Contents
What is the chemical formula of smog?
Composition of Photochemical Smog NO2+hν→NO+O. This is a continual cycle that leads only to a temporary increase in net ozone production. To create photochemical smog on the scale observed in Los Angeles, the process must include Volatile organic compounds (VOC’s).
What is the chemistry behind smog?
Photochemical smog is produced when sunlight reacts with oxides of nitrogen and at least one volatile organic compound (VOC) in the atmosphere. The chemical formation of air-borne particles and ground-level ozone takes place in the sunlight. Paints, gasoline and many cleaning solvents release VOCs into the atmosphere.
What are the main ingredients of LA smog?
These primary pollutants include nitrogen oxides, particularly nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and volatile organic compounds. The relevant secondary pollutants include peroxylacyl nitrates (PAN), tropospheric ozone, and aldehydes.
What is smog and its types?
Smog, community-wide polluted air. At least two distinct types of smog are recognized: sulfurous smog and photochemical smog. Sulfurous smog, which is also called “London smog,” results from a high concentration of sulfur oxides in the air and is caused by the use of sulfur-bearing fossil fuels, particularly coal.
Who has coined the term smog?
physician Harold Des Veaux
London, England, physician Harold Des Veaux coined the word smog in 1905 to describe natural fog contaminated by smoke: smoke + fog yielded smog.
How does smog cause pollution?
Ground level ozone is created when sunlight reacts with certain chemicals that come from sources of burning fossil fuels, such as factories or car exhaust. When particles in the air combine with ozone, they create smog. Smog is a type of air pollution that looks like smoky fog and makes it difficult to see.
What are the ingredients in the formation of smog?
Haagen-Smit went on to discover that nitrogen oxides from automotive exhausts and gaseous hydrocarbons from cars and oil refineries, exposed to sunlight, were key ingredients in the formation of ozone and photochemical smog.
What makes up photochemical smog in the atmosphere?
Photochemical smog, often referred to as summer smog, is the chemical reaction of sunlight, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere, which leaves airborne particles and ground-level ozone. Photochemical smog depends on primary pollutants as well as the formation of secondary pollutants.
Where does the nitrogen oxide in smog come from?
Nitrogen oxides come from car exhaust, coal power plants, and factory emissions. VOCs are released from gasoline, paints, and many cleaning solvents. When sunlight hits these chemicals, they form airborne particles and ground-level ozone —or smog. Ozone can be helpful or harmful.
Where does most of the smog in the world come from?
Today, most of the smog we see is photochemical smog. Photochemical smog is produced when sunlight reacts with nitrogen oxides and at least one volatile organic compound (VOC) in the atmosphere. Nitrogen oxides come from car exhaust, coal power plants, and factory emissions.