Pollutants from fuels

• advantages of complete combustion

  • less soot (carbon particulates) is made
  • more heat per gram of fuel is released
  • poisonous carbon monoxide is not produced
• how is pollution caused by combustion?

  • when a fuel burns, the gases released to the atmosphere include carbon dioxide, water (vapour), carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen
  • solid particles and unburned hydrocarbons may also be released that form particulates in the atmosphere
• issues regarding sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen

  sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen cause respiratory problems in humans and cause acid rain (damages plants and buildings)
• what problems do particulates cause?

  • cause global dimming by reducing the amount of sunlight that reaches the Earth’s surface
  • particulates cause health problems due to damage to the lungs