question_answer 34)

    Use of lead-free petrol or diesel is recommended to reduce the pollutants emitted by automobiles. What role does lead play?

Answer:

                  Catalytic converters, having expensive metals namely platinum, palladium and rhodium as the catalysts are fitted into automobiles for reducing emission of poisonous gases and to convert unburnt hydrocarbons into CO2and H2O.Motor vehicles equipped with catalytic to converter need to use unleaded petrol because lead in the petrol, inactivates the catalyst and increases the hydrocarbon emission, there by harming the environment.