Question

Why is lead compound added to petrol? What is its harm?

Answer 1

Hint: We have to know when we add something to petrol, it would enhance performance of the engine. We have to know that compounds of lead could decrease combustion during the process of burning, and also helps with wear and tear, and valve seat inside the motor whereas this results in harmful side effects.

Complete answer:
We have to know some of the advantages of leaded gasoline. A poor-quality natural gas containing a low octane rating could be easily and readily converted into a product that has a higher octane rating. We have to know that leaded gasoline increases the octane rating of fuel at a very low cost that is more desirable for engines that have high-power.
The measure of tendency of fuel to prevent knocking is the octane rating. Knocking takes place when fuel is burnt in the cylinder of engine which leads to lower efficiency and damages to engine. This is because of oxygenate present in the fuel which avoids knocking by addition of oxygen to fuel. We say this oxygenates as octane.
Tetraethyl lead gives octane to gasoline, hence avoiding knocking of the engine. There are several providers of octane like ethanol and benzene whereas because of less cost of production, we prefer lead. So, we add lead to petrol to make it burn smoothly in vehicles.
When we get exposed to lead for longer duration, it would result in lead poisoning which could lead to chronic degenerative diseases like anemia, hypertension, damages in nerves etc.

Note:
We have to know that when tetraethyl lead is added to petrol, it burns smoothly in vehicles. But when petrol is burnt in automobiles liberates toxic lead compounds by exhaust pipes of automobiles. When we repeatedly inhale these compounds, it could end up in anemia, brain, and sometimes death.