9.3 Common atmospheric pollutants and their sources

• What are two sources of nitrogen oxides ($NO_{x}$)?


  Transportation, industrial combustion
• Arrange the following steps in the formation of ground-level ozone:

  1️⃣ Nitrogen oxides are released

  2️⃣ Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) react

  3️⃣ Ozone is formed
• Particulate matter in the atmosphere can come from natural sources like dust.


  True
• What are atmospheric pollutants defined as?

  Substances that contaminate the air
• Industrial processes and transportation are sources of particulate matter.

  True
• Carbon monoxide is produced by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels in vehicle engines.


  True
• What is the primary source of sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere?

  Burning fossil fuels
• What is the primary source of carbon monoxide in the atmosphere?

  Incomplete combustion of fossil fuels
• What are common atmospheric pollutants?

  CO2, SO2, NOx, PM, O3
• What type of combustion releases nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere?

  High-temperature combustion
• What is the main contribution of transportation to CO2 emissions?

  Burning fossil fuels in vehicles
• Which industrial activities release sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere?

  Use of sulfur-containing materials
• What type of combustion produces sulfur dioxide in power plants?

  Burning fossil fuels containing sulfur
• Which sector contributes to CO2 emissions through the burning of fossil fuels in vehicles?

  Transportation
• What industrial processes release particulate matter into the atmosphere?

  Combustion of fossil fuels
• Match the atmospheric pollutant with its primary source:

  Carbon monoxide (CO) ↔️ Incomplete combustion of fossil fuels

  Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) ↔️ Burning of fossil fuels containing sulfur

  Nitrogen oxides (NOx) ↔️ High-temperature combustion
• What is the primary source of sulfur dioxide ($SO_{2}$)?


  Burning fossil fuels
• Order the processes that release $CO_{2}$ emissions from most to least significant:


  1️⃣ Combustion of fossil fuels

  2️⃣ Industrial activities

  3️⃣ Deforestation
• What is the primary source of nitrogen oxides ($NO_{x}$) in urban areas?


  Vehicle emissions
• What are three sources of carbon dioxide emissions?

  Transportation, industrial processes, deforestation
• Match the pollutant with its source:

  Carbon Dioxide ($CO_{2}$) ↔️ Transportation

  Sulfur Dioxide ($SO_{2}$) ↔️ Burning fossil fuels

  Ozone ($O_{3}$) ↔️ Smog formation
• What are two sources of nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere?

  High-temperature combustion, power plants
• Match the pollutant with its primary source:

  Carbon Dioxide ($CO_{2}$) ↔️ Fossil fuel combustion

  Sulfur Dioxide ($SO_{2}$) ↔️ Burning sulfur-containing fuels

  Nitrogen Oxides ($NO_{x}$) ↔️ High-temperature combustion
• Match the pollutant with its effect:

  Sulfur Dioxide ($SO_{2}$) ↔️ Acid rain

  Nitrogen Oxides ($NO_{x}$) ↔️ Smog formation

  Particulate Matter (PM) ↔️ Respiratory problems
• Carbon dioxide is produced by the combustion of fossil fuels in vehicles, power plants, and industries
• Ozone is formed from reactions of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds
• Deforestation contributes to CO2 emissions by removing carbon-absorbing trees and vegetation
• Carbon monoxide is released from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels
• Carbon dioxide is released from the combustion of fossil fuels in vehicles, power plants, and industries
• The burning of fossil fuels containing sulfur in power plants releases sulfur dioxide
• The primary sources of particulate matter emissions include industrial processes and transportation
• Order the primary sources of atmospheric pollutants by their relative contribution to air contamination:

  1️⃣ Combustion of fossil fuels

  2️⃣ Industrial processes

  3️⃣ Transportation
• The combustion of fossil fuels in vehicles releases carbon dioxide ($CO_{2}$).


  True
• Match the source of sulfur dioxide ($SO_{2}$) with its description:


  Burning fossil fuels ↔️ Combustion of sulfur-containing materials in power plants

  Industrial activities ↔️ Use of sulfur-containing raw materials
• Particulate matter emissions result from industrial processes and the burning of fossil fuels in vehicles
• Arrange the following steps in the formation of ozone ($O_{3}$):


  1️⃣ Nitrogen oxides react with VOCs

  2️⃣ Ozone is formed
• Arrange the following steps in the formation of ground-level ozone:

  1️⃣ Nitrogen oxides are released

  2️⃣ Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) react

  3️⃣ Ozone is formed
• Sulfur dioxide is primarily released from burning sulfur-containing fossil fuels and industrial processes.

  True
• Fossil fuel combustion is the primary source of atmospheric pollutants.


  True
• The burning of fossil fuels containing sulfur releases sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere.


  True