Atmospheric pollutants

List some atmospheric pollutants

• Nitrogen Oxides

• carbon dioxide

• carbon monoxide

• sulfur dioxide

explain how Sulphur dioxide is made when fossil fuels

are combusted.(Include the equation)

• Fossil fuels like coal and oil often contain sulphur impurities.

• When these fuels are burned, the sulphur reacts with oxygen in the air.

• This forms Sulphur dioxide, a toxic gas that contributes to acid rain.

✅ Word equation:

Sulphur(S) + Oxygen(O₂) → Sulphur Dioxide(SO₂)

explain how Nitrogen oxides are made when fossil fuels

are combusted.(Include the equation)

• In car engines and power stations, very high temperatures are reached during combustion.

• These high temps cause nitrogen and oxygen(already NO) from the air (not the fuel!) to react.

• This forms a mix of gases called nitrogen oxides, mainly NO and NO₂.

✅ Word equation:

Nitrogen(N₂) + Oxygen(O₂) → Nitric Oxide(2NO)

Nitric oxide (NO) can then react with more oxygen to form nitrogen dioxide (NO₂):

• 2NO + O₂ → 2NO₂

complete combustion

happens when there’s plenty of oxygen, and fossil fuels burn completely, making carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water vapor (H₂O).

Incomplete combustion

occurs when there’s limited oxygen, leading to imperfect burning. This produces carbon monoxide(CO) and soot (carbon-C) instead.

describe how carbon monoxide can be made from the

incomplete combustion of fossil fuels.

• Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, toxic gas.

• It’s produced when there isn’t enough oxygen to form CO₂, so the carbon in the fuel bonds with just one oxygen atom to form CO instead.

✅ Word equation for CO formation:

Fuel + Oxygen → Carbon Monoxide + Water

describe how soot(carbon/airborne particulates) can be made from incomplete combustion of fossil fuels

• Soot is made of fine particles of carbon that are produced when there isn’t enough oxygen to completely oxidize the carbon in the fuel.

• Instead of forming CO₂, the carbon ends up as solid soot particles.

✅ Word equation for soot formation:

Fuel + Oxygen → Soot + Water

What health problems can sulfur dioxide (SO₂) cause?

Respiratory issues (irritates lungs, causes asthma and bronchitis).

What is the impact of nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) on health?

Lung irritation, aggravates asthma, increases risk of lung infections.

What can carbon monoxide (CO) do to your health?

Reduces oxygen in the blood, causes headaches, dizziness, and at high levels, can lead to death.

How does particulate matter (soot) affect health?

Causes lung inflammation, respiratory diseases, and increases risk of cancer.

What’s the long-term impact of exposure to atmospheric pollutants?

Increased risk of heart disease, lung cancer, stroke, and premature death.

What are the social consequences of atmospheric pollution?

1. Health issues (asthma, bronchitis, heart disease).

2. Social inequality as poorer communities are more exposed.

3. Poor quality of life due to pollution.

How does atmospheric pollution impact the economy?

1. Higher healthcare costs for treating diseases caused by pollution.

2. Loss of productivity(in businesses) due to illness and absenteeism.

3. Expensive pollution clean-up and transition to greener technologies.

What are the environmental impacts of atmospheric pollution?

1. Global warming from greenhouse gases.

2. Global dimming by particulates e.g. carbon particulates

3. Acid rain from SO₂ and NOₓ damages ecosystems.

4. Ocean acidification-from CO₂(lowers pH of seawater harming the marine life)

suggest and explain methods to

reduce atmospheric pollution.

1. Switch to renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydropower to reduce the burning of fossil fuels.

   Why? Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrogen oxide(NOₓ) and carbon monoxide(CO)

2. Promote sustainable farming and forestry practices, and encourage reforestation (planting new trees).

   Why? Trees naturally absorb carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere,

Write a balanced symbol equation for the combustion of propane

C₃H₈ + 5O₂ —> 3CO₂ + 4H₂O