Chapter 20, Problem 37PS

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: The species which are not green-house gases has to be identified from the given list.

Concept introduction:

Greenhouse Effect: When the solar radiation reaches the earth’s atmosphere, some of the radiations gets reflected and some of the radiations are absorbed by earth’s surface. This energy is converted into heat and radiate back towards space. Some of these are trapped by green-house gases when going up to the atmosphere and this will heat up the earth’s atmosphere.

Greenhouse Gases:

• ${\text{CO}}_{\text{2}}$
• ${\text{CH}}_{\text{4}}$
• ${\text{N}}_{\text{2}}\text{O}$
• ${\text{H}}_{\text{2}}\text{O}$
• $\text{HCl}$

The most important green-house gas is water vapor.

If the amount of green-house gases in the atmosphere become too high, then the temperature will increase and the planet become warmer.

Important reason for increasing green-house gases in the atmosphere: Burning of fossil fuels which increase the amount of ${\text{CO}}_{\text{2}}$ in the atmosphere.