A catalytic converter is a device that removes pollution from your car's exhaust.
Every modern car has a catalytic converter. It's necessary to have one in order to meet emissions standards. Without one, the amount of pollution in your car's exhaust will be significantly higher.
Catalytic converters are actually very simple in design but in order to understand them you must first understand what a catalyst is. In chemistry, "catalyst" is a term for a material that initiates or accelerates a chemical reaction without actually being affected itself. You can think of it as a bystander who encourages a fight, but doesn't actually participate. This is important because, since the catalytic materials aren't affected by the chemical reactions they accelerate, they last for a very long time.
Inside of its housing, a catalytic converter is nothing more than two catalysts that are structured so that the exhaust can pass through them, while being exposed to them. A common shape used for a catalyst's structure is a honeycomb.
In the first stage, the exhaust passes through the reduction catalyst. This is the point at which harmful nitrogen oxides are converted into nitrogen and oxygen gas. Nitrogen oxides are a significant contributor to smog and acid rain, which is why it's important that catalytic converters remove a large amount of them.
The second stage, called the oxidation stage, is the one in which hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide molecules are burned off. Although the product of this reaction, carbon dioxide, is believed to be a contributor to global warming, it is much more desirable than the reactants that produce it. Carbon monoxide is a poisonous substance to all oxygen-breathing animals and hydrocarbons are unburned fuel vapours which greatly contribute to smog.
Although catalytic converters never remove all of your car's pollution, they remove a significant amount. Along with a properly functioning oxygen sensor, it is the most important part of the car when it comes to reducing the environmental impact of your gas-powered car.
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