Societal Implications & Applications

Air pollution

Figure F.25 - Smog components

• Effects of mining, drilling, etc.
• Gas pollutants
  • Particulate matter
    • mixture of both solid and liquid particles in the air
    • originate from many industrial processes
    • it irritates the respiratory system and can affect air travel
  • Sulfur dioxide, SO2
    • colourless, choking odour
    • comes from combustion of fossil fuels
    • it irritates the respiratory system
    • contribute to acid rain
  • Nitrogen Oxides, NO, NO2, N2O4
    • reddish-brown in colour
    • comes from combustion of fossil fuels
    • contribute to acid rain
  • Carbon monoxide, CO
    • colourless, odourless
    • comes from vehicles
    • can be fatal in large amounts
  • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
    • liquid or solid carbon components that vaporize readily
    • can cause rashes, eye irritation and headaches
    • can cause cancer and effects to the nervous system in large amounts
  • Ozone
    • in the stratosphere
    • can absorb UV rays from the sun
    • reacts with VOCs to produce harmful ground-level ozone
• Possible solutions
  • reducing lifestyle choices that increase air pollutants
    • carpooling, using less water during showers, etc.
  • building clean air filters
  • having plants that reduce indoor air pollution

Pistons

Figure F.26 - The pistons of a car

• How pressure and volume are used in relation to one another
  • As the piston moves downwards, the volume increases causing the pressure to decrease
• Their part in machinery
  • Cars
  • Industrial processes

Collecting gas over water

Figure F.27 - Collecting a gas over water

• Since gas molecules have such small densities, it is hard to measure their mass
• We use this method to collect volumes of gas and to find the pressure of a gas

Storage and care of compressed gas