Air Pollution

Coal, oil and gas are used as fuels, because their combustion reactions are very
exothermic. Billions of tones of these fuels are burned every year. The
products of combustion depend on whether the combustion is complete or
incomplete and also whether there are any impurities present.

Carbon based pollutants

When methane gas burns in a plentiful supply of air or oxygen, complete
combustion takes place, forming carbon dioxide and water. Carbon dioxide is a
greenhouse gas and contributes to global warming.

CH4 + 2O2 CO2 + 2H2O ΔH = -890 kJ.mol-1

Methane is a hydrocarbon and when you burn it completely on your cooker at

home there are no impurities. However, when the supply of air or oxygen is
restricted, incomplete combustion of alkanes takes place, forming water
together with carbon monoxide or even carbon.

Bunsen burners, which are intended for use in open laboratories, produce carbon
when combustion is incomplete (the luminous flame obtained when the air hole is
closed is sooty).
CH4 + O2 C + 2H2O

The design of gas fires is such that if the flue becomes blocked, restricting the
air supply, incomplete combustion takes place to form carbon monoxide. Carbon
monoxide is toxic. Every year there are a number of accidental deaths caused
by carbon monoxide from poorly maintained gas fires and central heating
boilers.

CH4 + 11/2O2 CO + 2H2O

Carbon monoxide binds irreversibly to haemoglobin in the blood to prevent the

transport of oxygen.

Sulphur based pollutants

Sulphur-containing compounds are also often present as impurities in coal and

alkanes obtained by the fractional distillation of crude oil. When these
hydrocarbons are burned in air or oxygen, the sulphur is oxidised to sulphur
dioxide, SO2, and possibly to sulphur trioxide, SO3. Both these oxides are toxic
and also dissolve in atmospheric moisture, causing acid rain. This happens on a
massive scale when power stations burn fossil fuels to produce electricity. Acid
rain can cause problems with the respiratory system as well as damaging building
made of limestone or structures made of some metals such as iron. Acid rain can
also cause river water to become acidic which can kill fish and plants.
Flue Gas Desulphurisation is a process used to prevent SO 2 escaping into the
atmosphere. Waste gases containing SO 2 are passed through a flue (chimney)
containing calcium oxide (CaO) which absorbs the SO 2 producing calcium sulphite
(CaSO3).

CaO + SO 2 CaSO3

This can easily be oxidised to to make hydrated calcium sulphate (CaSO 4), also
known as gypsum, which is used to make plasterboard for the building industry.

Nitrogen based pollutants

The principal products of the internal combustion engine (where petrol is

burned) are also carbon dioxide and water but, since a car engine often reaches
temperature in excess of 2000 oC, nitrogen oxides are produced when oxygen
and nitrogen gases in the air react together.

N2 + O2 2NO

On cooling and in the presence of more oxygen, nitrogen oxide reacts to form
other oxides of nitrogen (NOx), especially nitrogen dioxide, NO2.

2NO + O2 2NO2

With water and more oxygen, nitrogen dioxide reacts to form nitric acid, which
contributes to acid rain.

4NO2 + 2H2O + O2 4HNO3

Oxides of nitrogen are irritant, toxic gases. They combine with unburned
hydrocarbons in the presence of sunlight to form photochemical smog. This is a
particular problem in Los Angeles.

Catalytic Converters

Catalytic converters are fitted to the exhaust systems of cars to remove

pollutant gases. They consist of a honeycomb of ceramic material which is
coated with a thin layer of a catalyst containing platinum (Pt) and rhodium (Rh).
Up to 90% of pollutant gases are removed.

The catalyst system catalyses two important reactions:

 nitrogen monoxide is turned into oxygen and nitrogen. This is a
REDUCTION
 2NO N 2 + O2

 carbon monoxide is turned into carbon dioxide. This is an OXIDATION

2CO + O2 2CO2

Lead based pollutants

For many years, lead compounds were added to petrol to help the engine run
more smoothly and quietly. However, lead is a very toxic metal and can cause
brain damage as well as damage to other organs. It was banned as a petrol
additive in many countries including the UK in the 1990’s but not worldwide. You
could still be breathing in compounds containing lead when you travel to certain
countries.