Chemistry of the Atmosphere Layers

What is Chemistry of the Atmosphere Layers?

Within Chemistry, which covers atoms, bonding, reactions, the periodic table, organic chemistry and the chemistry of everyday life, this topic explains Chemistry of the Atmosphere Layers. Chemistry links what you can see in the lab to the particles and bonds behind it, so each topic here shows that link in a model.

Check that you can explain Chemistry of the Atmosphere Layers in your own words and give one example from everyday life. If you can do that, you have understood the core idea.

Understanding Chemistry of the Atmosphere Layers helps you explain why substances behave as they do, from cleaning products and food to medicines.

Chemistry of the Atmosphere Layers in detail

Earth's atmosphere has layers: the troposphere (weather, where we live), the stratosphere (containing the ozone layer), the mesosphere and the thermosphere. Temperature changes with height in a characteristic pattern.

The ozone layer absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) from fridges and aerosols destroyed ozone, because chlorine atoms catalyse its breakdown, and the Montreal Protocol banned them, allowing recovery. The chemistry of oxygen, ozone and radicals shows how small changes in trace gases can affect the whole planet.

How the interactive helps you understand Chemistry of the Atmosphere Layers

Watch the Earth model in the interactive. Use any sliders or buttons it offers to change the values and see how the Earth model responds.

Before you change anything, predict the result. Then change one value at a time and check whether your prediction was right. This is a quick way to build a correct mental model of Chemistry of the Atmosphere Layers.

Real-life uses and examples

• Use Chemistry of the Atmosphere Layers to explain what happens in a lab experiment and why.
• Link Chemistry of the Atmosphere Layers to everyday products such as cleaning agents, food and medicines.
• Read a chemical equation or diagram and work out what Chemistry of the Atmosphere Layers shows.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Describing what happens without explaining the particles or bonds involved.
• Mixing up the names of substances or ions when you describe Chemistry of the Atmosphere Layers.
• Learning the definition without testing it. Use the quiz and the interactive to check that you can apply the idea.