Air Pollution

- Fossil fuels contain hydrocarbons - during combustion, the carbon and hydrogen are oxidised so carbon dioxide and water vapour are released into the atmosphere

- Plenty of oxygen menas complete combustion - not enough oxygenmenas some fuel doesnt burn, which is incomplete combustion - particulates made of soot and unburned hydrocarbons are released and carbon monoxide can be poduced as well as carbon dioxide

- If particulates are inhaled, they can get stuck in the lungs and lead to respiratory problems

- Particulates, and the clouds they help produce, reflect sunlight back into space, which leads to global dimming

- Can stop blood from carrying oxygen around the body - binds to haemoglobin in your blood, which normally carries oxygen, so less oxygen is able to be transported around the body

- Lack of oxygen in blood can lead to fainting, a coma or even death

- Doesn't have a colour or smell so is very hard to detect

- Sulfur dioxide is released during combustion of fossil fuels that contain sulfur impurities (coal) - sulfur in fuel becomes oxidised

- Nitrogen oxides are created from a reaction between nitrogen and oxygen in air, caused by the heat of burning - happens in internal combustion engines of cars

- When gases mix with water in clouds they form dilute sulfuric acid and dilute nitric acid, which falls as acid rain

- Acid rain kills plants and damages buildings and statues

- Acid rain also corrodes metal

- Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides can be bad for human health and cause respiratory problems

- Test for sulfur impurities in a fuel by bubbling combustion gases through a universal indicator solution - if sulfur is present, the gases will contain sulfur dioxide and form sulfuric acid, which will turn the indicator red