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Atmospheric Chemistry: Light, Ozone, and Warming Study Guide

This guide explains the concept of enthalpy, its relation to heat transfer in chemical reactions (exothermic and endothermic), and how it's used to measure the energy content of biological molecules (glucose, fats) and industrial fuels (gasoline, hydrogen). It also covers energy conversions and global energy consumption.

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Gas Laws and Kinetic Molecular Theory

Introduction to Gas Laws and Properties

Lecture content covering pressure-volume-temperature relationships, gas laws, the kinetic molecular theory, and the chemistry of the atmosphere.

  • Pressure-volume-temperature (pVT) relationships
  • Gas laws
  • Kinetic molecular theory
  • Chemistry of the Atmosphere
  • Translational energy
  • Average translational kinetic energy
  • Pressure units
  • Combined Gas Law
  • Ideal Gas Law
  • Gas densities
  • Mole fractions
  • Gas molecule speeds
  • Effusion and diffusion
  • Ideal gas constant

Gas Densities and Quantum Mechanics Principles

This document covers the importance of gas densities in environmental contexts and provides an overview of key concepts and methodologies used in the study of quantum mechanics.

  • Gas densities
  • Methyl isocyanate
  • Wave-particle duality
  • Superposition
  • Schrödinger equation
  • Dirac notation
  • Quantum computing
  • Quantum cryptography

Energy, Enthalpy, and Thermochemical Processes

Introduction to Energy and Thermodynamics

Lecture covering types of energy, heat, work, internal energy, and endothermic and exothermic processes.

  • Types of energy
  • The system and the surroundings
  • Heat
  • Work
  • Internal Energy
  • Endothermic and Exothermic Processes
  • Enthalpy
  • Kinetic and Potential energy
  • Electrical energy
  • Radiation
  • Mass-energy equivalence
  • Thermal energy
  • Chemical energy
  • Temperature
  • Average kinetic energy
  • Molar heat capacity
  • Temperature change

Thermodynamics of Work, Energy, and Enthalpy

Work is done on a system during compression and by a system during expansion, affecting internal energy and enthalpy changes.

  • Work
  • Compression
  • Expansion
  • Internal Energy
  • Enthalpy
  • Closed System
  • Open System
  • Constant Pressure

Endothermic, Exothermic, and Enthalpy Changes

This content covers endothermic and exothermic reactions, enthalpy as a state function, and measuring enthalpy changes using Hess' Law.

  • Endothermic vs. Exothermic
  • Enthalpy
  • State Functions
  • Calorimetry
  • Enthalpies of formation
  • Reversing a Chemical Reaction

Methods for Determining Enthalpy Change

Finding DH through laboratory measurement by bomb calorimetry, using Hess’ law, or using enthalpies of formation.

  • Enthalpy change (DH)
  • Bomb calorimetry
  • Enthalpies of formation
  • Bond dissociation energies
  • Heat capacity
  • Breaking and making bonds

Enthalpies of Formation and Reaction

Calculating enthalpy changes using enthalpies of formation, standard states, and Hess's Law.

  • Enthalpies of formation
  • Standard states
  • Exothermic reactions
  • Endothermic reactions
  • State functions
  • Calorimetry

Gas Laws, Kinetic Theory, and Non-ideal Behavior

Gas Laws and Partial Pressures

  • Ideal Gas Law
  • Gas Densities
  • Mole Fractions
  • Vapor Pressure of Water
  • Partial Pressure

Kinetic Molecular Theory and Gas Dynamics

Kinetic Molecular Theory describes random motions of gas particles, elastic collisions, and the relationship between temperature and average kinetic energy.

  • Kinetic Molecular Theory
  • Average kinetic energy of a molecule
  • Gas particle velocity
  • Mean Free Path
  • Collision frequency

Effusion, Diffusion, and Non-ideal Gases

This content covers the principles of effusion, diffusion of gases, Graham's Law, and the behavior of non-ideal gases.

  • Effusion
  • Diffusion of Gases
  • Non-ideal gases
  • Relative rates of effusion

Non-ideal Gases and Liquefaction

Non-ideal gases deviate from pV = nRT assumptions because molecules have volume and interact with one another.

  • Non-ideal gases
  • Molecular volume
  • Molecular interactions
  • Liquefaction of gases
  • Kinetic energy
  • Attractive forces
  • Polar gases
  • Boiling temperature

The van der Waals Equation for Gases

The van der Waals equation accounts for molecular volumes and intermolecular forces using gas specific a and b parameters.

  • van der Waals equation
  • molecular volumes
  • intermolecular forces
  • ideal gas equation comparison

Enthalpy and Energy Sources

Chemistry of the Atmosphere and Atmospheric Problems

Chemistry of the Atmosphere

  • Atmospheric reactions involving light
  • Ozone depletion
  • Atmospheric warming
  • Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
  • Catalytic ozone destruction
  • Infrared light absorption
  • Symmetric stretch
  • Asymmetric stretch
  • Bending

Atmospheric Chemistry of Smog and Acid Rain

  • Urban smog
  • Temperature inversions
  • Ground level ozone
  • Catalyzed cycle of ozone formation
  • Acid rain
  • Sulfur dioxide oxidation
  • Sulfuric acid formation
  • Wet sulfate deposition

Coal Conversion and Hydrogen Energy Sources

Coal Conversion and Syngas Production

Processes involving coal gasification, syngas upgrading, and the synthesis of methane, methanol, and hydrogen.

  • Coal gasification
  • Synthesis gas (syngas)
  • CO shift reaction
  • Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG)
  • Methanol production
  • Hydrogen production
  • Endothermic reactions
  • Fuel value

Hydrogen Energy and Storage Methods

Hydrogen combustion energy values and methods for storing hydrogen including compressed pressure tanks, solid compounds, interstitial hydrogen, and liquid states.

  • Hydrogen combustion energy
  • Hydrogen storage in pressure tanks
  • Hydrogen storage in solid compounds
  • Interstitial hydrogen
  • Liquid hydrogen storage
  • Hydrogen tank weight and volume

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