Converse reaction
A study conducted for the department of the environment in the UK shows that the introduction of catalytic converters has been accompanied by a sudden and unexpected rise in concentrations of nitrogen dioxide, one of the most dangerous components of urban smog. This report comes as a surprise to many as a catalytic converter is a device which is supposed to remove more than 80 per cent of the gas from a car's exhaust. However, the increase in atmospheric nitrogen dioxide concentrations remains unexplained. It is possible that the chemists have an incomplete understanding of the reactions involved. Another explanation pointing to the short distances traversed by most British cars, has also been put forward ( New Scientist , Vol 151, No 2038).
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