Welco

me!
 The
Chemistry
of the
 Group Five
1 April Maye M. Baterna 1 Sarah Cotianco

1 Jenny Redelosa 1 Rhea Tabornal

1 Jan Arnulf Lasit

 Topic
Contents
1 What is ATMOSPHERE?

2 Significance of the Atmosphere

3 Composition of the Atmosphere

4 Evolution of the Atmosphere

5 Structure of the Atmosphere

Atmos
phere
 What is
Atmosphere?
• The thick blanket of air which envelopes our planet and helps sustain life is called 'the
atmosphere'.

• Atmosphere behaves as a protecting shield for all life on Earth, making it unique in the solar
system.
 What is
Atmosphere?
• The atmosphere of Earth is the layer of gases surrounding the planet Earth that is retained by
Earth's gravity. The atmosphere protects life on Earth by absorbing ultraviolet solar radiation.
warming the surface through heat retention (greenhouse effect). and reducing temperature
extremes between day and night (the diurnal temperature variation).

• The atmospheric gases which are used in respiration and photosynthesis are called 'air'.

• The atmosphere of earth contains mixture of gases

which are forced to be maintained near the Earth's
surface by gravity.
Significan
ce of the
Atmosphe
 Significance of the
Atmosphere
The atmosphere protects life on Earth by serving the following functions:

• Absorbs the energetic ultraviolet radiation while allowing the passing of important visible radiations.
• Keeps the Earth’s surface warm through heat retention, making possible a comfortable mean temperature of
positive to negative 15 degree Celsius.
• Prevents excessive heating of surface of the Earth at day and excessive cooling at night thereby reducing the
temperature variations.
• Contains nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide gases essential for plant growth and for respiration.
• It protects the surface of the Earth and all life existing on Earth from small meteorites that heat up the
atmosphere to friction.
• Helps in the flow of energy and water vapors through dynamic processes of air flow.
 Significance of the
Atmosphere
Helps in radio communication. Helps in movement of aircrafts. Aids in dissipation, dispersion
and decomposition of
pollutants.
Compositi
on of the
Atmosphe
Composition of
1
the Atmosphere
Nitrogen (N2) = 75.09%
0.93% 3.00%
20.95%

2 Oxygen (O2) = 20.95%

78.09%
3 Argon (Ar) = 0.93%

4 Carbon Dioxide = 0.03%

 Composition of
Broadly we can classify all the components of the earth’s atmosphere into two parts:

the Atmosphere
• Permanent Gases
Permanent gases are those whose quantity remains the same in every part of our earth. For example, the concentration of
oxygen is ~21%. So, if we collect some air in Asia and some air in Africa and then measure the components in both, then we
will get the same quantity of oxygen in both continents.
• Variable Gases
However, variable gases are those whose quantity or percentage by Volume differ with places and regions. For instance, the
concentration of water vapor in the equator and polar region varies from time to time and season to season. Similarly,
greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide and much more also varies from region to region.

Some variable gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, nitrous oxide and also atmospheric dust, pollen
and other minute particles.
Composition of
Specific Tabulated Composition of the Earth’s Atmosphere:

the Atmosphere
Evolution
of the
Atmosphe
 Evolution of the
Atmosphere
In present day, the evolution of the atmosphere is a long process, spanning over millions of years and related
with the earth’s origin and evolution. The evolution process can be divided into three eras or stages:

1. PRIMITIVE OR THE FIRST ATMOSPHERE

2. REDUCING OR SECOND ATMOSPHERE
3. OXIDIZING OR PRESENT-DAY ATMOSPHERE
 1. Primitive
Atmosphere
• The formation of the Earth took place about 5 billion years ago from
the solar nebula.

• The atmosphere that time would have consisted of primarily

hydrogen (H2), water vapor (H2O), Nitrogen (N2), Carbon Dioxide
(CO2) and Carbon Monoxide (CO).

• These gases deliver to the space because temperatures were too high
and earth’s gravity was weak because Earth did not have a
differentiated core.

ution of the Atmosphere

 2. Reducing
• The formation of the Earth took place about 5 billion years ago from

Atmosphere
the solar nebula.

• The atmosphere that time would have consisted of primarily

hydrogen (H2), water vapor (H2O), Nitrogen (N2), Carbon Dioxide
(CO2) and Carbon Monoxide (CO).

• These gases deliver to the space because temperatures were too high
and earth’s gravity was weak because Earth did not have a
differentiated core.

• During this period, the Erath cooled down and differentiation of

layers took place into solid core, liquid mantle and thin crust.

ution of the Atmosphere

 2. Reducing
• The energy released from accretion of particles and decay of

Atmosphere
radioactive isotopes caused massive volcanic eruptions.

• Gases dissolved in the molten magma were reduced while passing

through the mantle.

• Large amounts of N2 and CO2 were released into the atmosphere.

• Most of the CO2 dissolved in water and carbonate sediments built

up.

ution of the Atmosphere

 3. Oxidizing
Atmosphere
• Present Day Atmosphere

• Around 2.4 billion years ago, free 02 starts forming in the

atmosphere.

• Though photosynthesizing cyanobacteria were present around 2.7

billion years ago, the 02 released during photosynthesis was used in
oxidation of metals like iron.

• The atmosphere became oxidizing and 02 consuming life forms

began appearing in the oceans on earth.

ution of the Atmosphere

 3. Oxidizing
Atmosphere
• Oxygen (O2) was being generated by photolysis of water from
ultraviolet (UV) radiation and also from photosynthesis of plants and
cyanobacteria.

• However, higher in the atmosphere, 02 molecules were absorbing

the UV radiations and getting converted to ozone (03).

• Soon, an ozone layer was formed, which protects surface of the

earth from high energy UV radiations making it feasible also for
development of life on land.

ution of the Atmosphere

Structure
of the
Atmosphe
 Structure of the
Atmosphere
The atmosphere is an integral part of the earth. It surrounds the earth from all
sides. Generally it extends up to about 1600 kilometers from the earths surface. 97
percent of the total amount of weight of the atmosphere is limited up to the height
of about 30 kilometers. The atmosphere can be divided into five layers according
to the diversity of temperature and density.

1 Troposphere 2 Stratosphere

3 Mesosphere
4 Thermosphere

5 Exosphere

- Ionosphere
 1.
Tropospher
i. This is the lowest layer of the atmosphere.

ii. The height of this layer is about 18 kms on the equator and 8 kms on the poles.

iii. This is the most important layer of the atmosphere because all kinds of weather
changes take place only in this layer.

iv.

v.
e
The environmental temperature decreases with increasing height of atmosphere. It
decreases at the rate of 10C at the height of 165 meter.

The upper limit of the troposphere is called tropopause. This is a transitional zone.
In this zone characteristics of both the troposphere and ionosphere are found.

vi. Most aviation takes place here, including in the transition region between the
troposphere and the stratosphere.
 2. Stratosphere i. This layer is above the troposphere.

ii. This layer is spread upto the height of 50 kms from the Earth’s surface. Its
average extent 40 kms.

iii. The temperature remains almost the same in the lower part of this layer
upto the height of 20 kms. After this the temperature increases slowly with
the increase in the height. The temperature increases due to the presence of
ozone gas in the upper part of this layer.

iv. Weather related incidents do not take place in this layer. The air
blows horizontally here. Therefore this layer is considered ideal
for flying of aircrafts.
(i)
3. Mesosphere
It is the third layer of the atmosphere spreading over stratosphere.

(ii) It spreads up to the height of 80 kms. from the surface of the earth. It’s
extent is 30 kms.

(iii) Temperature goes on decreasing and drops upto – 1000C.

(iv) ‘Meteors’ or falling stars occur in this layer.

v. The mesosphere lies between the thermosphere and the stratosphere.

“Meso” means middle, and this is the highest layer of the atmosphere in which
the gases are all mixed up rather than being layered by their mass.
4. Thermosphere
i. The layer of very rare air above the mesosphere is called the thermosphere.

ii. High-energy X-rays and UV radiation from the Sun are absorbed in the
thermosphere, raising its temperature to hundreds or at times thousands of
degrees.

iii. However, the air in this layer is so thin that it would feel freezing cold to us!

iv. the thermosphere is more like outer space than a part of the atmosphere.

v. The aurora, the Northern Lights and Southern Lights, occur in the
thermosphere.
 5.
Exosphere
i. The exosphere to be the actual "final frontier" of Earth's gaseous envelope

ii. Different definitions place the top of the exosphere somewhere between 100,000 km (62,000 miles) and 190,000 km (120,000
miles) above the surface of Earth.

iii. Gases are very sparse in this sphere due to the lack of gravitational force. Therefore, the density of air is very less here
 Ionosphere i. The ionosphere is not a distinct layer like the others mentioned above.
Instead, the ionosphere is a series of regions in parts of the mesosphere and
thermosphere where high-energy radiation from the Sun has knocked
electrons loose from their parent atoms and molecules. The electrically
charged atoms and molecules that are formed in this way are called ions,
giving the ionosphere its name and endowing this region with some special
properties.

i. There are three main regions of the ionosphere, called the D layer, the E layer, and
the F layer
• The D region is the lowest.
• E region, starting at about 90 or 100 km (56 or 62 miles).
• F region, starts about 150 km (93 miles) and extends far upward
 Any
Question
Qui
REVIEW
 Quick REVIEW
 What do you call the thick blanket of air which envelopes our planet and helps sustain life?

Answer: ATMOSPHERE
 What do you call the gases whose quantity remains the same in every part of our earth? It is part of the Composition
of the Atmosphere.
Answer:
PERMANENT GASES
 What do you call the gas that take up to 75.09% of the composition of the Atmosphere?
Answer:
NITROGEN (N2)
 A layer of the atmosphere where the aurora, the Northern Lights and Southern lightS appear.

Answer: THERMOSPHERE
Thank
You