Environmental Chemistry

Air Pollution

Air pollution is fast becoming one of the most eminent problems we are facing. Once what was only considered a nuisance has now become a global crisis. Everything we have learned about air pollution can be expressed in terms of chemistry. The pollutants go through chemical changes in the atmosphere and become toxic to the biosphere. Let us take a look at atmospheric pollution.

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Atmospheric Pollution

We live on the Earth’s surface, in the biosphere. Just above us, enveloping the earth is the atmosphere. The lowest region of this atmosphere is the troposphere. It extends up to 10 km from the Earth’s surface and then comes the stratosphere. Everything from wind currents, cloud formation, precipitation etc happens in this two layers.

Hence most of the air pollution also occurs in these two layers of the atmosphere. Most of the pollution that causes us so many problems transpires in the troposphere. This is what we call atmospheric pollution or tropospheric pollution.

We have already learned that there are various pollutants responsible for the air pollution. In terms of environmental chemistry, these pollutants are broadly divided into two categories – Gaseous Pollutants and Particulate pollutants (solid pollutants). Let us see which specific pollutants we are dealing with.

Atmospheric Pollution

Gaseous Pollutants

1] Carbon Oxides

These are the main culprits of atmospheric pollution. They are also the most recognized air pollutants. The major flaw of oxides of carbon is that they are one of the main pollutants that cause the deadly greenhouse effect on the planet.

Carbon Monoxide is a dangerous, poisonous pollutant that harms our environment in many ways. The major source of CO is incomplete combustion of fossil fuels like coal, wood, charcoal etc. Even exhaust from cars contains small amounts of Carbon Monoxide.

2C + O2 → 2CO

The other carbon oxide and the most well know pollutant in the world is Carbon Dioxide. CO2 is actually an essential element for human survival because plants need it to perform photosynthesis. However it is currently present in our atmosphere and our surroundings, in extremely large quantities, and this is harmful to humans.

Carbon Dioxide is mainly released due to the burning of fossil fuels. This is something we do for nearly everything in our day to day lives. From manufacturing activities to running our cars to launching rockets they all need to burn fossil fuels. This is why it is so hard to control the emissions of CO2.

Download Air Pollution Cheat Sheet PDF

2] Sulphir Oxides

These are another class of pollutants dangerous due to the harm they cause to living beings. Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) in particular is a nasty pollutant that is very dangerous in high concentration. In fact, these pollutants can cause respiratory distress and lung diseases in humans.

One major source for SO2 is the combustion of petroleum products that contain sulphur. Sometimes even charcoal contains traces of sulphur and releases SO2 during combustion. One natural source of Sulphur oxides is volcanic eruptions.

This sulphur dioxide may also get oxidized and turn to SO3. And then when reacted with moisture or water it becomes Sulphuric Acid and precipitates on Earth as Acid Rain.

2SO2 + O2 → 2SO3

SO3 + H2O →H2SO4

3] Nitrous Oxides

Nitrogen is actually the most abundant gas in our atmosphere. It accounts for 78% composition in air. However, oxides of nitrogen are a major pollutant of atmospheric pollution. Just like Carbon dioxide and monoxide, nitrous oxides are also majorly released by vehicle emissions.

One other natural activity that produces nitrogen oxides is lightning. When lightning strikes dioxygen and dinitrogen combine at very high temperatures. Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) is one of the most dangerous pollutants there is. It has a red-brown color that one often sees over traffic jams and in fumes coming out of factories.

N2 + O2 → 2NO

2NO + O2 →2NO2

To humans, it is particularly harmful as it directly attacks our respiratory systems. In high concentrations, it may cause pulmonary oedema & haemorrhage. It is toxic to plants too and slows down their photosynthesis rate.

Particulate Pollutants

Particulate matter is the collective of all solid and liquid particles suspended in the atmosphere which are polluting and harmful to our biosphere. These particles originate and various different sources and are of many sizes and compositions. This particulate matter may originate in this form or can even be caused due to gaseous pollutants reacting with elements and becoming particulate matter.

The size and shape of the particulate matter play a big role in how harmful they are to the atmospheric pollution. Let us take a look at a few of these pollutants.

  • Soot: Incomplete combustion of coal and charcoal always leaves behind a black powder-like substance. This is soot. It is extremely small in size and toxic in nature. It can travel through our windpipe and settle in our lungs. Soot can cause a variety of diseases from Asthma to Bronchitis.  Also, soot contains SO2 and NO2 that form acid rain.
  • Metal Particles: These oxides are formed during metal reactions. These particles react with other compounds in the air like SO2 and become highly toxic. If inhaled by humans they have any ill effects on our health. One main harmful effect is that metal particles will reduce blood’s ability to coagulate quickly, slowing down the process
  • Asbestos Dust: Asbestos is a highly toxic substance. Any activity related to it like manufacturing asbestos sheets or asbestos insulation can release asbestos dust. This is very harmful and a major cause of atmospheric pollution.
  • Dust Particles: Dust particles forming in everyday events or construction or agricultural activities etc is also a pollutant. They attach to other pollutants and become more harmful. In humans, they may cause allergies and other respiratory diseases.

Solved Example for You

Q: Low visibility during cold weather is due to:

  1. formation of fossil fuels
  2. unburnt carbon particles or hydrocarbons suspended in the air
  3. lack of adequate power supply
  4. none of the above

Ans: The correct answer is “B”. The suspended particles like unburnt carbon particles and hydrocarbons mix with smoke and fog, especially in the cold weather and the visibility is lowered. This is smog (Smog = Smoke + Fog).

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