Environmental Chemistry
Homework Assignment 13 (20 points)
- Three organic air pollutants are shown below. Of the three pollutants
listed, chose the one that would be expected to have a direct effect
on air quality, the one that would be expected to have a secondary effect
on air quality, and the one that would be expected to have the least
effect on air quality. Explain your answers.
- When reacting with a hydroxyl radical, alkenes have a reaction mechanism not available to alkanes, which makes alkenes more reactive. What is this mechanism? Give an example of the two ways propene could react with the hydroxyl radical.
- Give the sequence of reactions leading to the formation of acetaldehyde from ethane starting with the reaction of the hydroxyl radical.
- Why are automotive exhaust pollutant hydrocarbons even more damaging to the environment than their quantities would indicate?
- Which of the following species reaches its peak value last on a smog-forming
day: NO, oxidants, hydrocarbons, NO2? Explain your answer
using the chemical reactions for photochemical smog formation.
ENV 440 Homework