incomplete combustion

• when fuels burn in pure oxygen or plentiful supply of air, products of combustion should be carbon dioxide and water
• if air supply is limited in any way, incomplete combustion is likely to occur
• carbon monoxide


  toxic gas, colourless and odourless gas
• inhaling carbon monoxide


  molecules attach themselves to haemoglobin molecules in red blood cells more readily than oxygen molecules
• inhaling carbon monoxide


  means that blood is no longer able to carry oxygen around body, body cells become starved of oxygen, leading to asphyxiation and if large amounts inhaled, death
• particulates


  soot that forms when you burn hydrocarbon fuels is carbon, when large amounts of particulates released into atmosphere in city, soot causes buildings to become dirty
• particulates


  can also cause global dimming, meaning less sunlight can reach earth, can cause respiratory problems
• particulates

  most cars fitted with catalytic converters. these convert carbon monoxide and carbon in exhaust into carbon dioxide before they are released into atmosphere
• particulates


  even though carbon dioxide is greenhouse gas which contributes to global warming, less dangerous than releasing products of incomplete combustion into atmosphere