5.2 CHAPTER 5. THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY
More practice video solutions or help at http://www.everythingscience.co.za(1.) 01rj (2.) 024b (3.) 024c (4.) 024d (5.) 024eFACT
Sasol is very aware
of its responsibility
towards creating cleaner
fuels. From 1st January
2006, the South African
government enforced a
law to prevent lead from
being added to petrol.
Sasol has complied with
this. One branch of
Sasol, Sasol Technology
also has a bio-diesel re-
search and development
programme focused
on developing more
environmentally friendly
forms of diesel. One
way to do this is to use
renewable resources
such as soybeans to
make diesel. Sasol is
busy investigating this
new technology.
Exercise 5 - 3
Large amounts of gasesand pollutants are released during production,and when the
fuels themselves are used. Refer to the table below, which shows greenhouse gas and
atmospheric pollution data for Sasol between 2002 and 2005, and then answer the
questions that follow. (Source: Sasol Sustainable Development Report 2005 )Greenhouse gases and air
pollutants (kilotonnes)2002 2003 2004 2005
Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) 57 476 62 873 66 838 60 925
Hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) 118 105 102 89
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) 168 173 178 166
Sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ) 283 239 261 222- Draw line graphs toshow how the quantityof each pollutant produced has
changed between 2002and 2005. - Describe what you see in the graphs, and suggest a reason for this trend.
- Explain what is meant by each of the following terms:
(a) greenhouse gas
(b) global warming- Describe some of thepossible effects of global warming.
- When sulphur dioxide is present in the atmosphere, it may react with water
vapour to produce sulphuric acid. In the same way, nitrogen dioxide and wa-
ter vapour react to form nitric acid. These reactions in theatmosphere may cause
acid rain. Outline some of the possible consequences ofacid rain. - Many industries are major contributors towards environmental problems such as
global warming, environmental pollution, over-use of resources and acid rain.
Industries are in a difficult position: On one hand they must meet theever in-
creasing demands of society, and on the other,they must achieve thiswith as
little environmental impact as possible. This is ahuge challenge.- Work in groups of 3-4to discuss ways in whichindustries could be encour-
aged (or in some cases forced) to reduce their environmental impact. - Elect a spokesperson for each group, who will present your ideas tothe
class. - Are the ideas suggestedby each group practical?
- How easy or difficult do you think it would beto implement these ideas in
South Africa?
- Work in groups of 3-4to discuss ways in whichindustries could be encour-