Air Pollutants; Their sources and effects Flashcards
Properties of CO
Colourless and odourless
Sources of Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Incomplete combustion of carbon-based fuels due to insufficient amount of oxygen.
Harmful effects of carbon monoxide (CO)
- CO binds irreversibly with (red blood cells) haemoglobin to form stable carboxyhaemoglobin. This reduces the ability of haemoglobin to carry oxygen to the rest of the body.
- Headaches, fatigues, breathing difficulties, loss of consciousness and even death.
Properties of NOx
NO - Colourless and Odourless gas
NO2 - Red-Brown, pungent gas
Sources of Nitrogen Oxides
- Vehicle combustion engines (At high temperatures, nitrogen and oxygen in the air combine to form nitric oxide)(NO)
(N2(g) + O2(g) –> 2NO(g) - Nitric oxide is oxidised further by oxygen in the air to form a brown gas, nitrogen dioxide.
2NO(g) + O2(g) –> 2NO2(g) - Lightning activity (heat released enables the reaction between N2 and O2 to take place)
Harmful effects of NOx
- Causes breathing difficulties
- Formation of acid rain through reaction with oxygen and water
- Causes plant damage
- Kills marine lives
- Promotes corrosion of building made of limestone particularly.
Properties of Sulfur dioxide (SO2)
Colourless, pungent gas
Sources of Sulfur Dioxide, SO2
- Combustion of Fossil Fuels
S(s) + O2(g) –> SO2(g) - Volcanic Eruptions
Harmful effects of Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
- Causes breathing difficulties
- Formation of acid rain through reaction with oxygen and water
- Causes plant damage
- Kills marine lives
- Promotes corrosion of building made of limestone particularly.
Properties of Methane (CH4)
Colourless, pungent gas that is highly flammable.
Sources of Methane (CH4)
- Anaerobic bacterial decay of organic substances
*Waste gases from cattle
Harmful effects of methane
Major greenhouse gas that lads to global warming
Properties of unburnt hydrocarbons
Colourless, Odourless gas
Sources of unburnt hydrocarbons
- Vehicles combustion engines
- Lightning activity
Harmful effects of unburnt hydrocarbons
- Eye and respiratory tract irritation leading to breathing difficulties
- React with nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunlight to form photochemical smog (brown haze consisting of O3, SO2, NO2)
Properties of Ozone (O3)
pale blue, pungent gas
Sources of Ozone
- Lightning activity
- Upper atmosphere: reactions between oxygen molecules in the presence of sunlight
- Lower atmosphere: reactions between unburnt hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunlight.
Harmful effects of ozone
- Eye and respiratory tract irritation leading to breathing difficulties
- Chest pains, headaches
*Slows down photosynthesis in plants –> Damages crops
Colourless and odourless
Properties of CO, NO, Unburnt hydrocarbons
- Binds irreversibly with (red blood cells) haemoglobin to form stable carboxyhaemoglobin. This reduces the ability of haemoglobin to carry oxygen to the rest of the body.
- Headaches, fatigues, breathing difficulties, loss of consciousness and even death.
Harmful effects of carbon monoxide (CO)
NO2 - Red-Brown, pungent gas
Properties of NO2
- Causes breathing difficulties
- Formation of acid rain through reaction with oxygen and water
- Causes plant damage
- Kills marine lives
- Promotes corrosion of building made of limestone particularly.
Harmful effects of NOx
- Causes breathing difficulties
- Formation of acid rain through reaction with oxygen and water
- Causes plant damage
- Kills marine lives
- Promotes corrosion of building made of limestone particularly.
Harmful effects of Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
Colourless, pungent gas that is highly flammable.
Properties of Methane (CH4)
