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Chapter 19: Problem 4

What are the major secondary pollutants, and how are they formed?

Short Answer

Expert verified
The major secondary pollutants include ozone, formed when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds react in sunlight; sulphuric acid, produced when sulfur dioxide reacts with water vapor and other chemicals in the air; and nitrogen dioxide, formed from emissions from cars, power plants and off-road equipment. These pollutants pose several risks to both health and the environment.

Step by step solution

01

Identify Secondary Pollutants

Identify the major secondary pollutants. Secondary pollutants are not directly released. Instead, they form in the air when primary pollutants react or interact. Some examples are ozone, sulphuric acid, and nitrogen dioxide.
02

Description and Formation of Ozone

Ozone is one of the major secondary pollutants, which forms when sunlight reacts with nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This reaction often happens in the Earth's lower atmosphere, in the presence of heat and sunlight.
03

Description and Formation of Sulphuric Acid

Sulphuric Acid is formed when sulfur dioxide reacts with water vapor and other chemicals in the air. Industrial processes, like the burning of fossil fuels, release sulfur dioxide into the air.
04

Description and Formation of Nitrogen Dioxide

Nitrogen Dioxide forms from emissions from cars, power plants and off-road equipment.
05

Describe Health Effects

It could also be important to describe how these pollutants affect the health and the environment. Ozone, for instance, contributes to smog creation, which can cause respiratory problems in humans.

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