Carbon Footprint Flashcards
What is carbon footprint
The total amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emitted over the full life cycle of a product, service or event.
3 ways to reduce carbon footprint
Recycle
Reduce water wastage
Plant a tree
How are unburned hydrocarbons formed? What problems do they cause?
How can this problem be reduced?
- When burnt, some molecules don’t burn and are released into the atmosphere
- Wastes fuel, greenhouse gases
- Ensure efficient burning so that all fuel is burnt.
How are Nitrous Oxides (NO, NO2) formed? What problems do they cause?
How can this problem be reduced?
- Nitrogen in air reacts with oxygen at very high temperature when fuel is burnt.
- Acid rain, respiratory problems.
- Remove nitrous oxides from waste gases before they reach the atmosphere, adjust how it is burnt.
How is sulphur dioxide (SO2) formed? What problems do they cause?
How can this problem be reduced?
- Produced when fuels that contain sulphur combust.
- Acid rain, respiratory problems, remove the sulphur dioxide from waste gases before they reach the atmosphere
How is soot (carbon, c) formed? What problems do they cause?
How can this problem be reduced?
- Produced when incomplete combustion of carbon based fuels occur.
- Carbon particulates pollute air, global dimming, lungs/health problems.
- Ensure food supply of oxygen when fuel is burnt.
How is carbon monoxide (CO) formed? What problems do they cause?
How can this problem be reduced?
- When incomplete combustion occurs.
- Toxic as it combines with haemoglobin in blood, colourless + no smell so hard to detect.
- Ensure combustion occurs with plenty of oxygen so incomplete combustion doesn’t occur.
How is carbon dioxide (CO2) formed? What problems do they cause?
How can this problem be reduced?
- When combustion occurs with plenty of oxygen.
- Greenhouse gas, contribute to global warming + climate change.
- Reduce usage of fossil fuels, increase use of alternative fuel sources, improve energy efficiency.
