Air pollution

Question 1

How is carbon monoxide and soot formed?

Answer 1

• When hydrocarbons are incompletely combusted as their is not enough oxygen

Question 2

What are particulates and their issues?

Answer 2

• Solid particles of carbon, also known as soot
• If inhaled, can get stuck in your lungs and cause respiratory problems
• Can form dark clouds (known as smog) that reflects sunlight back into the atmosphere, resulting in global dimming

Question 3

What are the issues of carbon monoxide?

Answer 3

• If inhaled, will bind to haemoglobin instead of oxygen. This means that body gets lets oxygen and can lead to fainting or death
• Dangerous as it is colourless and odourless

Question 4

How is sulfur dioxide formed?

Answer 4

• Some hydrocarbons have impurities (such as sulfur)
• When these are burnt, the sulfure becomes oxidised and formed sulfur dioxide

Question 5

How is nitrogen oxide formed?

Answer 5

• When nitrogen and oxygen from the air reacts together
• Requires very high temperatures: inside internal combustion engines, such as cars

Question 6

What are the issues of sulfure dioxide and nitrogen oxide?

Answer 6

• Can damage our lungs if inhaled and cause respiratory problems
• Can mix with clouds to form dilute sulfuric / nitric acid. This falls as acid rain

Question 7

Problems of acid rain

Answer 7

• Damages certain building and statues (made of carbonate rocks)
• Corrodes metal
• Damages plants and makes soil more acidic