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In an automobile's exhaust system , a catalytic converter provides an environment for a chemical reaction where unburned hydrocarbons completely combust. Hence the combustion process continues but outside the engine combustion chamber where no useful energy is extracted. Toxic car gases such as unburned hydrocarbon (UHC) and carbon monoxide (CO) would not exist if the fuel to energy conversion in the engine were perfect.

A three-way catalytic converter has three simultaneous tasks:

  1. oxidation of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide: 2CO + O2 ---> 2CO2
  2. reduction of nitrogen oxides to nitrogen: NOx ---> O2 + N2
  3. oxidation of hydrocarbons (unburnt fuel) to carbon dioxide and water: CnHn+2 + O2 ---> CO2 + H2O

These three reactions are most balanced at the stoichiometric point, where there is a balanced amount of oxygenOxygen is the chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol O and atomic number 8. The element is very common, found not only on Earth but throughout the universe. Molecular oxygen (O, often called free oxygen on Earth is thermodynamically un to fuelFuel is material with potential energy which can be transferred into kinetic energy, or as heat or mechanical work. In most cases this is just something that will burn. There are many different types of fuel. Solid fuels include coal, wood and peat. All t in the engine. When there is more oxygen than required, then the system is said to be running lean, and the system is in oxidizing conditions. The above two oxidizing reactions (oxidation of CO and hydrocarbons) are favoured. When there is more fuel than oxygen (stoichiometrically), then the engine is running rich. The reduction of NOx is favoured.

Catalytic converters become ineffective in the presence of lead, and the introduction of catalytic converters triggered the end of leaded gasolineTetra-ethyl lead (TEL) is a toxic organometallic chemical compound, with formula ( C HCH) Pb, which was once used as a gasoline (petrol) additive. Chemistry TEL is a viscous colorless liquid, produced by reacting ethyl chloride with a sodium- lead alloy..



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Catalytic Converter Carbon Engine Fuel System

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Catalytic converterIn an automobile's exhaust system, a catalytic converter provides an environment for a chemical reaction where unburned hydrocarbons completely combust. Hence the combustion process continues but outside the engine combustion chamber where no useful energ  


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