Photochemical Smog Explained !by Vyomm Khanna | 12-08-2021 02:42 |
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 If you live in a populous city, you definitely know what smog is. Of course, its a mixture between smoke and fog which reduces visibility and makes it much tougher to breathe. But, what if we take it up a notch, and mutate the smog into something even worse: It is red, has corrosive chemical qualities and contributes to the greenhouse effect. Yes, this what photochemical smog is, but how exactly is it formed ? Well, in densely populated urban areas with coal power plants or a large number of automobiles, impurely combusted fuel can lead to the release of nitrogen oxides into the air. This nitrogen oxide is already bad enough, contributing to acid rain. But, when it is exposed to the sun's ultraviolet rays, it undergoes a complex series of chemical reactions with hydrocarbons to produce the components of photochemical smog—a mixture of ozone, nitric acid, aldehydes, peroxyacyl nitrates (PANs) and other secondary pollutants (EnergyEducation.ca). Essentially, this is a much worse version of smog as it provides increased eye irritation, more respiratory ailments, reduced visibility and an increase in nearby temperatures. In order to counter this phenomenon, coal power plants should be located far away from residential areas and be provided with scrubbers to reduce harmful emissions. Along with this, automobiles should be fitted with catalytic converters to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides, the main culprits of photochemical smog. I hope this article has educated you about this phenomenon that is detrimental to the ecosystem, and must be minimised.
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