Alkanes are the simplest family of hydrocarbons - compounds containing carbon and hydrogen only.

They only contain carbon-hydrogen bonds and carbon-carbon single bonds.

Alkanes have a 'general' formula: CnH2n+2 Some alkanes: CH4 C2H6 C3H8 C4H10 C5H12 C6H14

Alkanes burn in a plentiful supply of oxygen to release energy (this is why they are used as fuels). Complete Combustion: Combustion also produces carbon dioxide and water vapour. For example, this equation shows the complete combustion of methane: CH4(g) + 2O2(g) CO2(g) + 2H2O(g)

CO2 is a greenhouse gas. Although CO2 is necessary in the atmosphere its level is rising.

Combustion of ethane: C2H6(g) +3 O2(g) 2CO2(g) + 3H2O(g)

These combustion reactions give out heat, and the more carbons present, the greater the heat output.

Examples of fuels: Methane natural gas Petrol- mixture of hydrocarbons of approximate length C8

Incomplete Combustion: If theres not enough oxygen, hydrocarbons combust incompletely, producing carbon monoxide and water. 2CH4(g) + 3O2(g) 2CO(g)+ 4H2O(g) Carbon monoxide is poisonous.

Pollution from burning fuels: Nitrogen oxides are a series of toxic and poisonous molecules which have the general formula NOx . Nitrogen oxide is produced when the high pressure and temperature in a car engine cause the nitrogen and oxygen atoms in the air to react together. N2g) +O2(g) 2NO(g)
Nitrogen oxide can further react to produce nitrogen dioxide:

2NO(g) +O2(g) 2NO2(g)

The internal combustion engine produces most of the pollutants shown previously. All new cars with petrol engines now have catalytic converters in their exhaust systems. These reduce the output of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and unburnt hydrocarbons in the exhaust gas mixture.

The catalytic converter has a honeycomb shape that gives it a large surface area that is coated with platinum and rhodium metals that are the catalysts. As the polluting gases pass over the catalyst, they react with each other to form less harmful products. 2CO (g) + 2NO (g) N2 (g) + 2CO2 (g) 2NO (g) N2 (g) + O2 (g)

Contributes to acid rain. Produced from sulfur containing impurities present in crude oil. The sulfur burns to produce sulfur dioxide gas, which then enters atmosphere and dissolves in water vapour to form sulfuric acid destroys trees/corrodes buildings. Can be removed from waste gases (flue gases) a process known as flue gas desulfurisation.

Removed using calcium oxide: CaO (s) + SO2 (g) CaSO3 (s)

Rising average temperature of Earths atmosphere.