Pollutants

• Combustion of hydrocarbon fuels -

  • CO2 and H20 are produced
  • Energy is given out (exothermic)
• Incomplete combustion occurs when there is not enough oxygen so some of the fuel doesn't burn

  carbon monoxide is released as there isn't enough oxygen to produce carbon dioxide
• Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless and odourless gas which when breathed in prevents red blood cells carrying oxygen around the body which leads to death
• Incomplete combustion causes

  • CO health problems
  • Soot causes global warming
• Most fuels such as coal contain carbon and/or hydrogen and contains some sulfur which when burnt as fuel reacts with oxygen to form sulfur dioxide
• Sulfur dioxide can

  • Damage limestone buildings
  • Reduces growth of or kills trees and crops
  • Lowers pH of water in lakes, killing fish
• Nitrogen and oxygen from the air combine to produce nitrogen monoxide and when reacted with air forms nitrogen dioxide

  • Nitrogen monoxide and Nitrogen dioxide are pollutants
  • Can cause photochemical smog
• Advantages & disadvantages of using hydrogen rather than petrol as fuel in cars

  Advantages

  • Use of Hydrogen
  • Only produces water - no Carbon Dioxide produced which contributes to global warming

  Disadvantages

  • Expensive
  • Hard to store