Advanced Air Chemistry
Students investigate the kinetics of atmospheric reactions, photochemical processes, and the complex chemistry that transforms primary pollutants into secondary pollutants in indoor environments.
5
Lessons
5
Class Periods
Moderate
Materials Cost
3
NGSS Standards
Essential Question
How do reaction kinetics and photochemistry govern the transformation of pollutants in indoor air, and what factors determine reaction rates?
Lessons
-
1→Reaction Kinetics in Air
-
2→Photochemistry and Ozone
-
3→Indoor Pollutant Chemistry
-
4→VOCs and Secondary Pollutants
-
5→Air Chemistry Lab
Key Concepts
Reaction Kinetics
- Rate law: r = k[A]m[B]n
- Arrhenius equation: k = Ae-Ea/RT
- Half-life: t1/2 = ln(2)/k
- Temperature dependence of rates
Photochemistry
- E = hv (photon energy)
- UV-A, UV-B, UV-C wavelengths
- Photodissociation thresholds
- Quantum yield calculations
Ozone Chemistry
- O2 + hv → 2O (photolysis)
- O + O2 + M → O3 + M
- NOx catalytic cycles
- Indoor ozone sources and sinks
Secondary Pollutants
- Terpene + O3 reactions
- Secondary organic aerosol (SOA)
- Formaldehyde formation
- Indoor-outdoor chemistry differences
Standards Alignment
| Standard | Description |
|---|---|
| HS-PS1-5 | Apply scientific principles and evidence to provide an explanation about the effects of changing the temperature or concentration of the reacting particles on the rate at which a reaction occurs |
| HS-PS1-7 | Use mathematical representations to support the claim that atoms, and therefore mass, are conserved during a chemical reaction |
| HSN-Q.A.1 | Use units as a way to understand problems and to guide the solution of multi-step problems |