Photochemical air pollution

Photochemical or air pollution occurs

predominantly in highly motorized areas where
inversion conditions prevail in the atmosphere

It is due to action of two pollutants hydrocarbons

and nitrogen oxides

Sources are exhaust gases and automobiles

they cause damages to plants, cracking of

rubber ,feeding of dyes, eye irritation etc
it's formed due to photochemical
oxidation of hydrocarbons and
nitrogen oxides in the presence of
sunlight

it is observed that during its

formation there is considerable
increase in amount of ozone an
oxidant material

ozone's present only during the Theory of

daytime
formation
Nitrogen dioxide photochemical
reaction
• Ultraviolet light energy absorbed by nitrogen dioxide (N02

• Nitrogen dioxide decompose into nitric oxide and atomic oxygen

• atomic oxygen reacts quickly with molecular oxygen to form ozone

• but unless some other energy absorbent molecule is present this ozone will decompose rapidly

• if there is third body X is present a stable ozone molecule is formed

• If nitric oxide is present it reacts with ozone to form nitrogen dioxide and oxygen molecule

• further in the presence of certain hydrocarbons reaction takes place

• some of the products formed are formaldehyde, peroxides ,proxy acetyl nitrate.
Sulfur dioxide for the chemical
reaction
Effects of eye irritation
photochemical
smog
vegetation damage

visibility reduction

cracking of rubber