Question
Describe the major air pollutants. How does carbon monoxide pollute our environment?
✓
Answer
Major air pollutants: Carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, lead, ozone, oxides of nitrogen, sulphur dioxide, suspended particulate matter
Carbon monoxide is a highly poisonous gas.
When inhaled, it passes through the lungs directly into the bloodstream. There it combines with haemoglobin, the substance which carries oxygen to body tissues. Because haemoglobin binds with carbon monoxide more than 200 times more strongly than oxygen, even low concentrations of carbon monoxide in the air have magnified effects on the body.
It reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood by an amount equivalent to the amount of haemoglobin converted to carboxyhaemoglobin.
Haemoglobin + CO → Carboxyhaemoglobin
Because the heart and brain are two organs most sensitive to oxygen depletion, they show the most serious effects of carbon monoxide exposure.
In high concentration, carbon monoxide may kill by paralysing normal brain action.
Carbon monoxide is a highly poisonous gas.
When inhaled, it passes through the lungs directly into the bloodstream. There it combines with haemoglobin, the substance which carries oxygen to body tissues. Because haemoglobin binds with carbon monoxide more than 200 times more strongly than oxygen, even low concentrations of carbon monoxide in the air have magnified effects on the body.
It reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood by an amount equivalent to the amount of haemoglobin converted to carboxyhaemoglobin.
Haemoglobin + CO → Carboxyhaemoglobin
Because the heart and brain are two organs most sensitive to oxygen depletion, they show the most serious effects of carbon monoxide exposure.
In high concentration, carbon monoxide may kill by paralysing normal brain action.
Need a full question paper?
Generate a complete, print-ready paper with questions like this in minutes — across 16+ boards, with answer keys.
Explore more
Similar questions
Two elements $P$ and $Q$ belong to the same period of the modern periodic table and are in group $1$ and group $2$, respectively. Compare the following characteristics in the tabular form.
→- Number of electrons in their atoms
- Their tendency to lose electrons
- Their metallic characters
- Formation of their oxides
- Formulae of their chlorides
Match the atomic numbers 4, 14, 8, 15 and 19 with each of the following:
- A solid non-metal of valency 3.
- A gas of valency 2.
- A metal of valency 1.
- A non-metal of valency 4.
Match the following:
→| Compound | Formula |
| 1. Boric acid | i. $NaOH$ |
| 2. Phosphoric acid | ii. $SiO_2$ |
| 3. Nitrous acid | iii. $Na_2CO_3$ |
| 4. Nitric acid | iv. $KOH$ |
| 5. Sulphurous acid | v. $CaCO_3$ |
| 6. Sulphuric acid | vi. $NaHCO_3$ |
| 7. Hydrochloric acid | vii. $H_2S$ |
| 8. Silica (sand) | viii. $H_2O$ |
| 9. Caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) | ix. $PH_3$ |
| 10. Caustic potash (potassium hydroxide) | x. $CH_4$ |
| 11. Washing soda (sodium carbonate) | xi. $NH_3$ |
| 12. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) | xii. $HCl$ |
| 13. Lime stone (calcium carbonate) | xiii. $H_2SO_3$ |
| 14. Water | xiv. $HNO_3$ |
| 15. Hydrogen sulphide | xv. $HNO_2$ |
| 16. Ammonia | xvi. $H_3BO_3$ |
| 17. Phosphine | xvii. $H_3PO_4$ |
| 18. Methane | xviii. $H_2SO_4$ |
State the main sources and effects of carbon monoxide.
What are cathode rays? How are these rays formed?
How can you say these are chemical changes? Give one reason for your answer.
State the chemicals responsible for ozone layer destruction.
Draw diagrams representing the atomic structures of the following:
- Sodium atom
- Chlorine ion
- Carbon atom
- Oxygen ion
How do you propose to control:
Carbon monoxide emission
Carbon monoxide emission