Air Quality Quiz

Describe how the fuel from the candle burns?

Describe how the fuel from the candle burns?

When the wick of the candle is lit, it produces heat that melts the solid wax of the candle. The liquid wax then moves up the wick through the process of capillary attraction. The liquid wax is then heated to a gas, thus providing fuel for the candle to burn.

Where do the pollutants (for example, soot) given off during combustion (burning) go?

It gets into the air (atmosphere), onto the carpet, the desk (furniture), the respiratory system (nasal passages, mouth), clothing, curtains/drapes, on your skin, in your hair, etc. It gathers on everything in the space near the combustion.

What is incomplete combustion? Explain if this has an effect on the air quality?

Incomplete combustion is when there is an insufficient amount of oxygen to allow something to burn freely, which produces more carbon monoxide and carbon instead of carbon dioxide. This can cause acid rain and carbon monoxide is already a deadly gas.

How can you avoid the inhalation of soot given off by burning candles?

Keep a certain safe distance between you and the burning candle.  You can also make sure you have some sort of ventilation (window or door opened). Trimming the wicks of candles every so often will allow the candle to burn “cleaner.”  Avoid using candles in drafty areas, which causes incomplete combustion.

Would you rather blow out a candle or use a snuffer to extinguish it? Explain

Using a snuffer to extinguish a candle prevents smouldering that releases carbon dioxide and carbon to spread into the surrounding living space. The snuffer will collect the soot and prevent the harmful PMs from spreading.

Does wax drip (breakthrough) cause more PM to be released? Explain.

Wax breakthrough is when a candle's wax melts and causes it to drip down its sides. Wax breakthrough is a sign of incomplete combustion which causes the release of more carbon dioxide and carbon.

What suggestions can you provide as alternatives to the lighting of candles, for example, for candle-lit dinners, in bathrooms, etc.?

Educate people - make them aware about how candles can release PM that can affect their health and their environment. Suggest alternatives such as fake candles, and other scented items/products. Consider re-gifting or repurposing, just as part of decor.

What symptoms can one experience if they are constantly exposed to these products of combustion?

Coughing, headaches, drowsiness, nausea, lightheadedness, etc. and long term conditions like asthma and lung cancer.

List other sources that produce similar products given off by the burning candle.

Forest fires, incense burning, cigarette smoking, gas stoves, factories, fireplaces, fossil fueled vehicles (automobiles), oil refineries, and smokestacks. Also, anything petroleum based that is burning.

What types of candles release the least PM or no PM?

Beeswax, coconut blended, or soy candles and salt lamps and fake candles. Beeswax candles are virtually dripless, long lasting. If vegan, try coconut blended  or soy candles.

What types of candles release the most PM?

Paraffin or kerosene based candles and artificially scented candles.

Name the 5 major air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act?

Carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and sulfur dioxide.

Has the overall air quality improved by moving a lot of the manufacturing to other countries? Explain.

The overall air quality of the U.S. has improved, however, moving the manufacturing has only moved the pollution somewhere else; so overall we are still releasing many harmful gasses into the atmosphere. Globally the air is worse.

List some of the industries that affect the quality of the air.

Power plants, wrought iron industries, rubber factories, oil refineries, plastic manufacturers, products that require chemical reactions, heat, and or burning (combustion).

What time of the day can you see the brown haze/pollutants over a city’s skyline? Why?

You can see it early in the morning and in the evening because the sun’s rays or light is at an angle, which is reflecting off the pollutants. Peak hour traffic is the major contributor of pollutants.

Discuss and list ideas for improving air quality (reducing PM at school, at home, nationally, and globally).

Carpooling/public transportation (trains, buses)

• Use of hybrid and electric cars

• Vehicles have pollution control devices (catalytic converters in exhaust systems reduce emissions of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides). Vehicles must pass emissions tests.

• Finding alternative ways to manufacture things

• Putting air filters or scrubbers (release water droplets that are in the form of steam) on smokestacks

• Pollutants can dissolve in water and fall into a container (water contamination likely)

• Stop smoking

• Food preparation (avoid preheating the oven if not essential, thaw out food for a longer time so that you don’t have to spend time thawing it inside the microwave/stove/oven, reduce the use of gadgets)

• Making walkways and bike lanes in order for people to be able to commute without having to use cars. -Have less construction -Using solar power -Put plants around your house and at school -Use less energy in your house -Less aerosol products

List one or two outdoor human activities that may affect the air we may be breathing?

Cigarette smoking, vaping, grilling, factories, industries, farming, construction, motor vehicles, airplanes, war, etc.

List one or two indoor human activities that may affect the air we may be breathing?

Candles, incense, cigarette smoking, vaping, cooking, painting, aerosols (deodorants, perfumes, bug sprays, paint cans), cleaning chemicals, etc.

Have you seen this sign before? Where have you seen it? Who is this message intended for?

Generally on school properties. This sign used to be in the parking lot island where EL and ML carpool splits. It is for motorists (people driving vehicles) to be mindful of not having the engines running because it emits emissions into the air.

You observed the burning or combustion of  a candle is an example of a chemical change. Explain.

The wax starts as a solid, is melted to a liquid, and ultimately heated to a gas that is used for fuel.

Do normal combustion/burning conditions release PM? Explain.

Yes. Normal combustion releases PM but not as much as the experiment we performed because we were causing the PM to accumulate on the test tube instead of letting the PM disperse or escape into the surroundings (surfaces and air). A soothing flame or a smouldering wick produces much higher fine PM.

What is the black substance that is collected on the test tube called?

Soot, which is composed of carbon.

HVAC system

This technology purifies indoor air by deactivating harmful substances like viruses, bacteria, mold and allergens. It is basically recreating the process that takes place in the outdoors. Simultaneously it works to improve the efficiency of our HVAC system, so we can close those windows and keep our heat and A/C inside!

List some places from any part of the world that are good examples of temperature inversion.

California: Visalia, Bakersfield, Fresno , Madera, Hanford, and Sacramento are all nestled at the heart of the Central Valley, where temperature inversion is common.

What is temperature inversion?

Temperature inversion is when warm air forms a layer over cold air, and it creates an air layering affect (fog/smog).

Why does temperature inversion occur?

When the sun goes down, the ground loses heat very quickly, and this cools the air that is in contact with the ground especially at night.