Question

(a) What characteristic molecular properties of H2O and CO2 cause their absorption of IR radiation? (b) Why are chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), such as CF2Cl2 and CFCL3, such effective greenhouse gases? (c) In addition to H2O, CO2, and CFCs, name two other greenhouse gases and identify for each of them one human activity leading to atmospheric emissions.

Answer 1

a)

O-H is present, so expect a broad peak in the 3200 range for water

CO2 has 2C=O bonds, which will show a narrow peak at 1750 range (strong and narrow)

b)

Thay are effective not only beacause they destroy Ozone layer, which protects sunlight/rays to heat our planet, but also because they have higher heat capacityies, which imply that they can heat up really fast, that is, "increase the temperature" due to heat

c)

human activity --> cattle produces large amounts of CH4, methane, which are pretty damaging for the planet. They produce greenhouse effect as well.

Nitrous oxide --> Main sources are soils under natural vegetation + ocean and atm. reactions