Catalytic converter

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/catalytic-converter

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific principle?Catalysis of redox reactions to convert toxic exhaust gases
2. What is the key catalytic metals?Platinum, palladium, and rhodium
3. What is a catalytic converter and why does it help the air?It’s a special box in a car that turns bad fumes into safer gases, making the air cleaner.
4. How does a catalytic converter clean the exhaust?It uses a ceramic honeycomb coated with precious metals like platinum, palladium, and rhodium to speed up chemical reactions that turn carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides into harmless gases.

Catalyst: A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing permanent change.
Oxidation: A chemical reaction involving the loss of electrons or an increase in oxidation state, often involving oxygen.
Reduction: A chemical reaction involving the gain of electrons or a decrease in oxidation state, often involving the removal of oxygen.