WEBVTT - How Catalytic Convertors Work

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to Brainstuff from how stuff works dot com where

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<v Speaker 1>smart happens. Hi Am Marshall Brain with today's question, what

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<v Speaker 1>is a catalytic converter and how does it work? A

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<v Speaker 1>catalytic converter is a device in your car that uses

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<v Speaker 1>a catalyst to convert three harmful compounds in car exhaust

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<v Speaker 1>into harmless compounds. The three harmful compounds are one hydrocarbons

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<v Speaker 1>in the form of unburned gasoline to carbon monoxide formed

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<v Speaker 1>by the combustion of gasoline, and three nitrogen oxides created

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<v Speaker 1>when the heat in the engine forces nitrogen in the

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<v Speaker 1>air to combine with oxygen. Carbon monoxide is a poison

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<v Speaker 1>for any air breathing animal. Nitrogen oxides lead to smog

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<v Speaker 1>and acid rain, and hydrocarbons produce smog. In a catalytic converter,

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<v Speaker 1>the catalyst, in the form of platinum and palladium, is

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<v Speaker 1>coated on to a ceramic honeycomb or ceramic beads that

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<v Speaker 1>are housed in a muffler like package attached to the

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<v Speaker 1>exhaust pipe. The catalyst helps to convert carbon monoxide into

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<v Speaker 1>carbon dioxide. It converts the hydrocarbons into carbon dioxide and water,

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<v Speaker 1>and it converts the nitrogen oxides back into nitrogen and oxygen.

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<v Speaker 1>This makes the exhaust coming out the exhaust pipe a

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<v Speaker 1>lot cleaner. Do you have any ideas or suggestions for

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