C6.3.2 - Pollution And The Atmosphere Flashcards
What are pollutants?
Substances that are released into the environment which may harm living things
How is carbon monoxide produced?
Incomplete combustion of fuels containing carbon
How can an incomplete combustion of fuel containing carbon occur?
When coal, wood or natural gas are burned with a poor supply of air
Describe the properties of carbon monoxide gas.
Colourless
Toxic
No taste or smell
What happens if you breathe in carbon monoxide?
The carbon monoxide attaches itself to the haemoglobin protein in blood cells, reducing the amount of oxygen the blood can carry
What are symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning?
Drowsiness
Difficult breathing
Death
How would you prevent carbon monoxide poisoning?
Set up a carbon monoxide detector in your home
What are particulates?
Small particles
Where are particulates produced?
In industrial processes like metal extraction
What happens if you breathe in particulates?
They settle in deep in the lungs
What diseases can particulates create?
Bronchitis
Other breathing problems
Increased chance of heart disease
When will nitrogen and oxygen react together?
When they are in the high temperatures in vehicle engines
What do nitrogen and oxygen react to form?
Nitrogen monoxide
How does nitrogen monoxide turn into nitrogen dioxide?
It is oxidised in the atmosphere as it is rising up
How is acid rain formed?
Nitrogen dioxide rises into the air, and turns into clouds. Those clouds are acidic, and rain acidly.
Impurities from fossil fuels form sulfur dioxide, which also turns into acid rain
