1. On this day in Chemistry HistoryOn this day in Chemistry History
http://www.rsc.org/learn-chemistry/collections/chemistry-calendar/may-13#otdic_
13th May, 2013
.
American chemist John Bailar
was born on this day in 1904.
He discovered that isomers could
exist in inorganic compounds. Bailar
became recognised as the “father of
American coordination chemistry”.
Isomers?
Compounds with the same chemical
composition but different structural
formulas,
2. Last Thursday (9th
May, 2013)…
• It was announced that the concentration of
atmospheric carbon dioxide had breached
the symbolically important level of
400ppm.
• For first time in 500M years.
3.
4. Why is this important?
• Link with global warming (climate change)
Objectives
IGCSE Chemistry (Core)
• State that carbon dioxide and methane are greenhouse
gases and may contribute to climate change.
• IGCSE Combined Science (Chemistry, Supplement)
• Explain why the proportion of carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere is increasing, and why this is important.
5. Composition of the Atmosphere
90% of the mass of the atmosphere is in the lowest 16km
(troposphere).
This is the part we refer to as ‘air’
14. Effects on Plants and Animals
Within the next 70 years:
• Habitats for a third (34%) of land animal species
halved.
• Habitats for half (57%) the World’s plant species
halved.
• Reptiles and amphibians at greatest risk.
• Largest losses predicted from sub-Saharan
Africa, Central America, Amazonia and
Australia.
Nature Climate Change, May 2013
15. Pests and Diseases
• Higher temperatures suspected of
contributing to spread of blue-tongue
disease in sheep and cattle in Britain.
• Transmitted by midge, Culicoides imicola.
