Air Pollution

Topic Content:

Air pollution is the addition of substances like dust, smoke, and soot sulphur(IV) oxide into the air which alters the composition of the atmosphere causing harm to both plants and animals.

Causes of Air Pollution:

The main cause of air pollution is the combustion of fuels such as coal, petrol, gasoline, and gases.

Combustion is a chemical reaction between substances, usually including oxygen and usually accompanied by the generation of heat and light in the form of flame.

1. Particulate Matter [Tiny Solids]: These are solid pollutants emitted by industrial processes, burning of coal, and wood fires. They include smoke, soot, and dust. Lead is another poisonous solid pollutant emitted in the exhaust of motor cars using leaded petrol. Lead dust causes lead poisoning and injury to the nervous system.

2. Oxides of Carbon: An oxocarbon or oxide of carbon is a chemical compound consisting only of carbon and oxygen. The simplest and most common oxocarbons are carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO₂ ).

(a) Carbon(II) oxide, also known as carbon monoxide , is produced by the incomplete combustion of carbon