Compound Interest: Atmospheric Chemistry

Ocean Acidification: “The Other Carbon Dioxide Problem”

January 18, 2017 1Comment 0Likes 287Views

Infographic on carbon dioxide and ocean acidification. Ocean acidification occurs when atmospheric carbon dioxide dissolves in seawater. The average pre-industrial pH of the oceans was 8.2, and it’s projected to fall to 7.7 by 2100. A drop of 1 pH unit represents a tenfold increase in acidity. When atmospheric carbon dioxide dissolves in seawater it reacts to form carbonic acid. Carbonic acid dissociates, and hydrogen ions produced by this increase acidity. Increased atmospheric carbon dioxide ultimately results in more hydrogen ions and lower pH. As ocean pH drops, hydrogen ions react with carbonate ions, which can affect shelled organisms and coral skeletons. Negative effects on these organisms could have impacts higher up the food chain. Ocean acidification can also affect the molecules that marine organisms use to communicate with each other, with potentially detrimental effects. — Click to enlarge

Ocean acidification is often referred to as ‘the other carbon dioxide problem’. We’re all quite rightly concerned about the effects that rising atmospheric carbon dioxide levels may have on climate, and the potential consequences of climate change are well documented: more frequent instances of extreme weather, and higher global average temperatures to name but two. Ocean acidification gets comparatively less press, and as such is sometimes misunderstood – but its effects could be equally serious.

The Dark Side of Fireworks – The Chemistry of their Environmental Effects

January 5, 2017 2Comments 1Like 327Views

Many of us enjoyed watching spectacular fireworks displays to usher in the new year. However, the vibrant colours of fireworks belie the effects that they can have on the environment. With this graphic, we take a look at some of the issues that they can cause.

RealTimeChem Week - Carbon Dioxide to Plastics

RealTimeChem Week: Turning Carbon Dioxide into Useful Plastics

November 4, 2016 1Comment 0Likes 227Views

This week (31 Oct – 6 Nov) is #RealTimeChem Week – if you’re a tweeting chemist or chemistry enthusiast, you’ll probably know what that is already, but if you’re not familiar with it check out the FAQ here! Like last year, I’m creating graphics showcasing the work of the three winners of the #RealTimeChem week competition I ran earlier in October – hopefully explaining cutting edge research in easily understandable terms!

RTC Week 2015 – #3: Nitrogen-Containing Atmospheric Pollutants

October 21, 2015 0Comments 0Likes 250Views

This week (19th Oct–24th October) is Real Time Chem Week (if that means nothing to you,check out their FAQ page here!). As part of it, we’re featuring the RTC Week competition-winning entries of five different chemists here on Compound Interest, with a different feature every day this week. Today’s feature takes a look at how what happens to the nitrogen-containing compounds released into the atmosphere by both natural and industrial processes, and considers some of the health effects they can cause.

Reducing Vehicle Emissions Using Chemistry – The Volkswagen Scandal

The Chemistry of Vehicle Emissions Reduction & The Volkswagen Scandal

September 30, 2015 12Comments 0Likes 280Views

Volkswagen have been in the news for all the wrong reasons over the past week. The company admitted to installing a ‘defeat device’ in millions of cars which made it appear in emissions tests that they emitted far lower levels of particular pollutants than they actually did in normal road conditions. Plenty of articles have looked at the particulars of the scandal since the story broke last week, so as well as considering the pollutants involved in the VW story, here we’ll also take a closer look at how we use chemistry to remove pollutants from vehicle emissions.

A Brief Guide to Atmospheric Pollutants

May 5, 2015 3Comments 0Likes 347Views

Back in school, you’ll have learned that the air in our atmosphere is composed primarily of nitrogen, at 78%, and oxygen, at 21%, with a number of other trace gases. It’s to these trace gases we’re looking today – more specifically, at how human activity can result in the release of air pollution in to the atmosphere. Here, we examine a number of different chemical compounds that contribute to atmospheric pollution, their specific sources, and their effects.