UNIT 5 UnIT TASK

what to Do with Carbon

What do you do when your room contains too much stuff? Another solution to the problem of carbon dioxide is
Do you throw your old gear into the nearest closet and to find alternative uses for it. For example, commercial
hope it goes away? Do you sell your gently used belongings greenhouses routinely pump carbon dioxide over their
in a yard sale or donate them to charity? Or do you young plants to accelerate their growth (Figure 2).
dismantle your possessions and construct different objects?
As you are probably aware, the concentration of carbon
dioxide in our atmosphere is increasing. Our atmosphere
now contains an average of 385 parts per million (ppm)
of carbon dioxide. This is higher than at any time over the
past 400 000 years. Most scientists agree that carbon dioxide
is having significant effects on our climate. Furthermore,
our activities continue to emit approximately 2.7 3 1010 t
of carbon dioxide each year. As a result, the polar ice caps
are melting and ecosystems are going through tremendous
change. Scientists are warning that we need to both cut the
emission of carbon dioxide and remove some of the carbon
dioxide from our atmosphere. But how can we do this?
Just as you have to make difficult decisions about what to
Figure 2 A Toyota car manufacturing facility in Japan provides carbon
do with your unwanted stuff, we, as a society, have to decide dioxide that helps these young plants grow.
what to do with the excess carbon dioxide in our environment
(Figure 1). There are a number of options available. Strangely, many oil companies are eager to purchase
carbon dioxide emissions from nearby factories. In a process
known as enhanced oil recovery, water and compressed
carbon dioxide are pumped into oil wells to extract oil that
cannot otherwise be removed. Once all the oil is removed,
the carbon dioxide remains stored underground.
How do we remove carbon dioxide once it has been
released into the atmosphere? One alternative is to
convert carbon dioxide into other carbon-based materials.
The carbon cycle, which includes photosynthesis and
respiration, continually moves carbon between the
atmosphere, ocean, biosphere, and sediments. Mimicking
some of these natural processes might help to decrease
the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide. In
Section 12.5, you may have performed an activity to
Figure 1 What is the best way to trap carbon?
capture carbon dioxide on a small scale.
Carbon dioxide removal may appear to be too expensive
First, we must consider how to capture the carbon and technologically challenging. The process of decreasing
dioxide before it is released into the atmosphere. Carbon emissions or converting carbon may use too much energy
capture and storage (CCS) will likely become a boom and not be feasible—today. In addition, there are concerns
industry in the years to come. This strategy involves about the viability of long-term carbon storage and the
capturing the carbon dioxide at the source of emission. possible environmental impacts. However, the consumption
The captured material is then isolated, or sequestered, and manipulation of carbon is fast becoming economically
underground. Scientists and engineers are working on desirable. Governments and industries are coming to terms
technologies such as specially designed sponges that soak with the economic realities of this issue.
up carbon dioxide from smokestacks and tailpipes. These In this task, you will choose a specific industry that
sponge-like materials have pores that trap carbon dioxide emits carbon dioxide. For this industry, you will decide
molecules. They can remove up to 83 times their own on the best plan to either capture waste carbon dioxide
volume of carbon dioxide. Once these sponges are filled, before it is emitted, or capture it in the atmosphere. You
they can be emptied and used again. will prepare your plan in an original format. Finally, you

616 Unit 5 • gases and Atmospheric chemistry NEL

will share the plan with your class and send the plan to the • discuss the economic implications of imposing your
actual facility or industry. plan on the industry
• discuss the environment costs and ethical issues
The Issue surrounding your selected strategy
What should we do with the carbon dioxide in our
emissions and/or in the atmosphere? Communicate
Communicate your carbon strategy in a presentation
Goal format of your choice, such as a pamphlet, poster, formal
In this Unit Task you will develop, communicate, and written report, audiovisual presentation, or video.
present a plan for how to deal with carbon dioxide in Your presentation should contain
industrial emissions and/or with the accumulation of • an attention-grabbing introduction
carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. • an overview of the information about your industry
SKILLS • a clear description of the two alternative technologies
research HANDBOOK A5.1, A5.2
and how they relate to the properties of gases,
In pairs or small groups, conduct research on an including the pros and cons of each technology
industry that has significant carbon dioxide emissions. • your recommendation, with an explanation of your
Some examples of industries are fossil fuel extraction, choice
trucking, automobile assembly, oil refining, and chemical You will present your plan to your classmates. Then,
manufacturing. Get your teacher’s approval on your based on their suggestions and questions, you will make
chosen industry before you begin. any necessary additions or changes to your presentation.
Research technological methods to deal with carbon Finally, send your plan to a company in the industry you
dioxide emissions and/or carbon dioxide released in researched and await their response!
the atmosphere. The technologies could be already in
operation or still in the planning stages. Technologies g o to n elS on S c i en c e
could include
• carbon capture and storage technologies (CCS)
• alternative uses for carbon dioxide
• the reaction of carbon dioxide to produce other ASSeSSMent CHECKLIST
carbon-based materials Your completed Unit Task will be assessed according to
As you research, consider the practicality and the the following criteria:
economic cost of the proposed technologies as well as the
long-term implications to human health and environmental Knowledge/Understanding
sustainability. Also, consider how the gas laws and other ✓ Describe how a chosen industry contributes to increasing
■
concepts introduced in this unit relate to carbon removal. the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere.
✓ Demonstrate an understanding of the properties of gases
■
Evaluate as applied to two carbon capture technologies.
Develop a strategy for decreasing carbon dioxide emissions ✓ Describe two carbon capture technologies that could be
■
at the source or for decreasing the concentration of carbon appropriate for the chosen industry.
dioxide in the atmosphere. Your strategy, based on your
research, should Thinking/Investigation
• include an overview of recent emissions information ✓ Compare the pros and cons of two carbon capture
■
and how your chosen industry has contributed to technologies.
these emissions
Communication
• compare at least two technologies for dealing with
✓ Prepare and deliver an informative, clear, and engaging
■
carbon dioxide
presentation that addresses all the specified points.
• evaluate the technologies and select the one that you
think is best, giving your reasons Application
• make connections with the properties and behaviours ✓ Recommend one of the technologies for the chosen
■
of gases that you learned about in this unit (such as industry. Provide a rationale for your recommendation.
gases under pressure, gas stoichiometry)

NEL Unit 5 task 617