In: Chemistry
Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a greenhouse gas.
a) Draw the best Lewis structure (structure N-N-O)
b) Why does N2O act as a greenhouse gas while n2 does not?
c) What is one of the main sources of N2O emissions?
a)
b) The greenhouse effect is shown by those gases that have the ability to trap heat or the infrared radiations. Gases like N2 or O2 have no net change in the distribution of their electrical charges when they vibrate and hence are totally unaffected by infrared radiation. However, molecules containing two atoms of different elements like N2O absorb these infrared radiations and hence contribute to the greenhouse effect.
c) The use of synthetic fertilizers for agriculture is a major source of N2O emissions. Moreover, activities such as fuel combustion, wastewater management, and industrial processes increase the amount of N2O in the atmosphere.
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