Spectroscopy

Question 1

Give two everyday uses of infrared spectroscopy

Answer 1

• analysis for breath samples for drinking and driving

- monitoring air pollution, especially Carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide

Question 2

Define climate change

Answer 2

Warming of the atmosphere due to the trapping of infrared radiation by absorption by molecular bonds

Question 3

What are the 3 most important greenhouse gases?

Answer 3

CO2, H2O, CH4 (carbon dioxide, water vapour, methane)

Question 4

How do greenhouse gases trap heat on a molecular level?

Answer 4

• Heat (IR-infrared radiation) is released from the planet’s surface
• the IR is absorbed by the molecular bonds which vibrate
• the IR is then rereleased
• some continues into space but some is reflected back to the surface, keeping it warmer

Question 5

Which two factors affect a gas’ contribution to the greenhouse effect?

Answer 5

• the energy absorbed by the bonds

- the concentration of the gas in the atmosphere

Question 6

What 3 things can a mass spectrum graph show?

Answer 6

• relative abundance
• mass of the isotopes
• number of isotopes