Pollution Patrol

What comes out of the chimney

Burning fuels does more than release carbon dioxide. It also produces harmful pollutants, and you must match each one to what it does. Carbon monoxide comes from incomplete burning and is a toxic gas. Particulates, or soot, are tiny bits of unburned fuel. Sulfur dioxide comes from sulfur that was in the fuel. Oxides of nitrogen form in the great heat inside an engine. Each of these causes a different problem, from poisoning to acid rain. This module covers where each pollutant comes from and the specific harm it does.

Pollutant words

Learn these before you match any pollutant, and tie each one to its own effect.

Two ways pollutants form

The pollutants come from different causes when a fuel burns. Sorting them by cause helps you remember them.

How to match pollutant to harm

Never lump the pollutants together. Take each one and name its own effect. The toxic gas from incomplete burning poisons because it takes the place of oxygen in the blood. The tiny solid bits dim the sunlight and harm breathing. The gas from sulfur in the fuel, and the gas made in engine heat, both turn rain acidic and irritate the lungs. Match each pollutant to its exact harm rather than saying they are all just bad for you.

Match the pollutant to its effect

Why is carbon monoxide dangerous?

A faulty heater fills a room with carbon monoxide. Why is this so dangerous?

• It binds to haemoglobin, so the blood carries less oxygen.
• It turns the rain acidic.
• It blocks sunlight and dims the sky.
• It has a strong smell that overpowers people.

What causes acid rain?

Select the TWO pollutants that cause acid rain.

• Sulfur dioxide
• Oxides of nitrogen
• Carbon monoxide
• Particulates

Count the pollutants left

There are 4 main pollutants from burning fuels to learn: carbon monoxide, particulates, sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen. A student can already name 1 of them. Subtract to find how many are still to be learned. What is the answer?

Order how carbon monoxide harms

Put the steps by which carbon monoxide harms a person in order, earliest first.

• A fuel burns with too little oxygen
• Carbon monoxide gas forms
• A person breathes the gas in
• It binds to haemoglobin so the blood carries less oxygen

Complete the facts

A toxic, colourless gas from incomplete burning is carbon _____. Tiny solid bits of soot in the air are called _____. A gas from sulfur in the fuel that causes acid rain is sulfur _____. Acid rain is also caused by oxides of _____.

Match the pollutant to its source

Spot the true pollutant facts

Tap the TWO statements that are true about atmospheric pollutants.

• Carbon monoxide is toxic and binds to haemoglobin
• Sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen cause acid rain
• Carbon monoxide is the main cause of acid rain
• Particulates make the air cleaner and clearer

Name the pollutant

Read each case and choose the pollutant it describes.

• Rain has turned acidic and is damaging trees and buildings near a coal power station that burns fuel containing sulfur. Which pollutant is chiefly to blame?
• A colourless, odourless gas from a blocked flue is making people drowsy because their blood cannot carry enough oxygen. Which pollutant is this?
• Tiny black specks of soot from traffic are dimming the sunlight over a city and worsening breathing problems. Which pollutant is this?

Explain the pollutants

Explain where carbon monoxide, particulates, sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen come from and the specific harm each one does.

• Explain where carbon monoxide comes from and why it is dangerous
• Explain what particulates are and the problems they cause
• Explain the source and effect of sulfur dioxide
• Explain how oxides of nitrogen form and what they cause