Question

Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas. Could you please give another example of a greenhouse gas and provide the chemical structure and describe the primary source of this gas in the atmosphere.

Answer 1

Ans). A greenhouse gas is any gaseous compound in the atmosphere that is capable of absorbing infrared radiation, thus trapping and holding heat in the atmosphere.

The major Greenhouse gases are :

water vapours (H₂O), carbon dioxide (CO₂), ozone (O₃), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O), that are naturally present in the atmosphere.

For Example, We consider the methane (CH₄) : Methane (CH₄) is one of the trace gases in the atmosphere that is considered to play a major role in “greenhouse effect.”

Chemical Structure : CH₄ :-  

Primary source of this gas in the atmosphere : emission from anaerobic decomposition in (1) natural wetlands; (2) paddy rice fields;

(3) emission from livestock production systems (including intrinsic fermentation and animal waste);

(4) biomass burning (including forest fires, charcoal combustion, and firewood burning);

(5) anaerobic decomposition of organic waste in landfills; and

(6) fossil methane emission during the exploration and transport of fossil fuels.

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is produced by fertilizer use, animal waste management, fossil fuel combustion, and industrial activities.