This is a diagram of a molecule of PAN. Can you see how the bottom right corner of the PAN molecule came from a nitrogen dioxide (NO
2) molecule?
Click on image for full size
Windows to the Universe original artwork by Randy Russell.
PAN (Peroxyacytyl nitrate) - C2H3O5N
PAN (Peroxyacytyl nitrate) is a kind of air pollution. It is part of smog. PAN makes people's eyes hurt and it is bad for your lungs. It also damages plants.
PAN forms when some other kinds of chemicals get together in the air. One of the chemicals that makes PAN is nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Nitrogen dioxide comes from the engines of cars and trucks and from factories and power plants that burn coal. Other chemicals that help make PAN are called Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). VOCs get into the air from paint, gasoline, and other chemicals. Sunlight changes the VOCs into other chemicals. Those chemicals get together with oxygen and nitrogen dioxide to make PAN.
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