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Fossil fuels release carbon dioxide, that has been locked away for millions of years, into the atmosphere.

Chemistry - Fuels and Pollution (AQA)

In GCSE Chemistry you explore fuels, how they burn, and the pollution they create. Learn how catalytic converters and cleaner fuels help cut harmful gases from engines.

Explore the Topic →

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Fascinating Fact:

Catalytic converters turn CO and NOx into carbon dioxide and nitrogen. They also oxidise unburned hydrocarbons.

In GCSE Science (Chemistry), you learn how burning fuels releases energy but also produces harmful gases. The topic covers pollutants from engines, how catalytic converters work, and ways to reduce their impact on air quality.

Key Terms

Catalytic converter: A device in a car exhaust that speeds up reactions changing harmful gases into less harmful ones before they enter the air.
Carbon monoxide (CO): A colourless, odourless, poisonous gas formed by incomplete combustion of fuels.
Nitrogen oxides (NOx): Gases made from nitrogen and oxygen in hot engines, which can contribute to acid rain and breathing problems.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What pollutants are produced when car engines burn fossil fuels?

When car engines burn fossil fuels they can produce carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, unburned hydrocarbons and tiny particulate particles, depending on the fuel and engine conditions.

Why are catalytic converters important for car exhausts?

Catalytic converters are important because they help change poisonous exhaust gases into less harmful ones. They reduce levels of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and leftover fuel molecules before they reach the atmosphere.

How can pollution from road transport be reduced in GCSE Science?

Pollution can be reduced by using catalytic converters, choosing low-sulfur or cleaner fuels, improving engine efficiency, maintaining vehicles properly, and switching to hybrid or electric vehicles where possible.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

One of the pollutants from burning fossil fuels is carbon dioxide. To which of the following environmental issues does it contribute?

The hole in the ozone layer

Acid rain

Global dimming

Global warming

Levels of CO₂ have risen sharply since the second world war

2 .

What are biofuels?

Fuels made from animals

Fuels made only from plants

Fuels made from any living thing or its waste

Fuels made only from animal dung

Biofuels can be made from plants or plant and animal waste as it rots down producing methane gas

3 .

Why is carbon dioxide from fossil fuels a particular issue?

It is slightly radioactive

It is more polluting than the carbon dioxide breathed out by animals

Plants can't absorb it

It was locked away millions of years ago and so is adding to that which is present in the air today

This upsets the balance as the number of plants living on the Earth cannot remove it as fast as it is being added. Too much CO₂ in the air could lead to a 'runaway' greenhouse effect which would kill off most of the life on Earth

4 .

Why is burning biofuels less of a problem than burning fossil fuels?

They don't produce any CO₂ when they burn

They are renewable and don't release carbon locked away millions of years ago

They are cheaper and easier to produce when compared to fossil fuels

All of the above

Although burning biofuels does release carbon dioxide, burning them is 'carbon neutral' because the amount of carbon dioxide released when they are used is the same as the amount absorbed by the plants as they grew. But they are not quite carbon neutral overall as fossil fuels need to be burned in order to grow and make them

5 .

Which one of the following could be an ethical argument against growing plants for biofuels?

Farmers would earn more money

You need a lot more people to produce biofuels than fossil fuels

It could make fuel prices lower

It could increase food prices or cause food shortages

Land that could be used to grow food crops might be used to provide the raw materials for biofuels instead

6 .

Which impurity in fuels causes acid rain when it burns?

Carbon

Hydrogen

Soot

Sulfur

This burns to form sulfur dioxide. Low sulfur fuel is available at many petrol stations, especially in big cities where there are lots of cars

7 .

Which of the following is a balanced equation that shows how sulfur dioxide is formed?

S + O → SO

S + 2O → S2O

S + O₂ → SO₂

2S + O₂ → 2SO₂

This type of question tests if you can get a formula from the name of a chemical and recognise a balanced equation

8 .

Apart from sulfur, what else from burning fuels is a major contributor to acid rain?

Carbon monoxide

Di-hydrogen oxide

Unburnt fuel

Nitogen oxides

At the high temperatures inside vehicle engines, even the normally unreactive nitrogen is converted to nitrogen oxides. These are highly acidic

9 .

Which of the following might be directly caused by burning fuels?

Respiratory system problems

Bladder problems

Broken bones

Indigestion

Many of the gases produced by burning fuels are irritants to the lungs

10 .

Which of the following products of burning fuels could be responsible for global dimming?

Tiny solid particles

Water vapour

Carbon dioxide

Nitrogen oxides

These particles reflect some of the Sun's heat back into space, reducing the apparent effects of global warming. You might see this as a good thing but what happens when laws to reduce the amount of this type of pollution take effect?

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Crude oil, hydrocarbons and alkanes - AQA

Author: Kev Woodward (PGCE, Science & Chemistry Teacher, Quiz Writer)