Which gas is a greenhouse gas?

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Prepare for the Dual Enrollment Physical Science Midterm. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Ace your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which gas is a greenhouse gas?

Explanation:
Greenhouse gases trap heat by absorbing infrared radiation that Earth emits after being warmed by the Sun. Carbon dioxide does this effectively because its molecular vibrations interact strongly with infrared light, allowing it to absorb heat and then radiate some of it back toward the surface. This makes CO2 a key contributor to the greenhouse effect and to warming when its concentration rises. The other gases—nitrogen, argon, and oxygen—are abundant in air but do not absorb infrared radiation significantly, so they don’t contribute much to trapping heat. That’s why carbon dioxide is the greenhouse gas in this list.

Greenhouse gases trap heat by absorbing infrared radiation that Earth emits after being warmed by the Sun. Carbon dioxide does this effectively because its molecular vibrations interact strongly with infrared light, allowing it to absorb heat and then radiate some of it back toward the surface. This makes CO2 a key contributor to the greenhouse effect and to warming when its concentration rises. The other gases—nitrogen, argon, and oxygen—are abundant in air but do not absorb infrared radiation significantly, so they don’t contribute much to trapping heat. That’s why carbon dioxide is the greenhouse gas in this list.

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