Atmospheric pollutants
I can describe how pollutants can be produced by impurities in fuels and by incomplete combustion.
Atmospheric pollutants
I can describe how pollutants can be produced by impurities in fuels and by incomplete combustion.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Carbon monoxide gas is toxic.
- Carbon particulates contribute to health issues and global dimming.
- Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are formed through burning fuels, and form acids in water.
- Catalytic converters help complete combustion reactions and the removal of nitrogen monoxide from exhaust gases.
- Hydrogen can be used as a fuel in cars and this has advantages and disadvantages.
Keywords
Pollutant - A pollutant is a substance that causes damage to air, water or land.
Carbon monoxide - Carbon monoxide gas is toxic and produced by burning carbon with insufficient oxygen.
Soot - Soot consists of fine black particles of unburned carbon.
Catalytic converter - A catalytic converter is a device that can be fitted to car exhausts to change harmful carbon monoxide and nitrogen monoxide into carbon dioxide and nitrogen.
Catalyst - A catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of a reaction without being used up.
Common misconception
Only industrial activities contribute to atmospheric pollution. Atmospheric pollutants are always visible.
Discuss natural sources of pollutants, like volcanoes. Explain that many harmful pollutants are invisible.
Equipment
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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