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19/08/2013

COMBUSTION & POLLUTION

N Goalby
Chemrevise.org

Combustion of alkanes
Alkanes make useful fuels - especially the lower members of
the series
react with oxygen in an exothermic reaction
Complete CH4(g) + 2O2(g)
combustion

CO2(g) + 2H2O(l)

The greater the number of carbon atoms, the more energy

produced BUT the greater the amount of oxygen
needed for complete combustion.

Incomplete CH4(g) + 1O2(g)

Combustion CH4(g) + O2(g)

CO(g) + 2H2O(l)
C(s) + 2H2O(l)

If there is restricted supply of oxygen, incomplete combustion occurs.

A smoky, sooty flame is observed owing to formation of carbon
Poisonous carbon monoxide gas may also be produced.

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19/08/2013

Formation of acid rain

1.

Petroleum fractions contain sulphur impurities. The

combustion of these impurities leads to emission of sulphur
oxides (coal is also high in Sulphur content, and large
amounts of sulphur oxides are emitted from power stations.)

S+ O2

SO2

2. Reactions in the atmosphere form SO3

2SO2 + O2 2 SO3
3. SO3 dissolves in atmospheric water to form acid
SO3 + H2O

H2SO4 sulphuric acid

Effects of Acid Rain

Decline in fish populations in rivers
Dissolves minerals Mg, Ca, and K from the soil and waxy
coatings that protect leaves from bacteria
Corrodes metals, textiles, paper and leather
SO2 is also toxic
Removal of SO2 from flue gases
The SO2 can be removed from flue gases by reacting the
SO2 with calcium oxide
SO2 + CaO

CaSO3

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19/08/2013

Pollutants from Burning Alkanes in Internal

Combustion Engine
A variety of nitrogen oxides are formed (general formula NOx).
These are produced from nitrogen in the air reacting with
oxygen. The spark of the engine and the high
temperatures(2500oC) of the engine are enough to meet the
high activation energy of Nitrogen.

Reaction1
Reaction 2

N2 + O2
2NO + O2

2NO
2NO2 (at lower temp)

Carbon monoxide is produced from incomplete combustion

Unburned hydrocarbons are also given out in the exhaust

CATALYTIC CONVERTERS
Catalytic converters remove harmful gases from car
exhausts.
It consists of a honeycomb of ceramic with metals such as
platinum,palladium and rhodium coated on the honeycomb
It removes up to 90% of the harmful gases

Catalytic converter

CO
NOx
C8H18

CO2
N2
H2O

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19/08/2013

EQUATIONS FOR REACTIONS IN THE

CATALYTIC CONVERTER
1. The NO oxidises the CO to CO2
2 CO
+ 2 NO
C8H18 + 25 NO
C8H18

121/2

O2

8 CO2
8

CO2

2 CO2 + N2
+ 12 1/2 N2 + 9 H2O
+ 9 H2O

Catalytic converter

CO
NOx
C8H18

Harmless
gases are
emitted
CO2
N2
H2O

POISONING OF CATALYTIC CONVERTER

Leaded petrol cannot be used in cars fitted
with a catalytic converter since lead strongly
adsorbs onto the surface of the catalyst
Cannot use copper or nickel in a catalytic converter on
a car instead of the expensive platinum or Rhodium
because any SO2 present in the exhaust fumes (trace
amounts ) would poison the catalyst.

Once the catalytic converter has become inactive it cannot be

regenerated