Automobiles nitrous oxide

Substance abusers become preoccupied with when and where they will be able to get their next dose. As drug use takes center stage in an abuse s life, relationships with family and friends frequently deteriorate. Although nitrous oxide and other inhalants are known for their relatively low cost, an NzO abuser may suffer financial hardships as a result of unemployment, automobile accidents, or poor performance at school. 

A design of a tank for holding nitrous oxide, N20, for automobile racing requires the choice of a material that will support the stress of 1500 g stored in a volume of 7.5 liters. The temperature is not expected to exceed 125°C. Calculate the stress (atm) to which the tank may be exposed. 

Ethanol from cellulose represents an enormous opportunity to make a transportation fuel that is an alternative to gasoline. Development of such a fuel is motivated by 1) an increased cleanliness of automobile exhaust, with decreased levels of carbon monoxide and nitrous oxides, 2) a need for a fuel that does not contribute to an increase in the Greenhouse effect, 3) the desire to decrease the dependence of the United States on imported petroleum, and 4) the possibility of creating wealth in regions where cellulose is a prevalent natural resource. 

Sometimes solving one problem leads to another. One such example involves the catalytic converters now required on all automobiles sold around much of the world. The purpose of these converters is to remove harmful pollutants such as CO and NO2 from automobile exhausts. The good news is that these devices are quite effective and have led to much cleaner air in congested areas. The bad news is that these devices produce significant amounts of nitrous oxide, N2O, commonly known as laughing gas because when inhaled it produces relaxation and mild inebriation. It was long used by dentists to make their patients more tolerant of some painful dental procedures. 

Figure 12.16 The exhaust gases (HC, hydrocarbons NO nitrous oxides and CO) from an automobile engine are passed through a catalytic converter to minimize environmental damage.

Mortar Deterioration. Mortar may decay from the formation of calcium sulfoaluminate (which causes expansion and loss of mortar strength) and by the attack of pollutants in the atmosphere. Portland cement contains tricalcium aluminate, which reacts with sulfates in solution to form calcium sulfoaluminate. Exhaust gases from automobiles contain sulfur dioxide, sulfur trioxide, and nitrous oxides. These oxides react with moisture in the atmosphere to form sulfurous acid, sulfuric acid, and nitric acid, which are the attacking agents. As attack continues over the years, the mortar joints may crack, the surface of the joint may spall off, and the mortar may become softer and more crumbly. 

Up to 90% of CO, NO, and VOCs are typically eliminated from automobile exhaust by a catalytic converter. Although catalytic converters are beneficial to our environment, they could still be improved. Catalysts that work at lower temperatures would reduce an automobile s emission during the first few minutes of operation. Other gases that are emitted by cars may also pose problems for the environment. Nitrous oxide, N2O, can be formed from the incomplete reduction of NO in catalytic converters. Unlike the NO gases, N2O can travel to the upper atmosphere, where it can destroy ozone. As a greenhouse gas, N2O is more than 300 times more potent than CO2. 

Catalytic conversion of off-gases, e.g., the reduction of nitrous oxide from nitric acid plants, with anunonia and the use of "three way" catalyst in automobile exhausts. 

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