how many moles of ozone does the atmosphere hold?
To find out how many moles of ozone the atmosphere holds, we need to gather some information and perform a calculation.
1. Determine the concentration of ozone in the atmosphere: Ozone concentration is usually measured in parts per million by volume (ppmv). The average concentration of ozone in the Earth's atmosphere is approximately 0.3 ppmv.
2. Find the total volume of the Earth's atmosphere: The atmosphere extends to a height of about 100 kilometers above the Earth's surface. The volume of the atmosphere can be calculated by multiplying the surface area of the Earth (about 510 million square kilometers) by the height (100 kilometers). Convert this value to liters by multiplying by 1 trillion (1 x 10^12) since 1 cubic kilometer equals 1 trillion liters.
3. Convert the ozone concentration to moles per liter: To do this, divide the concentration in ppmv by 1 million, as there are 1 million parts in a million. This will give you the concentration in moles per liter.
4. Multiply the ozone concentration (in moles per liter) by the total volume of the atmosphere (in liters): This will give you the total number of moles of ozone in the atmosphere.
Let's perform the calculation:
Ozone concentration: 0.3 ppmv
Total volume of the Earth's atmosphere: Surface area (510 million square kilometers) × height (100 kilometers), converted to liters = (510 million × 1 x 10^12) liters
Ozone concentration (moles per liter): 0.3 ppmv ÷ 1 million
Total moles of ozone in the atmosphere: Ozone concentration (moles per liter) × total volume of the atmosphere (in liters)
Substituting these values into the equation, we can find the answer.