Question

In what sphere do chemicals have the shortest average residence time? Follow ... A) biosphere B) lithosphere C) hydrosphere D) atmosphere?

Answer 1

It's quite hard to generalize, so you kinda need to be more specific.

1) You could rephrase the questions in terms of the micro view, "What is the fastest rate of reaction known to mankind that exists in the earth?"

2) Judging by your question though, it seems more of a macro question, which talks about amount of chemicals reacting at a given sphere.
Which sphere has the most produced chemicals? Even if rate of reaction is fast per chemical reaction, the mere volume of chemicals reacting at a given sphere are so much that the faster reactions molecularly produce so little amount. Examples are enzymes, enzymes react really fast, but assuming that a given enzyme is only found in humans, then the amount it creates compare to combustion is minimal.

Finally, I'd like to say that there are so many to factor in:
The biosphere has animals which have tons of enzymes breaking down carbohydrates and water.
The lithosphere contains a lot of pressure and heat change chemistry.
The hydrosphere is one of the largest substrates of chemical reactions.
Then within the atmosphere you have the ozone reacting to for dioxygen and back and forth through UV rays.

If you're thinking about where to put pollutants so that they change into nonpollutants, perhaps the second question would be better. Which place change the given pollutant most effectively in volume at a given time.

Answer 2

Welcome to OpenStudy! @jenny53s