CHEM 208 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Nitrogen Dioxide, Oil Refinery, Boiling Point

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Document Summary

Air (which all of us must breathe) composes the atmosphere and is a complex mixture of gases surrounding the earth. The atmosphere is a layered structure divided into layers according to a variety of criteria such as gradually changing: According to altitude, the atmosphere is divided into layers: The air we breathe is a mixture of several gases, fine particles and vapors. Dry air consists of 21% oxygen and 78% nitrogen plus traces of other substances that are both natural and human-made. Whereas major components are essential for life, the minor components are pollutants, which under certain conditions may produce adverse environmental and health effects. These air pollutants are emitted directly into the atmosphere during combustion and production processes, changing the composition of atmosphere and causing poor air quality. These elements are mainly responsible for the presence of minor components. That is, they are the major sources of human-created air pollution.