module46REVIEW

In this module, we have seen that that air pollution occurs in a global system across the troposphere. The major air pollutants are sulfur dioxide, which comes from sulfur contained in coal and oil, nitrogen oxides, which come from combustion, and carbon monoxide, which comes from incomplete combustion. Combustion of coal and oil is the most common source of particulate matter, but it can also be released during the combustion of biofuels such as wood and animal manure. Photochemical oxidants are a class of pollutants that form in the presence of sunlight, nitrogen, and sulfur oxides. There are both natural and human-generated sources of air pollution. Presently, the most polluted cities in the world are found in China and India. These cities suffer from smog, which is the focus of the next module.

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Module 46 AP® Review Questions

Question 1

1. Which is NOT a criteria air pollutant?

  1. Sulfur dioxide

  2. Lead

  3. Carbon dioxide

  4. Particulate matter

  5. Tropospheric ozone

Question 2

2. A secondary pollutant

  1. forms in the stratosphere.

  2. is transformed by sunlight or water.

  3. cannot be directly tracked.

  4. does not directly harm humans.

  5. forms primarily from incomplete combustion.

Question 3

3. Which is a source of sulfur dioxide found in nature?

  1. Forest fires

  2. Lightning strikes

  3. Plant emissions

  4. Volcanoes

  5. Soil

Question 4

4. Which size of particulate matter causes the greatest health concern?

  1. PM2.5

  2. PM10

  3. PM100

  4. PM30

  5. PM15

Question 5

5. Carbon monoxide

  1. increases lung cancer rates.

  2. leads to the formation of photochemical smog.

  3. is most problematic in rural areas.

  4. does not directly cause deaths.

  5. is produced by incomplete combustion.