Environmental Reactions and Issues

Reactions and Environmental Issues

• Oil spills affect large areas.
• Oil spreads over water in a thin layer, requiring a quick response to minimize environmental damage.
• Oil is a mixture of many chemicals, some evaporating and others forming a thick, sticky residue.

Cleaning up Oil Spills

• Initial containment methods use special materials to absorb oil (e.g., specialized green materials).
• Chemicals and biological agents can help break down oil molecules.
• Environmentally conscious approaches are preferred.

Treating Car Exhaust

• Burning fossil fuels (for heating, energy, and transport) involves gasoline reacting with oxygen in car engines.
• Complete combustion produces carbon dioxide and water.
• Incomplete combustion produces harmful carbon monoxide and soot due to insufficient oxygen.

Forming Nitrogen Oxides

• High temperatures in car engines promote the formation of nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2).
• Nitrogen reacts with oxygen to produce these oxides, contributing to smog and ground-level ozone formation.

Catalytic Converters

• Catalytic converters reduce harmful exhaust emissions.
• Precious metals (platinum, palladium) act as catalysts to decompose nitrogen and oxygen.
• Catalysts speed up the reaction, converting unburned gasoline to carbon dioxide and water.
• Ceramic converters with a large surface area enhance reactions.

Recovering Gold

• Gold mining involves reactions with cyanide ions (CN−) and zinc metal (Zn).
• These reactions produce a soluble gold compound, which can be separated from the ore (rock).
• Cyanide compounds are highly toxic.
• The gold is then extracted from the solution using zinc.

Cleaning and Disinfecting Pools

• Chemicals are used to prevent bacterial growth in pools, often using chlorine-releasing agents.
• Different types of chlorinating agents should not mix to prevent potential hazards. Always check material safety data sheets (MSDS) before use.
• Improper use or mixing of cleaning chemicals can cause explosions, corrosions or other harmful effects, and may be poisonous.

This quiz covers environmental reactions related to oil spills and car exhaust. It examines the effects of these pollutants and the methods used for cleanup and treatment. Test your knowledge on the chemistry involved and the environmental implications of these reactions.