Car exhaust contains NO and CO

1. Car exhaust contains NO and CO Why are these pollutants harmful? Write a word equation for the reaction between NO and CO. What products would be formed? If you can do this, try to write a balanced chemical equation too. This reaction occurs very slowly, but it can be speeded up by a device fitted to a car exhaust. What is this device caused?

2. Catalysts • Chemical reactions happen when particles collide with enough energy • The amount of energy needed is called the activation energy and is different for each reaction • Catalysts speed up reactions by allowing the reaction to happen a different way which needs a lower activation energy B energy activation energy 2CO + 2NO A 2CO2 + N2 C Progress of reaction

3. Reactions in a catalytic converter energy • In a catalytic converter, the reaction between NO and CO is faster as less energy is needed to start it • The catalyst used is a metal, often platinum activation energy 2CO + 2NO activation energy with catalytic converter 2CO2 + N2 Progress of reaction

4. Inside the catalytic converter • Inside the catalytic converter is a honeycomb structure with a thin layer of metal on top 2CO2 + N2 2CO + 2NO Why is the metal coating thin? Why is a honeycomb structure used?

5. Reducing emissions from power stations: SO2 First, sulfur dioxide reacts with water to make sulfuric acid (H2SO4) Then, sulfuric acid reacts with calcium carbonate (CaCO3) to make calcium sulfate (CaSO4), water and carbon dioxide

6. Removing particulates • Particulate carbon can also be removed • Watch out technophiles: you have studied carbon capture technology, but your examiner thinks there is no way to reduce CO2 emissions apart from burning less fossil fuels. Don’t confuse them by showing you know better...