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GCSE Chemistry · key term
A device in a vehicle exhaust system that uses catalysts to convert carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and unburned hydrocarbons into less harmful substances.
Used by OCR
Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Higher), Paper 4 (Higher)
Revise: Problems and reduction of pollutantsA catalytic converter is fitted in a vehicle’s exhaust system. Exhaust gases pass through a ceramic honeycomb coated with catalysts such as platinum, palladium or rhodium. The honeycomb provides a large surface area on which reactions can occur.
Do not confuse a catalytic converter with a gas scrubber: converters treat vehicle exhaust gases, whereas scrubbers remove sulfur dioxide from flue gases.
Describe catalytic converters as converting pollutants into less harmful substances, not as trapping every pollutant.
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