Air pollution

• What do burning fossil fuels produce?

  Carbon dioxide and water
• What is required for complete combustion of hydrocarbons?

  Plenty of oxygen
• What is incomplete combustion?

  Burning with insufficient oxygen
• What are the products of complete combustion?

  Water and carbon dioxide
• What pollutants are produced from burning fossil fuels?

  Carbon monoxide, particulates, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides
• What are particulates in the context of combustion?

  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 particularly dangerous?

  It binds to hemoglobin, reducing oxygen transport
• What can severe carbon monoxide poisoning lead to?

  Fainting, coma, and death
• What makes carbon monoxide hard to detect?

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

  Sulfur in hydrocarbons gets oxidized
• How are nitrogen oxides formed?

  Nitrogen and oxygen react at high temperatures
• Why do internal combustion engines produce nitrogen oxides?

  They reach high temperatures for reactions
• What are the health effects of breathing in sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides?

  They can damage lungs and cause respiratory problems
• What happens when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides mix with clouds?

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

  Mixing pollutants with clouds
• How does acid rain affect buildings and plants?

  It damages structures and harms plant growth
• What are the two ways acid rain can damage plants?

  Direct contact and soil acidity increase
• What is complete combustion?

  • Burning hydrocarbons with plenty of oxygen
  • Produces only water and carbon dioxide
• What is incomplete combustion?

  • Burning hydrocarbons with insufficient oxygen
  • Produces carbon monoxide and particulates
• What are the effects of pollutants from fossil fuel combustion?

  • Damage to lungs and respiratory issues
  • Formation of acid rain affecting buildings and plants
  • Global dimming due to particulates