Chapter 20, Problem 52SCQ

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: The three most abundant gases in the atmosphere is to be given and also have to give whether any of these are green-house gases.

Concept introduction:

Atmospheric air contains various gases such as nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, argon etc. The most abundant of them all is nitrogen. Atmospheric air also contain trace amount of water vapor, neon, helium…

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.