Pollution caused by burning of Fossil Fuels


 
 
Concept Explanation
 

Pollution caused by burning of Fossil Fuels

Fossil fuels: generated from the decomposition of plant and animal matter over millions of years. Coal, oil, and natural gas are fossil fuels.

Use of fossil fuels adds many undesirable substances called pollutants. These adversely affect the life of organisms.  Carbon fuels such as wood, coal , petroleum release unburnt carbon particles in the environment. These particles are very dangerous pollutants and cause respiratory diseases for example asthma.Some of the  main air pollutants are :

  • a) Carbon monoxide
  • b) Carbon dioxide
  • c) Sulphur dioxide
  • d) Soot particles (unburnt particles left after combustion of substances)
  • Acidic Rain : When fossil fuels are burned, they release nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere, which contribute to the formation of acid rain. Oxides of sulphur and nitrogen dissolve in rain water and form acid. Such rain is called acidic rain. It causes skin and breathing problems.

    Global Warming : The phenomenon due to which excessive heat is trapped in the atmosphere because of excessive carbon dioxide, which lead to melting of ice caps, glaciers and resulting in weather changes.

    Higher rise in sea level : With increased global warming melting of glaciers is also occuring at high speed. This melting will result in the flooding of water bodies .The life at the coastal areas get affected the most.

    Oil spills : Materials like petroleum transported  from one place to other  with the help of tanks and ship. Any leakage in these tankers causes oil spills. This issue leads to the water pollution and it become difficult for aquatic organisms to survive.

                    

    Sample Questions
    (More Questions for each concept available in Login)
    Question : 1

    Hydrocarbon burns to produce __________________

    Right Option : A
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    Question : 2

    Two main sources of carbon are :

    Right Option : C
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    Explanation
    Question : 3

    When fossil fuels are burned, they release ___________________  into the atmosphere, which contribute to the formation of acid rain.

    Right Option : A
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    Explanation
     
     


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