Environmental Problems

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  • Environmental problems
    • Burning fossil fuels
      • Power stations - make electricity
      • Cars - petrol
      • Fuels like crude oil and coal - carbon and hydrogen
        • During combustion - oxidised - carbon dioxide and water vapour + energy
      • If fuel contains sulfur - sulfur dioxide
      • High temperature - nitrogen oxides
      • Enough oxygen - complete combustion
      • Not enough oxygen - partial combustion - carbon monoxide and soot released
    • Acid rain
      • Sulfur dioxide
        • Mixes with clouds - dilute sulfuric acid - acid rain
      • Lakes - acidic
        • Kills plants and animals
      • Kills trees
      • Damages limestone buildings
      • Ruins stone statues
      • Could cause health issues
      • Reduction
        • Remove sulfur from fuels
          • Expensive
          • More energy needed
            • More CO2
        • Reduce use of fossil fuels
        • Petrol and diesel already being lowered
        • Power stations - acid gas scrubbers - take harmful gases out
    • Carbon dioxide
      • Level in atmosphere - increasing
        • Large amounts of fossil fuels burnt
        • Increasing Earth's average temp
    • Global dimming
      • Less sunlight reaching the earth
      • Could be caused by particles of soot and ash
    • Alternative fuels
      • Ethanol
        • Pros
          • CO2 released is taken in by plant as it grows - carbon neutral
          • Onlyother product - water
        • Cons
          • Engines have to be converted
          • Not widely available
          • Farmers may switch to growing ethanollants - increase in food price
        • Produced from biofuel - fermentation - power cars -mixed with petrol
      • Biodiesel
        • Biofuel - vegetable oils - mixed with diesel for diesel engines
        • Pros
          • Carbon neutral
          • Engines don't have to be converted
          • Less sulfur dioxide
        • Cons
          • Can't make enoigh to replace diesel
          • Expensive
          • Increase food prices
      • Hydrogen gas
        • Power vehicles - Hydrogen from electrolysis of water - Renewable
        • Cons
          • Special expensive engine
          • Isn't widely available
          • Energy from another source to make
          • Hard to store
        • Pros
          • Water is the only waste product - clean

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