
asma dan bronchitis

Olah raga ringan

mengakibatkan
pengaruh
parnafasan pada
pasien yang
berpenyaklt paruparu kronis

Meningkatnya
sensitivitas pada
pasien berpenyakit
asma dan bronchitis

Meningkatnya
sensitivitas pada
pasien berpenyakit
asma dan bronchitis

Berbahaya

300 - lebih

Tingkat yang berbahaya bagi semua populasi yang terpapar

Tidak Sehat

AIR POLLUTION
Air pollutants are airborne particles and
gasses that occur in concentrations that
endanger the health and well-being of
organisms or disrupt the orderly functioning
of the environment.
Pollutants can be grouped into two categories:
(1) primary pollutants, which are emitted directly from
identifiable sources, and
(2) secondary pollutants, which are produced in the
atmosphere when certain chemical reactions take place
among primary pollutants.

PRIMARY POLLUTANTS
The major primary pollutants
include:
particulate matter (PM),
sulfur dioxide,
nitrogen oxides,
volatile organic compounds (VOCs),
carbon monoxide, and
lead.

SECONDARY POLLUTANTS

Sulfuric acid : main secondary pollutant

Smog : Air pollution in urban and
industrial areas
Photochemical smog, a noxious mixture
of gases and particles, is produced when
strong sunlight triggers photochemical
reactions in the atmosphere.
The major component of photochemical
smog is ozone.

SULFUR OXIDES, SOX

SO2, SO3
When coal is burned, so is the Sulfur impurity

S + O2

SO2

THE SO2 THEN BURNS TO PRODUCE SO3.

2 SO2 + 1 O2

2 SO3

SO3 GAS THEN DISSOLVE IN WATER TO MAKE A

COMPONENT OF ACID RAIN, H2SO4 (AQ).
SO3 (g) + H2O (l)

H2SO4 (aq)

In general; nonmetal oxides dissolve in water to make it acidic

PROBLEMS WITH SOX

1.

SOx are respiratory irritants

2.

SOx dissolve in water to make a component of acid rain.

REDUCTION THE GAS

Using Scrubber

CARBON MONOXIDE, CO
COMPLETE COMBUSTION
CxHy (l) + O2 (g) -> CO2 (g) + H2O (g)
INCOMPLETE COMBUSTION
CxHy (l) + O2 (g) -> CO (g) + H2O (g) +VOC (g)

THE EFFECT OF CO ON HUMAN

50 ppm

Impair human reflexes; affect vision

100 ppm

Headache, fatigue, dizziness, shortness of

breath

750 ppm

Unconsciousness, death

REDUCING CO EMISSIONS
1. Post Combustion
2. Change/Replace Combustion Process
3.

Pre -Combustion

Catalytic converters are used to catalyze the conversion of CO to CO 2

VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS

(VOC)
Formed with CO during Incomplete Combustion
Ways to Reduce are the Same as CO
Precursor to Nitrogen Dioxide, NO2, and Ozone, O3, Formation

LEAD
1.

Sources

Tetraethyl lead (TEL) added to gasoline to make it burn more

smoothly, anti-knocking agent

2.

Effects

Toxic

Can cause neurological problems in kids

Leaded Fuel banned in United States; 1997

NITROGEN OXIDES, NOX

NO, NO2
Low Temperatures
N2 (g) + O2 (g) No Reactions
High Temperatures/ High Pressure
1. N2 (g) + O2 (g) 2 NO(g)
2. NO (g) + O2 (g) 2 NO2 (g)

Low Temperature
Maximize VOC and CO
High Temperature
Maximize NOx

HEALTH EFFECTS OF NITROGEN

OXIDES
Respiratory Irritant-Aggravate conditions like chronic bronchitis and
asthma
Precursor to Ozone, O3, formation
Nitrogen Oxides Dissolve in Water to Make it Acidic

NO(g) + NO2 (g) + H2O (l)

* Unbalanced equation

HNO3 (aq) + HNO2 (aq)

PHOTOCHEMICAL AIR
POLLUTANTS

Secondary Air Pollutants Produced by Sunlight

Ozone, O3, is a photochemical air pollutant and is formed by.

NOx + Sunlight Ozone (Photochemical Pollutants)
VOC + Sunlight Ozone (Photochemical Pollutants)
Reaction of Ozone formation from NO2
1.NO2 + Sunlight NO + O
2.O + O2 O3

http:/www.HowStuffWorks.com

PHOTOCHEMICAL SMOG

http://www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=jump.jump_ozone

PROBLEMS WITH OZONE, O3

Lung Irritant,can cause coughing

Makes Eyes Burn

Reacts with Other Air Pollutants (like VOC) to Make

Components of Photochemical Smog

Powerful Oxidizing Agent

Causes rubber to crack

Damages Plants

Particulate Matter (PM)

Particles of Dispersed
Matter (solid or liquid)
that are larger than
individual molecules

Aerosols
Dust
Fumes
Mist/Fog
Smoke, Soot, Ash
Smog
Pollen

PM10; avg diameter less than 10 microns

PM2.5; avg diameter less than 2.5 microns

EFFECT OF PARTICULATE MATTER

Impair breathing since small enough to get to lungs

Reduce visibility since large enough to scatter light.

Toxic chemicals can adsorb to surface (Cd, Ni, pesticides)

REDUCING PARTICULATE POLLUTION FROM MAN-MADE

SOURCE
a)
b)
c)

Cyclone Precipitator
Electrostatic Precipitator
Baghouses

Electrostatic
Precipitator

INDOOR AIR POLLUTION

1.

Combustion

NOx, CO, VOC

Cigarettes, burning candles

2.

Indoor VOC

Paint, fingernail polish, glues

3.

Radon Gas

Infiltration
Of Radon
Gas

AIR POLLUTION OCCURRENCES

The most obvious factor influencing air pollution
is the quantity of contaminants emitted into
the atmosphere.
However, when air pollution episodes take place,
they are not generally the result of a drastic
increase in the output of pollutants; instead,
they occur because of changes in certain
atmospheric conditions.
Two of the most important atmospheric
conditions affecting the dispersion of pollutants
are:
(1) the strength of the wind and
(2) the stability of the air.

HOW CAN WE STOP AIR

POLLUTION?
Stop producing it in the first place.
Government can pass laws that forbid or limit the use off chemicals
that cause pollution.
Build cars that burn less gasoline.
Recycling helps cut down on pollution.