IB ESS SL 8.3.3 Fossil Fuel Combustion Questions
Practise IB ESS SL 8.3.3 by applying fossil fuel combustion concepts to environmental systems questions.
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2026
- Course
- ESS SL
- Level
- SL
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.
IB ESS SL 8.3.3 Fossil Fuel Combustion Questions question 1
[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 CO2 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 CO2 combines with sea water to form carbonic acid that leads to impacts on calciferous shelled organisms or corals / NOx combines with water to form acid precipitation / NO2 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 NOx 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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