IB ESS HL 8.3.3 Fossil Fuel Combustion Questions

Practise IB ESS HL 8.3.3 by applying fossil fuel combustion concepts to environmental systems questions.

Exam points

Relate fossil-fuel combustion to primary urban pollutants such as PM2.5, using a seasonal source context.
Distinguish primary from secondary pollution with named examples, including the formation of tropospheric ozone from primary pollutants.

[Maximum number: 4]

With reference to named examples, distinguish between a primary and secondary pollutant.

primary pollutant is one which is active on emission / directly impacts the environment;
eg $\mathrm{CO}_{2}$ is released from burning fossil fuels and actively contributes to global warming / CFCs are released from aerosols and actively contribute to ozone depletion;
a secondary pollutant is one formed from a primary pollutant through physical/chemical change;
eg $\mathrm{CO}_{2}$ combines with sea water to form carbonic acid that leads to impacts on calciferous shelled organisms or corals / $\mathrm{NO}_{\mathrm{x}}$ combines with water to form acid precipitation / $\mathrm{NO}_{2}$ forms PAN/ozone (that contributes to photochemical smog);

Marking guidance:

Award [2 max] if no examples are given.
Examples of primary pollutants need to include their direct impact (eg $\mathrm{NO}_{x}$ can be either primary or secondary without such specification) and examples of secondary need to include the process leading to their pollutionary impact).
Award [1 max] for example of primary, and [1 max] for example of secondary.

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IB ESS HL 8.3.3 Fossil Fuel Combustion Questions question 1