Pollutants - DF Flashcards
Name all of the pollutants
CO₂, CO, particulates, unburnt hydrocarbons, NOₓ, SO₂, O₃
Origin of CO₂
combustion of fossil fuels
Origin of CO
incomnplete combustuin of hydrocarbons in fossil fuels
burning biomass
Origin of particulates
volcanoes
burning fuels
bruning coals
Origin of unburnt hydrocarbons
hydrocarbon fuel molecules which have not been oxidised
incomplete combustion
Origin of NOₓ
combustion of fuels in power stations and vehicles
Origin of SO₂
volcanoes
burning of fuels containing sulfur
Origin of O₃
atomsphere
Environmental effect of CO₂
greenhouse effect
Environmental effect of CO
toxic gas
photochemical smog
Effect of particulates
penetrate deep into the human body causing heart attacks and lung cancer
Environmental effect of unburnt hydrocarbons,
contributes to climate change by trapping heat
Environmental effect of NOₓ
acid rain
photochemical smog
Environmental effect of SO₂
toxic gas
acid rain
Environmental effect of O₃
stops radiation
Alternative fuels names
diesel, LPG, ethanol, biodiesel, hydrogen
How is diesel made and is it sustainable
distillation of crude oil = unsustainable as oil is finite and releases CO
How is LPG made and is it sustainable
distillation of crude oil = unsustainable as oil is finite and releases CO
How is ethanol made and is it sustainable
can be made from fermentation of carbohydrate crops = sustainable as can be grown quickly
How is biodiesel made and is it sustainable
made by chemically reacting fats and oils with an alcohol = sustainable as waste oil is used not fossil fuels
How is hydrogen made and is it sustainable
combustion of hydrogen produces water = sustainable
Advantages and disadvantages of diesel
AD - more fuel efficient than other alternatives
DIS - produces emissions that are harmful to the environment
Advantages and disadvantages of LPG
AD - releases less emmissions which has less of an environmental impact
DIS - not easily transportable (flammable and needs to be kept at high pressure)
Advantages and disadvantages of ethanol
AD - carbon neutral as CO absorbed by crops mathces CO released
DIS - cars cannot run easily on ethanol alone, land usage can be used for food instead
Advantages and disadvantages of biodiesel
AD - carbon neutral, some cars can run on pure biodiesel
DIS - more nitrogen oxides are produced than fossil fuels
Advantages and disadvantages of hydrogen
AD - renewable, can be stored and sent down pipelines, no CO, CO or hydrocarbons released
DIS - less energy dense, oxides of nitrogen are still produced at high temperatures
