Smoke

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/smoke

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 classification?An aerosol composed of particulate matter and gaseous combustion products
2. What is the primary hazard?Smoke inhalation, causing thermal damage, asphyxiation, and poisoning from CO, HCN, etc
3. Why can smoke be dangerous?Smoke can hurt us because it has hot gases, takes away oxygen, and contains poisonous chemicals that can make us sick or even stop our hearts.
4. How does smoke change color?The color of smoke changes with how big its particles are; bigger particles make it look white, while very small, dark particles make it look black.

Aerosol: A colloidal system in which fine solid particles or liquid droplets are dispersed in a gas.
Combustion: A rapid chemical process that involves the rapid reaction between a substance with an oxidant, usually oxygen, to produce heat and light.
Pyrolysis: The thermal decomposition of materials at elevated temperatures in an inert atmosphere or vacuum.
Mie Scattering: The scattering of electromagnetic radiation by dielectric spheres, relevant to the optical properties of smoke particles.