air pollution

• • fossil fuels contain hydrocarbons
  • combustion causes oxidation of carbon and hydrogen
  • carbon dioxide and water vapour released into atmosphere
• • incomplete combustion produces particulates of carbon known as soot
  • if soot is inhaled, stuck in lungs -> lead to respiratory problems
  • soot clouds reflect sunlight back to space
  • less light reaches Earth - global dimming
• • incomplete combustion produces carbon monoxide
  • carbon monoxide can bind to haemoglobin in blood
  • less oxygen transported around body
  • lead to fainting, coma or death
  • carbon monoxide has no colour or smell
• • sulfur dioxide released during combustion of fossil fuels
  • fossil fuels contain sulfur impurities that become oxidised
  • causes acid rain as sulfur dioxide dissolves in water to form sulphuric acid
  • corrodes metal
  • kills plants and damages buildings
  • causes respiratory problems
• • nitrogen oxide released from reaction of nitrogen and oxygen in air
  • caused by heat of burning
  • can cause acid rain
• • sulfur dioxide reacts with water to produce dilute sulfuric acid
  • to test for sulfuric impurities in fuel, bubble gas from combustion through solution containing universal indicator
  • if fuel contains sulfur, gases will form sulfuric acid and UI turns red