nitrogen
monoxide.N2(g) + O2(g)
2NO(g)How does Oil affect the Environment? - Transport.
The High Temperature Combustion of Fossil Fuels
The high
temperature combustion of fuel
(in petrol and diesel
engines used in cars and lorries)
produces toxic gases in addition to carbon
dioxide.
High
temperature combustion of
fossil fuels
causes
nitrogen in the
air to react with
oxygen producing toxic
gases.
nitrogen + oxygen
nitrogen
monoxide.
N2(g) + O2(g)
2NO(g)
As well as being poisonous, nitrogen
monoxide is a
greenhouse gas. It reacts with oxygen in
the air to
form
nitrogen
dioxide (NO2).
NO and NO2
together are called NOx.
NO also reacts with water and oxygen in
the air to
form dilute nitric acid. This contributes to acid rain.
Petrol and diesel
engines also produce poisonous
carbon monoxide and release unburnt hydrocarbons.
All of this pollution is produced at ground level,
mainly in cities where road vehicles gather.
The obvious
solution is to fit road
vehicles with
electric motors rather than
petrol or
diesel
engines.
One day this will happen. In the meantime,
exhausts are fitted
with catalytic
converters
in an attempt to minimize road vehicle pollution.
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