AQA · Chemistry · 8462

GCSE Chemistry: Atmospheric pollutants from fuels

Chemistry of the atmosphere · AQA GCSE Chemistry (8462), specification point 4.9.3.1. Cards are generated from the exam board's own specification for "Atmospheric pollutants from fuels", and every card links back to the page it came from. Specification © AQA — used with attribution.

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  1. What is a major source of atmospheric pollutants?

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    The combustion (burning) of fuels.

  2. Which two elements do most fuels, including coal, contain?

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    Carbon and/or hydrogen.

  3. Besides carbon and hydrogen, many fuels also contain some ?, which burns to form sulfur dioxide.

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    sulfur

  4. How is sulfur dioxide produced when a fuel is burned?

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    Sulfur impurities in the fuel react with oxygen during combustion, forming sulfur dioxide (SO₂).

  5. Under what condition is carbon monoxide produced when a fuel burns?

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    Incomplete combustion — when there is not enough oxygen for the carbon to be fully oxidised to carbon dioxide.

  6. How is soot formed when a fuel burns?

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    Incomplete combustion leaves unburned carbon, released as solid carbon particles (soot).

  7. How are oxides of nitrogen produced when fuels are burned?

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    At the high temperatures inside engines/furnaces, nitrogen and oxygen from the air react together to form nitrogen oxides.

  8. Which two products form from the complete combustion of a hydrocarbon fuel?

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    Carbon dioxide and water vapour.

  9. What are particulates in the atmosphere formed from?

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    Solid particles (e.g. soot) and unburned hydrocarbons released when fuels are burned.

  10. Soot released from burning fuels consists of particles of ?.

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    carbon

  11. Name the pollutant gas formed from burning fuels that is toxic and colourless.

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    Carbon monoxide (CO).

  12. What two pieces of information are needed to predict the products of burning a fuel?

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    The composition of the fuel (which elements it contains) and the conditions it is burned in (e.g. how much oxygen is available).

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