Atmospheric
Chemistry: Historical Atmospheric Chemistry
Earth is believed to have formed about 5 billion years ago.
In the first 500 million years a dense
atmosphere emerged from the vapor and gases that were expelled during degassing
of the planet's interior. These gases may have consisted of hydrogen (H2),
water vapor, methane (CH4) , and carbon oxides.
Prior to 3.5 billion years ago the atmosphere probably consisted
of carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), water (H2O),
nitrogen (N2), and hydrogen.
The hydrosphere was formed 4 billion
years ago from the condensation of water vapor, resulting in oceans of
water in which sedimentation occurred. [The source
of the water vapor is still debated.]
The most important feature of the ancient environment was
the absence of free oxygen. Evidence of such an anaerobic
reducing atmosphere is hidden in early rock formations (Banded Iron Formations
or BIFs) that contain many elements, such as iron and uranium, in their
reduced states. Elements in this state are not found in the rocks of mid-Precambrian
and younger ages, less than 3 billion years old.
next: Formation of the Ozone Layer
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