ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS DUE TO FOSSIL FUEL COMBUSTION

COMBUSTION REACTION

Wood +Oxygen .… + Heat (Exothermic reaction)

Hydrocarbons (H, C and other components)

COMPLETE COMBUSTION REACTION

Example:+ ENERGY

Activity 1

According to text, answer the questions below:

•What is combustion reaction?

•Which molecule does the combustion reaction need to burn a hydrocarbon?

• What is a hydrocarbon?

•Which are the products produced in a complete combustion reaction?

Activity 2 Write a cross, if next sentences are true or false according to the text. Correct the false sentences.

SENTENCE TRUE FALSE

1. Combustion reaction needs the molecule of nitrogen.

2. An exothermic reaction produces energy (heat).

3. An hydrocarbon is always composed by hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen.

4. Complete combustion reactions produce: water, carbon monoxide and heat.

Corrections:1.2.3.4.

Answers SENTENCE TRUE FALSE

1. Combustion reaction needs the molecule of nitrogen. X

2. An exothermic reaction produces energy (heat). X

3. An hydrocarbon is always composed by hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen. X

4. Complete combustion reactions produce: water, carbon monoxide and heat. X

Corrections:1. Combustion reaction needs the molecule of oxygen.3. An hydrocarbon is always composed by carbon and hydrogen.4. Complete combustion reactions produce, water, carbon dioxide and heat.

REAL COMBUSTION REACTION

Hydrocarbons used are not pure hydrocarbons and combustion with air (no Oxygen)

SOX (sulphur oxides) → Fossil fuel (sulphur from Earth)NOX (nitrogen oxides) → Combustion with air (78% of Nitrogen)Other products (CO, Particulates matter, volatile organic compounds, etc) → Bad combustions

Hydrocarbon + Air CO2 + H2O + HEAT + SOx + NOx + Other products (CO …)

Activity 3. Fill in the gaps:

Real combustion reaction 

Hydrocarbons used are not pure hydrocarbons and combustion with ______ (no Oxygen). When a pure __________ is burnt with oxygen it releases heat, _________ dioxide and ________. The carbon dioxide is a green house gas that increases the global warming. However, fuels such as coal and oil are not pure hydrocarbons, they contain other substances too. For example, coal contains sulphur. When coal is burnt, the ____________ reacts with air to form sulphur dioxide, one of the chemical compounds that causes _______ rain. So that complete combustion is almost _____________ to achieve. In reality, as actual ____________ reactions come to equilibrium, a wide variety of major and minor species will be present such as carbon monoxide and pure carbon. Bad combustions produce substances that in some areas with no enough ventilation produce chemical fog that is quite dangerous for the health (respiratory problems). Additionally, any combustion in ________________air, which is 78% nitrogen, will also create several forms of _____________ oxides that produce acid rain in contact with the atmospheric water.

 Hydrocarbons + Air CO2 + H2O + HEAT + SOx + NOx + Other products (CO …)SOX (sulphur oxides) → Fossil fuel (sulphur from earth)

NOX (nitrogen oxides) → Combustion with air (78% of Nitrogen)

Other products (CO, Particulates matter, volatile organic compounds, etc) → Bad combustions 

hydrocarbon impossible nitrogen air petrol acid 

atmospheric water combustion carbon greenhouse sulphur 

Activity 3. ANSWERS

Real combustion reaction 

Hydrocarbons are not pure hydrocarbons and combustion with air (no Oxygen). When a pure hydrocarbon is burnt with oxygen it releases heat, carbon dioxide and water . The carbon dioxide is a green house gas that increases the global warming. However, fuels such as coal and oil are not pure hydrocarbons, they contain other substances too. For example, coal contains sulphur. When coal is burnt, the sulphur reacts with air to form sulphur dioxide, one of the chemicals that causes acid rain. So that complete combustion is almost impossible to achieve. In reality, as actual combustion reactions come to equilibrium, a wide variety of major and minor species will be present such as carbon monoxide and pure carbon. Bad combustions produce substances that in some areas with no enough ventilation produce chemical fog that is quite dangerous for the health (respiratory problems). Additionally, any combustion in atmospheric air, which is 78% nitrogen, will also create several forms of nitrogen oxides that produce acid rain in contact with the atmospheric water.

  Hydrocarbon + Air CO2 + H2O + HEAT + SOx + NOx + Other products (CO …)

SOX (sulphur oxides) → Fossil fuel (sulphur from earth)

NOX (nitrogen oxides) → Combustion with air (78% of Nitrogen)

Other products (CO, Particulates matter, volatile organic compounds, etc) → Bad combustions

ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

GLOBAL WARMING (Greenhouse effect)

•Carbon dioxide (CO2) - A greenhouse gas emitted from combustion but is also a gas vital to living organisms. It is a natural gas in the atmosphere .

•Volatile organic compounds – VOCs, for instance methane (CH4). Effect varies depending on local air quality.

CAUSES EFFECTS

ACID RAIN

CAUSES EFFECTS

CHEMICAL FOG

•PARTICULATE MATTER - Particulates alternatively referred to as particulate matter (PM) or fine particles, are tiny particles of solid or liquid suspended in a gas.

•VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOC) - Some of them as for instance the aromatic compounds benzene, toluene and xylem are suspected carcinogens.

•CARBON MONOXIDE (CO) - Is a colourless, odourless, non-irritating but very poisonous gas. It is a product by incomplete combustion of fuel such as natural gas, coal or wood. Vehicular exhaust is a major source of carbon monoxide.

EFFECT

COMBUSTION

Activity 4. JigsawANSWERSNitrogen oxides (NOx)P.M. & Volatile organic compoundsAirWaterSulphur oxides (SOx)Fossil fuelsCarbon dioxideHarms trees and lakesHeatCombustionLethalClimate changesSulphur acidsChemical fogGreenhouse effectDamage buildingsIncrease of Earth’s surface temperatureCarbon monoxide (CO)Nitric acidRespiratory problemsGlobal warmingAcid rain

COMBUSTION

HEAT SOx

NOx

CARBON DIOXIDECO

PM & VOC

SULPHUR ACIDS

NITRIC ACID

WATER

GREENHOUSE EFFECT

GLOBAL WARMINGGLOBAL

WARMINGCHEMICAL FOG

CHEMICAL FOG

RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS

LETHAL INCREASE OF EARTH SURFACE TEMPERATURE

CLIMATE CHANGE

HARMS TRESS AND

LAKES

DAMAGE BUILDINGS

Activity 4. JigsawANSWERSNitrogen oxides (NOx)P.M. & Volatile organic compoundsAirWaterSulphur oxides (SOx)Fossil fuelsCarbon dioxideHarms trees and lakesHeatCombustionLethalClimate changesSulphur acidsChemical fogGreenhouse effectDamage buildingsIncrease of Earth’s surface temperatureCarbon monoxide (CO)Nitric acidRespiratory problemsGlobal warmingAcid rain

AIR

FOSSIL FUELS

ACID RAIN

YOUR PARTNER’S NAME: What to evaluate:

COULD BE BETTER SATISFACTORY GOOD VERY GOOD

Follow the roles

Participation in discussion

Clear reason explanations

Oral structures and spelling

Follow the roles

Participation in discussion

Clear reason explanations

Oral structures and spelling

Follow the roles

Participation in discussion

Clear reason explanations

Oral structures and spelling

PEER EVALUATION ACTIVITY 4. Your name ____________________________________________

Activity 5

- Global warming- Carbon dioxide-Greenhouse effect

-Acid rain-Sulphur or Nitrogen oxides-Harms trees and destroys buildings

-Chemical fog-PM & VOC-Respiratory problems

- Global warming- Carbon dioxide-Greenhouse effect

-Acid rain-Sulphur or Nitrogen oxides-Harms trees and destroys buildings

-Chemical fog-PM & VOC-Respiratory problems

-Acid rain-Sulphur or Nitrogen oxides-Harms trees and destroys buildings

- Global warming- Carbon dioxide-Greenhouse effect

- Global warming- Carbon dioxide-Greenhouse effect

-Acid rain-Sulphur or Nitrogen oxides-Harms trees and destroys buildings

Activity 5. ANSWERS

Activity 6

HELP

The use of fossil fuels like

natural gas

can produce

environmental problems such as

acid rain

global warming

cancer

chemical fog

due to

CO2

SOx

NOx

bad combustions

coal

oil health problems such as

Activity 6. Optional. Domino game.

ROLES:

•The game is for two or four players.

•The 20 pieces of domino are given to the students. Each student must have the same quantity of pieces.

•One student starts by laying any domino down, face up.

•The player to the left plays the next domino so that the Environmental Problems due to the Combustion of Fossil Fuels on the new domino matches with the cause that produces it on the previous domino.

•The game continues with players matching the dominoes in their hand with the dominoes that have already been laid.

•If a player cannot match a domino they must say “Pass” and allow the player on their left to continue the game.

•The game continues in this way until one player has played all their dominoes.

•Any player may challenge another player if they think the pieces don’t match.

•The game can also finish when there are no more possibilities to match pieces.

•The match should be checked by the teacher, and if the match is wrong the player who laid the wrong domino loses three points. If the match is correct then the player who made the challenge loses three points.

•The player who has more points will have a 10 in teacher score of activity 6, the second 9, etc.

Activity 7Write five advantages or disadvantages of using fossil fuels

Activity 8Answer these questions:

•What’s the greenhouse effect?The greenhouse effect is ….

•Why do power stations powered by fossil fuels increase global warming?Power stations powered by fossil fuel increase global warming because …..

•How is acid rain produced?The acid rain is produced when …

•What are some effects of the acid rain?Some effects of the acid rain are ….

•How is the chemical fog produced?The chemical fog is produced by …..

Activity 9Compare your answers with the group next t0 you and write down the answers that are different

HELP:

‘In our opinion ….’ OR ‘From our point of view …’

HELP: LANGUAGE OPINIONS

GIVING OPINIONS TO COMPARE ANSWERSWhat do you think about…?What is your opinion about …?Why do/does/did …?What are your answers in ….?In my opinion …From my point of view …I think …I answered ….I think so.I don’t think so.I agree.I don’t agree. I disagree.Give me a reason for that.

What do you think

acid rain is?

I I think acid rain is … And in your opinion, what acid

rain effects are?

I think so!!! I answered that acid rain produces …

In my opinion, err; I’m sorry I didn’t study enough!!!

PRACTICE AND WRITE YOUR COMPARISONS

You can add more bubbles.

Activity 10

Build a word search with 12 squares in each side and hide 10 words you have studied in this unit.

To help find these words write questions.

Example: Word ‘hydrocarbon’ : Question: What is the name of a chemical compound composed by hydrogen, carbon and other components?

FOLLOW NEXT INSTRUCTIONS:

1.Choose a theme for the title.

2. Each student has to make a list of 8 questions in relation to the title. The answer to each question will be the words that appear in the word search.

3. Compare and select the best 10 questions from the group.

4. Open a new ‘Microsoft Word’ document.

5. Make a beautiful title with ‘Word Art’.

6. Make a table with 12 columns and 12 rows under the title.

7. Select the table, centre it, and use ‘Arial narrow’, size 11.

8. Write the words in the table in different directions: across/down, diagonally, and forwards/backwards.

9. Complete the table with mixed letters to hide the words.

10. Under this first table, make another table with 1 column and 1 row. In this last table, write the ten questions you chose.

11. Print the final document; remember to write your names.

Questions:

Word search

Activity 12

(Work in groups of six).You are going to take part in a role-play between different members of a United Nations committee. You will be discussing the greenhouse effect. There are six people on this committee and each person has specialist knowledge on the greenhouse effect, together with strong ideas and opinions. Your role-play character’s name is at the top of the piece of paper. Read your role carefully, and then make a list of the main views and concerns of your character. Try to remember these. Elect a chairperson for each group. The chairperson starts the discussion with everybody introducing themselves to the group (name, who they work for, etc) and giving their thoughts on the greenhouse effect. Each person can then say who they agree with and who they disagree with, and why.  HELP: You can use the expressions given in activity 9 and/or some expressions similar to the ones that appear in HELP GENERAL GRAMMAR.

YOUR PARTNER’S NAME: What to evaluate:

COULD BE BETTER SATISFACTORY GOOD VERY GOOD

Follow the roles

Participation in discussion

Clear reasoned explanations

Oral structures and spelling

Follow the roles

Participation in discussion

Clear reasoned explanations

Oral structures and spelling

Follow the roles

Participation in discussion

Clear reasoned explanations

Oral structures and spelling

Follow the roles

Participation in discussion

Clear reasoned explanations

Oral structures and spelling

Follow the roles

Participation in discussion

Clear reasoned explanations

Oral structures and spelling

PEER EVALUATION ACTIVITY 12. Your name ____________________________________

SELF ASSESSMENT

About the unit:

Fill in, according to your opinion, your mark in the PIGEOMETRE. (Write a number between 1 and 10):

1------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10

•What have you learned from this unit?

•What was easy for you?

•What did you find difficult?

•What do you do out of school to help you with your English work?

•What would you find most helpful?

•What do you most like doing?

•What do least like doing?

•Any suggestions?