Question

We feel fresh while on a morning walk in natural surroundings. Why don’t we feel the same after 10 a.m and during rush hours? Write a chemical reaction to support your statement.

Answer 1

Early in the morning, the air has fewer pollutants due to low vehicular traffic. Breathing less polluted air gives us the feeling of freshness. After 10 am, vehicular traffic increases. Fast moving vehicles raise dust in the air, and fuels set free carbon particles and carbon monoxide. Oxides of nitrogen, and sulphur dioxide, arising from diesel and petrol, contain certain amount of sulphur. This also pollutes the air. Inhaling polluted air makes us feel tired.

Sulphur burns in the air to produce sulphur dioxide:

S + O₂ → SO²↑

Burning of carbon also produces carbon monoxide: