1.6 Air Pollution and Combustion

Question 1

What is the word equation for a hydrocarbon burning in complete combustion?

Answer 1

hydrocarbon + oxygen —> carbon dioxide + water

Question 2

When may incomplete combustion happen?

Answer 2

If there’s not enough oxygen around for complete combustion, this can happen when fossil fuels are burned in power stations or in the engines of vehicles

Question 3

In incomplete combustion, what other gases may be produced?

Answer 3

As well as carbon dioxide, other carbon-based products can form that contain less oxygen

Question 4

Incomplete combustion produces a mixture of _____ ________ . Describe what this is

Answer 4

Carbon Monoxide, it is a toxic gas and carbon in the form of soot

Question 5

What is the risk of carbon monoxide being made? (2)

Answer 5

• Carbon Monoxide diffuses into your blood and binds to your haemoglobin in red blood cells and stops your blood from doing its proper job of carrying oxygen around the body. Less oxygen gets transported around the body
• A lack of oxygen in the blood supply to the brain can lead to fainting, a coma, or even death

Question 6

What is the effect of carbon particulates? (2)

Answer 6

• Soot makes buildings look dirty, reduces air quality and can cause or worsen respiratory problems
• Can form dark fog/smog which reflects sunlight back into space, this means less light reaches the Earth. We call this global dimming

Question 7

What happens when fossil fuels that contain sulfur impurities are burnt?

Answer 7

When these fuels are burned, the sulfur can be oxidised, which means that sulfur dioxide is released

Question 8

How is Nitrogen Oxide formed?

Answer 8

When nitrogen + oxygen from the air react together, this is caused by the heat of the burning (this can happen in the internal combustion engines of cards)

Question 9

What happens when Nitrogen Oxide or Sulfur Dioxide mixes with clouds?

Answer 9

When these gases mix with clouds they form dilute sulfuric acid or dilute nitric acid. This then falls as acid rain, which kills plants, damages buildings and statues, and makes metal corrode

Question 10

Which two products are formed by the incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons?

Answer 10

Carbon monoxide and particulates

Question 11

Other than acid rain, what problem is caused by sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen?

Answer 11

Respiratory problems in humans