photochemical effects

When pollutants like hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides combine in the presence of sunlight, smog is formed. This is a mixture of gases and since it is formed by photochemical reactions, it is called the photochemical smog. The word 'smog' is derived from the two words - smoke an..

Hydrocarbons in air by themselves alone cause no harmful effects. However, they undergo chemical reactions in the presence of sunlight and nitrogen oxides. They form photochemical oxidants leading to photochemical smog. This causes irritation in the eyes and lungs lea..

's. Methane traps over 21 times more heat per molecule than carbon dioxide. Nitrous oxide absorbs 270 times more heat per molecule than carbon dioxide. Further only long-lived gases have the potential for affecting the global environment. This effect arises principally because the concent..

Carbon monoxide is an extremely poisonous gas: a concentration of 1 part of CO in 800 parts of air can cause death within half-an hour. Water vapours containing sulphur dioxide condense on smoke particles forming chemical smog. Smog causes respiratory troubles. The unburnt hydrocarbons and the oxi..

. This zone is called troposphere. Therefore, at higher altitudes, some of us find it difficult to breathe. Above the troposphere is the stratosphere. This zone is rich in ozone. Hence, it is also called ozonosphere. In ozonosphere, the sunlight converts oxygen to ozone by photochemical d..

. The sum of all the orders measured for a reaction gives the overall order of the reaction. Rate constant is the rate of a reaction when the concentration of all the reactants is unity. Rate constant of a reaction is determined from the rate law or its integrated form. Rate of reaction usually dou..