Air Pollution

• What do burning fossil fuels produce?

  Carbon dioxide and water
• When does complete combustion occur?

  When pure hydrocarbons burn with plenty of oxygen
• What is incomplete combustion?

  Burning with insufficient oxygen
• What pollutants are produced from incomplete combustion?

  Carbon monoxide and particulates
• What are particulates?

  Solid particles of carbon called soot
• What are the two main problems associated with particulates?

  They damage lungs and cause global dimming
• How do particulates affect sunlight?

  They form dark clouds that reflect sunlight
• Why is carbon monoxide dangerous?

  It binds to hemoglobin, reducing oxygen transport
• What are the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning?

  Fainting, coma, and death
• Why is carbon monoxide hard to detect?

  It is colorless and odorless
• How is sulfur dioxide produced?

  From burning hydrocarbons with sulfur impurities
• How are nitrogen oxides formed?

  Nitrogen and oxygen react at high temperatures
• Why do high temperatures lead to nitrogen oxides formation?

  They allow nitrogen and oxygen to combine
• What happens to sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides in clouds?

  They form dilute sulfuric and nitric acids
• What is acid rain?

  Rain that contains dilute sulfuric or nitric acid
• What are the effects of acid rain on the environment?

  It damages buildings and harms plants
• How does acid rain affect soil?

  It makes the soil more acidic
• What are the main pollutants produced from burning fossil fuels?

  • Carbon monoxide
  • Particulates (soot)
  • Sulfur dioxide
  • Nitrogen oxides
• What are the health and environmental impacts of pollutants from fossil fuels?

  Health impacts:

  • Respiratory problems from particulates
  • Oxygen deprivation from carbon monoxide

  
  

  Environmental impacts:

  • Acid rain damaging buildings and plants
  • Global dimming from particulates