Combustion & Pollutants in the Atmosphere Flashcards
When hydrogen atoms are present in a fuel, they are ___________ to water.
Water is not a _____________.
oxidised
pollutant
When there are lots of oxygen atoms present during combustion, the carbon atoms are _____________________ to ________________.
When there are fewer oxygen atoms present, ______________________ or _________ may be produced during combustion.
completely oxidised
carbon dioxide
carbon monoxide
carbon
Complete combustion of a hydrocarbon fuel occurs when there is a _________________________.
good supply of oxygen
What does complete combustion release and produce?
It releases the maximum amount of energy and produces carbon dioxide and water.
Give an example of a complete combustion equation using methane:
methane + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water
Incomplete combustion of a hydrocarbon fuel occurs when there is a ________________________.
poor supply of oxygen
In incomplete combustion, ___________ is released.
__________ is still produced from the hydrogen atoms.
Instead of _________________, you might get carbon monoxide or ___________________.
less energy
Water
carbon monoxide
particulate carbon
Give an example of an incomplete combustion equation using ethane:
ethane + oxygen → carbon monoxide + water
What is the formula for carbon monoxide?
CO
What is the formula for a carbon particulate?
C
What is another term for particulate carbon?
Soot.
Why does soot form? (2 marks).
Incomplete combustion of a fuel because there is insufficient oxygen.
Why is carbon monoxide dangerous to humans?
Carbon monoxide is a __________________ which ______________________ in your ___________________, preventing them from ___________________________ in your body.
Carbon monoxide is _____________________________, so it is very difficult to tell if you are breathing it in.
poisonous gas
binds to haemoglobin
red blood cells
carrying oxygen to cells
colourless and odourless
What can be installed to detect carbon dioxide?
Electronic detectors which are installed near boilers.
What are 3 reasons why particulate carbon (soot) cause health problems for humans:
1.
2.
3.
- Because it irritates the lining of the lungs
- Can make asthma worse
- Can cause cancer.
Particulate carbon can cause global dimming, which may __________________.
reduce rainfall
What is global dimming?
The gradual reduction in ____________________ from the Sun to ____________________ because of ___________________ in the atmosphere produced by _____________________.
radiation energy
Earth’s surface
small particles
human activities
Where does the pollutant: carbon dioxide come from?
Complete combustion of any fuel containing carbon atoms.
Where do the pollutants: carbon monoxide and carbon particulates come from?
Incomplete combustion of any fuel containing carbon atoms.
Where does the pollutant: Unburned Hydrocarbons come from?
Hydrocarbon fuel molecules that have not been oxidised at all.
Where does the pollutant: Sulfur dioxide, SO2 come from?
Combustion of a fossil fuel which contains sulfur impurities.
Where does the pollutant: Nitrogen oxides, NOx come from?
Oxidation of atmospheric nitrogen inside the engine of a vehicle.
What is the equation for the oxidation of sulfur?
sulfur + oxygen → sulfur dioxide
Sulfur dioxide is then ________________ in the atmosphere to _________________, ______.
This gas dissolves in rainwater to make acid rain: _________.
further oxidised
sulfur trioxide
SO3
H2SO4
Sulfur dioxide is then ________________ in the atmosphere to _________________, ______.
This gas dissolves in rainwater to make acid rain: _________.
further oxidised
sulfur trioxide
SO3
H2SO4
Nitrogen is ____________ in fuels,
but the ______________________________ inside a car engine can cause the nitrogen and oxygen in the air to react together to make _____________________.
not present
high temperature and pressure
oxides of nitrogen
What are the two oxides of nitrogen made inside engines?
NO
NO2
What are the two environmental effects of oxides of nitrogen?
Acid rain.
Photochemical smog (when reacting with other pollutants).
Explain how reducing the amount of sulfur in fossil fuels reduces the erosion
of limestone: (4 marks)
Less sulfur reacts with oxygen to form ________________.
So less ______________________.
So less ____________.
So less limestone ______________________.
sulfur dioxide
sulfur dioxide emitted
acid rain
reacts with acid rain
