A catalytic converter is a device that converts harmful emissions from an internal combustion engine into harmless ones. The converter consists of a catalyst and a substrate. The catalyst is usually made of platinum or palladium, and the substrate is usually made of ceramic or metal honeycomb. The converter works by reducing the three main pollutants found in car exhaust: carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides.
Why Do Cars Need Catalytic Converters?
The main reason why cars need catalytic converters is to reduce air pollution. Polluted air can cause respiratory problems, heart disease, cancer, and other health problems. It can also damage crops, forests, and water supplies. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), vehicles are responsible for about 30% of all emissions in the United States. That’s why the EPA has set emission standards that all cars must meet.
How Do Catalytic Converters Work?
Catalytic converters work by using a chemical reaction to convert pollutants into less harmful substances. The three main pollutants found in car exhaust are carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless and odorless gas that’s produced when fuel burns. It’s poisonous and can be deadly at high concentrations. Hydrocarbons are compounds that contain both carbon and hydrogen atoms. They’re also produced when fuel burns. Nitrogen oxides are gases that contain nitrogen and oxygen atoms. They’re produced when the temperature of the air around the engine gets too hot.
All three of these pollutants are dangerous to human health and the environment. But they can be converted into less harmful substances by a catalytic converter.
Catalytic converters are devices that convert harmful emissions from an internal combustion engine into harmless ones. They consist of a catalyst and a substrate, which work together to reduce pollutants like carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides. All cars must have a catalytic converter in order to meet EPA emission standards-but they shouldn’t just be seen as a compliance measure. They play an important role in protecting human health and the environment from the harmful effects of car exhaust fumes!