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 pollutants are produced from incomplete combustion?

  Carbon monoxide and particulates
• 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 reaching the Earth?

  They form smog that reflects sunlight
• Why is carbon monoxide particularly 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 during combustion?

  From oxidizing sulfur impurities in hydrocarbons
• 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 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 and how does it form?

  It forms from acids in clouds falling as rain
• What are the effects of acid rain on the environment?

  It damages buildings, statues, and plants
• How does acid rain affect soil and plant growth?

  It makes soil more acidic, hindering growth
• What is complete combustion and its products?

  • Complete combustion occurs with plenty of oxygen
  • Products are water and carbon dioxide
• What are the main pollutants from burning fossil fuels?

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

  Health impacts:

  • Respiratory problems from particulates
  • Oxygen deprivation from carbon monoxide

  
  

  Environmental impacts:

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