Starter quiz
- Which of the following is a potential source of pollutants?
- car exhaust fumes ✓
- industrial smoke ✓
- power station emissions ✓
- volcanoes ✓
- plants
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- Which pollutant does complete combustion release into the atmosphere?
- carbon monoxide
- carbon particulates
- carbon dioxide ✓
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- When a fuel combusts, which gas from the air does it react with?
- 'oxygen' ✓
- Which of the following pollutants are produced during the incomplete combustion of hydrocarbon fuels?
- carbon monoxide ✓
- carbon particulates ✓
- carbon dioxide
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- If a fuel containing sulfur reacts with oxygen, which of the following is a possible product?
- nitrogen dioxide
- sulfur dioxide ✓
- phosphorus dioxide
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- What is the name given to a chemical that speeds up the rate of a reaction without being used up itself?
- 'catalyst' ✓
Exit quiz
- Name the pollutant which is a colourless, odourless and toxic gas produced by the incomplete combustion of a hydrocarbon fuel.
- 'carbon monoxide' ✓
- Which of the following are problems associated with carbon particulates?
- global dimming ✓
- acid rain
- global warming
- respiratory problems ✓
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- Which of the following is a problem associated with carbon dioxide?
- global dimming
- acid rain
- global warming ✓
- respiratory problems
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- Which of the following pollutants form acids in water?
- carbon monoxide
- carbon particulates
- carbon dioxide ✓
- sulfur dioxide ✓
- nitrogen oxides ✓
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- A ______ is a device which can be fitted to car exhausts to change harmful carbon monoxide and nitrogen monoxide into carbon dioxide and nitrogen.
- 'catalytic converter' ✓
- Which of the following are advantages of using hydrogen fuel in cars rather than petrol?
- It releases more energy per kilogram of fuel. ✓
- The production of hydrogen can release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
- Hydrogen needs to be stored in highly pressurised containers.
- It only produces water when combusted. ✓
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Worksheet
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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.
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.
Keywords
Pollutant - a substance that causes damage to air, water or land
Greenhouse gas - a gas that contributes to global warming by reducing the amount of radiation leaving Earth’s atmosphere
Particulates - tiny solid particles such as soot (C) that can be found in air pollution
Global dimming - a reduction in the amount of radiation reaching Earth’s surface caused by particulates in the atmosphere
Catalytic converter - a device, containing catalysts, that helps reduce the amount of pollutants emitted from car exhausts
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