Atmospheric Pollutants from Fuels Flashcards

All 6 cards in this deck

Which elements are found in most fuels, including coal?

Carbon and/or hydrogen, and some fuels also contain sulfur as an impurity.

Which gases and solids may be released into the atmosphere when a fuel is burned?

Carbon dioxide, water vapour, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen, plus solid particles (soot) and unburned hydrocarbons that form particulates.

How are carbon monoxide and soot (carbon particles) produced when a fuel burns?

By incomplete combustion, because there is insufficient oxygen.

How is sulfur dioxide produced when a fuel such as coal or petrol is burned?

The sulfur impurities in the fuel react with (burn in) oxygen to form sulfur dioxide, $SO_2$.

Why are oxides of nitrogen formed in car engines?

Car engines work at high temperatures, so nitrogen from the air reacts with oxygen from the air.

What are the steps to predict the products of burning a fuel and write the balanced equation?

e.g. methane, $CH_4$, burned in plenty of air

1. Carbon in the fuel gives carbon dioxide, hydrogen gives water vapour (sulfur would give sulfur dioxide): $CH_4 + O_2 \rightarrow CO_2 + H_2O$

2. Balance C, then H, then O: $CH_4 + 2O_2 \rightarrow CO_2 + 2H_2O$

3. In a limited supply of air, give carbon monoxide and/or soot instead of carbon dioxide.