Question

Catalytic converters help in converting carbon monoxide into __A__ and nitric oxide into ___B___.

• A. A - carbon, B - nitrogen dioxide
• B. A - carbon dioxide, B - nitrogen
• C. A - carbon dioxide, B - nitrous oxide
• D. A - carbon, B - nitrogen

Answer 1

The correct option is B A - carbon dioxide, B - nitrogen

A catalytic converter is a device that catalyses a redox reaction to convert toxic gases and pollutants present in vehicular emissions into less-toxic pollutants. Expensive metals such as platinum, palladium and rhodium are used as the catalysts in such converters.

Figure : Catalytic converter

Two types of catalysts found in catalytic converters are expensive metals like platinum-palladium and platinum – rhodium. These catalysts help in oxidizing and reducing the toxic by-products into non hazardous substances. As the exhaust from automobiles passes through the catalytic converter, the following reactions occur :

• unburnt hydrocarbons get converted into carbon dioxide and water
  
• carbon monoxide gets converted to carbon dioxide
  
• nitric oxide gets changed to nitrogen gas.

Thus option b is the correct.

Figure : Conversion of toxic byproducts into non hazardous substances