Atmospheric Pollutants

• Combustion

  Scientific word for burning
• Major source of atmospheric pollution

  • The combustion of fuels
• What do most fuels contain?

  • Coal
  • Carbon
  • Hydrogen
  • May also contain sulfur
• What gases are released into the atmosphere when a fuel is burned?

  1. carbon dioxide
  2. water vapour
  3. carbon monoxide
  4. sulfur dioxide
  5. oxides of nitrogen
• What reactant is needed for complete combustion?

  • Plentiful supply of oxygen
• What happens in incomplete combustion?

  
  

  • Limited supply of oxygen
  • releases CO, Carbon (soot)
• Other than gases, what else may be released from burning fuels?

  1. Particulates / solid particles
  2. Unburned hydrocarbons
• What is complete combustion?

  1. Methane / hydrocarbon reacts with all the oxygen in the air so all the fuel burns.
• Word equation for complete combustion

  methane + oxygen --> carbon dioxide + water (vapour)
• Incomplete combustion

  When there is not enough oxygen in the air so thus, some of the fuel doesn't burn
• Word equation for incomplete combustion

  methane + oxygen --> carbon monoxide + water (vapour)

  • may form soot
• Products of an incomplete combustion reaction

  1. water vapour
  2. Carbon monoxide
  3. Particulates of soot (carbon)
  4. Carbon dioxide
• Effects of carbon monoxide

  1. Colourless and odourless and so it is not easily detected
  2. Dangerous for the body as it binds to the hemoglobin. This prevents the red blood cells from carrying oxygen so less oxygen is transported around the body. Less respiration / less metabolism / leading to death.
  3. Poisonous
• Effects of sulphur dioxide

  1. Causes acid rain
  2. Damage to trees and buildings
  3. Causes respiratory problems in humans
• Effects of particulates of carbon (soot)

  1. Carbon / soot produced which are particulates
  2. Causes global dimming
  3. Cases respiratory problems in humans
• Effect of oxides of nitrogen :

  • lead to respiratory problems
• Effects of acid rain

  1. Damage to buildings / houses
  2. Damages to trees
• Particulates

  • Cause global dimming
• Sulphur dioxide

  • acid rain
• Actions to reduce carbon footprint

  1. Reduce amount of electricity use
  2. Solar panelling / using solar power
• Why actions of carbon footprint may be limited?

  1. Too expensive
  2. Work away too far from home
• Effects of carbon dioxide

  1. A greenhouse gas
  2. Therefore, surface temperatures increases
  3. Global warming occurs
  4. Sea level rises
  5. So, flooding occurs
• Effects of water vapour

  • Although it is a greenhouse gas..
  • Water vapour is harmless
• When oil is burned, the products of combustion may be released into the atmosphere. Explain the environmental effects of releasing these products of combustion into the atmosphere.

  Carbon dioxide is produced :

  • greenhouse gas
  • surface temperatures increase
  • global warming
  • sea levels rise

  Sulphur dioxide is produced :

  • causes acid rain
  • damage to buildings and trees
  • Respiratory problems in humans

  Particulates of soot produced (carbon)

  • Carbon produced
  • Particulates
  • Causes global dimming