Atmospheric pollutants
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe how pollutants can be produced by impurities in fuels and by incomplete combustion.
Key learning points
- Carbon monoxide gas is toxic.
- Carbon particulates contribute to health issues and global dimming.
- Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are formed through burning fuels, and form acids in water.
- Catalytic converters help complete combustion reactions and the removal of nitrogen monoxide from exhaust gases.
- Hydrogen can be used as a fuel in cars and this has advantages and disadvantages.
Keywords
Pollutant - a substance that causes damage to air, water or land
Greenhouse gas - a gas that contributes to global warming by reducing the amount of radiation leaving Earth’s atmosphere
Particulates - tiny solid particles such as soot (C) that can be found in air pollution
Global dimming - a reduction in the amount of radiation reaching Earth’s surface caused by particulates in the atmosphere
Catalytic converter - a device, containing catalysts, that helps reduce the amount of pollutants emitted from car exhausts
Common misconception
Only industrial activities contribute to atmospheric pollution. Atmospheric pollutants are always visible.
Discuss natural sources of pollutants, like volcanoes. Explain that many harmful pollutants are invisible.
Teacher tip
Carefully hold a white tile over a blue Bunsen burner flame and an orange Bunsen burner flame to show the soot produced from incomplete combustion. A hydrogen balloon explosion could be demonstrated to show the flammability of hydrogen gas.
Licence
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following is a potential source of pollutants?
Q2.Which pollutant does complete combustion release into the atmosphere?
Q3.When a fuel combusts, which gas from the air does it react with?
Q4.Which of the following pollutants are produced during the incomplete combustion of hydrocarbon fuels?
Q5.If a fuel containing sulfur reacts with oxygen, which of the following is a possible product?
Q6.What is the name given to a chemical that speeds up the rate of a reaction without being used up itself?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Name the pollutant which is a colourless, odourless and toxic gas produced by the incomplete combustion of a hydrocarbon fuel.
Q2.Which of the following are problems associated with carbon particulates?
Q3.Which of the following is a problem associated with carbon dioxide?
Q4.Which of the following pollutants form acids in water?
Q5.A is a device which can be fitted to car exhausts to change harmful carbon monoxide and nitrogen monoxide into carbon dioxide and nitrogen.
Q6.Which of the following are advantages of using hydrogen fuel in cars rather than petrol?
To help you plan your 11 chemistry lesson on: Atmospheric pollutants, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 chemistry lesson on: Atmospheric pollutants, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 chemistry lessons from the Atmosphere and changing climate unit, dive into the full secondary chemistry curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.