Explain combustion of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide in an interanl combustion engine?

Answer 1

not too sure what you want to know but i will explain the combustion process as best i can. gas car engines are a 4 stroke engine. the 4 strokes being: intake (down), compression (up), power (down), exhaust (up). engines operate off a reciprocating motion meaning the movement of one piston is the result of the opposite movement of a different piston. on the intake stroke the intake valve opens allowing fuel that has been mixed with air to be sucked into the cylinder by the downward travel of the piston (suction). on the compression stroke both the intake and exhaust valves are closed the piston travel back up with the air/fuel mixture in the cylinder. this compresses the air/fuel until he piston is at or near top dead center. then the spark from the spark plug ignites the air/fuel which causes a rapid expansion (not and explosion) or the air fuel thus pushing the piston down creating the power stroke. then the piston travels back up as the exhaust valve opens. the piston effectively pushes the spent air/fuel out of the cylinder. this is the basic principles of a internal combustion engine. now to more directly address your question. carbon monoxide is a by product of the air/fuel being burnt. the carbon monoxide (along with hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen) are pushed out on the exhaust stroke and into your exhaust system. it is the job of the catalytic converter to convert the carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide (a less harmful substance) it does this thanks to its chemical make up and elements that add an additional oxygen to monoxide to make it dioxide. its basically a filter for your exhaust.