Chapter 9 Particles in The Atmosphere

Chapter 9
Particles in the Atmosphere
1. In 2006 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed lowering the allowable
PM2.5 level to 35 μg/m3. How many particles would this be in a cubic meter of air
assuming that all the particles were spheres of a diameter of 2.5 μm and had a density of
exactly 1 g/cm3?
2. For small charged particles, those that are 0.1 μm or less in size, an average charge of
4.77 × l0-10 esu is normally assumed for the whole particle. What is the surface charge in
esu/cm2 for a charged spherical particle with a radius of 0.1 μm?
3. What is the settling velocity of a particle having a Stokes’ diameter of 10 μm and a

density of 1 g/cm3 in air at 1.00 atm pressure and 0°C temperature? (The viscosity of air
at 0°C is 170.8 micropoise. The density of air under these conditions is 1.29 g/L.)
4. A freight train that included a tank car containing anhydrous NH3 and one containing
concentrated HCl was wrecked, causing both of the tank cars to leak. In the region
between the cars a white aerosol formed. What was it, and how was it produced?
5. Examination of aerosol fume particles produced by a welding process showed that 2%

of
the particles were greater than 7 μm in diameter and only 2% were less than 0.5 μm.
What is the mass median diameter of the particles?
6. What two vapor forms of mercury might be found in the atmosphere? 6. What two vapor
forms of mercury might be found in the atmosphere?
7. Analysis of particulate matter collected in the atmosphere near a seashore shows

considerably more Na than Cl on a molar basis. What does this indicate?
8. What type of process results in the formation of very small aerosol particles?
9. Which size range encompasses most of the particulate matter mass in the atmosphere?
10. Why are aerosols in the 0.1–1 μm size range especially effective in scattering light?
11. Per unit mass, why are smaller particles relatively more effective catalysts for
atmospheric chemical reactions?
12. In terms of origin, what are the three major categories of elements found in
atmospheric
particles?
13. What are the five major classes of material making up the composition of atmospheric
aerosol particles?
14. The size distribution of particles emitted from coal-fired power plants is bimodal. What
are some of the properties of the smaller fraction in terms of potential environmental
implications?
15. Of the following, the statement that is untrue regarding particles in the atmosphere is
(explain): (A) Dispersion aerosol particles formed by grinding up bulk matter are typically
relatively large, (B) very small particles tend to be acidic and often originate from gases,
(C) Al, Fe, Ca, and Si in particles often come from soil erosion, (D) carcinogenic polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons may be synthesized from saturated hydrocarbons under oxygen-
deficient conditions, (E) larger particles are more harmful because they contain more
matter.
16. Of the following, the species that is least likely to be a constituent of solid or liquid
atmospheric particulate matter is (explain): (A) C, (B) O3 (C) H2SO4, (D) NaCl, (E)
benzo(a)pyrene.
17. Of the following, the one that is not a characteristic of dispersion aerosols is (explain):
(A) They are most readily carried into the alveoli of lungs, (B) they are usually above 1
μm in size, (C) they are relatively easier to remove, (D) they are generally less respirable,
(E) they are produced when bulk materials (larger particles) are ground up or subdivided.
18. Match the constituent of particulate matter from the left with its most likely source from
the right, below:
(A) Si (1) Natural sources, soil erosion
(B) PAH (2) Incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons
(C) SO32- (3). Element largely introduced by human activities
(D) Pb (4) Reaction of a gas in the atmosphere
19. Of the following, the most likely to be formed by pyrosynthesis is (explain): (A) Sulfate
particles, (B) Ammonium particles, (C) sulfuric acid mist, (D) PAHs, (E) ozone in smog.
20. Match each particle constituent below, left, with its likely source:
(A) Si (1) From gases in the surrounding atmosphere
(B) V (2) From natural sources
(C) Benzo(a)pyrene (3) Combustion of certain kinds of fuel oil
(D) Sulfuric acid droplets (4) From incomplete combustion

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Chapter 9

Particles in the Atmosphere

3. What is the settling velocity of a particle having a Stokes’ diameter of 10 μm and a

5. Examination of aerosol fume particles produced by a welding process showed that 2%

7. Analysis of particulate matter collected in the atmosphere near a seashore shows

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