exhaust gas
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exhaust gas
The gaseous waste product produced during combustion in engines, heating systems, or industrial plants. Exhaust gases are often harmful to the environment and to health.
Alte Autos stoßen oft zu viele schädliche Abgase aus.
Old cars often emit too many harmful exhaust gases.
'Abgas' is composed of the prefix 'ab-' and the noun 'Gas' (gas). The prefix 'ab-' here expresses that something goes away or is a waste product. So it is literally a 'gas that goes away.'
Die Industrie muss ihre Abgase filtern.
Industry has to filter its exhaust gases.
Although the singular form 'das Abgas' exists, the word is almost always used in the plural, 'die Abgase' (exhaust gases). This is because combustion typically produces a mixture of different gases.
In vielen Städten ist die Belastung durch Abgase zu hoch.
In many cities, pollution from exhaust gases is too high.
Common verbs used in connection with exhaust gases are 'ausstoßen' (to emit), 'produzieren' (to produce), or 'reduzieren' (to reduce). Typical adjectives are 'schädlich' (harmful), 'giftig' (toxic), or 'sauber' (clean).
Moderne Katalysatoren helfen, den Ausstoß schädlicher Abgase zu reduzieren.
Modern catalytic converters help reduce the emission of harmful exhaust gases.
gas
'Gas' and 'Abgas' both have to do with gaseous substances. But 'Gas' is the general word: it can be a substance used for heating or cooking, a state of matter, or also a harmful substance in the air. 'Abgas' is more specific and means gas that is left over from combustion, for example from a car, a heating system, or a factory. Learners may confuse the words because exhaust gas is also a gas. As a practical rule: when you are talking about the substance in general, 'Gas' fits. When it is about dirty air from engines or industrial systems, 'Abgas' is more precise.
Vor der Schule roch es nach Abgas, weil viele Autos mit laufendem Motor warteten.
In front of the school, it smelled of exhaust fumes because many cars were waiting with their engines running.
Beim Kochen benutzt meine Mutter Gas statt Strom.
When cooking, my mother uses gas instead of electricity.