Graduate
  1. Physical Chemistry  1.1. Thermodynamics  1.1.1. Laws of Thermodynamics  1.1.2. Enthalpy and heat capacity  1.1.3. Entropy and free energy  1.1.4. Phase Equilibrium  1.1.5. Statistical thermodynamics  1.1.6. Thermodynamic cycle  1.1.7. Fugacity and activity  1.2. Quantum Chemistry  1.2.1. Principles of quantum mechanics  1.2.2. Schrödinger Equation  1.2.3. Particle in a box  1.2.4. Operators and eigenvalues  1.2.5. Atomic orbitals  1.2.6. Molecular orbital theory  1.2.7. Perturbation theory  1.2.8. Valence bond theory  1.2.9. Hybridization and chemical bonding  1.3. Chemical kinetics  1.3.1. Rate laws and reaction mechanisms  1.3.2. Collision theory  1.3.3. Transition state theory  1.3.4. Enzyme Kinetics  1.3.5. Chain Reactions and Polymerization  1.3.6. Photochemical reactions  1.4. Statistical mechanics  1.4.1. Partitioning functions  1.4.2. Molecular distribution functions  1.4.3. Boltzmann Distribution  1.4.4. Bose–Einstein and Fermi–Dirac statistics  1.5. Spectroscopy  1.5.1. Rotational Spectroscopy  1.5.2. Vibrational Spectroscopy  1.5.3. Electronic Spectroscopy  1.5.4. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy  1.5.5. Mass Spectrometry  1.5.6. Raman Spectroscopy  1.5.7. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy  1.6. Surface and colloidal chemistry  1.6.1. Absorption isotherm  1.6.2. Surface tension and wetting  1.6.3. Colloidal Stability  1.6.4. Catalysis  1.6.5. Emulsions and micelles  1.7. Electrochemistry  1.7.1. Nernst equation  1.7.2. Electrochemical cells  1.7.3. Conductivity and mobility  1.7.4. War  1.7.5. Fuel cells  1.7.6. Electrolysis
  2. Organic chemistry  2.1. Reaction mechanism  2.1.1. Nucleophilic substitution reactions  2.1.2. Electrophilic addition reactions  2.1.3. Elimination reactions  2.1.4. Rearrangement reactions  2.1.5. Radical reactions  2.1.6. Pericyclic reactions  2.2. Spectroscopy and structural determination  2.2.1. UV-Vis Spectroscopy  2.2.2. IR Spectroscopy  2.2.3. NMR Spectroscopy  2.2.4. Mass Spectrometry  2.2.5. X-ray crystallography  2.3. Stereoscopic  2.3.1. Chirality and optical activity  2.3.2. Structural analysis  2.3.3. Geometrical isomerism  2.3.4. Dynamic Stereochemistry  2.4. Organometallic Chemistry  2.4.1. Organolithium and organomagnesium reagents  2.4.2. Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions  2.4.3. Transition Metal Complexes  2.4.4. Metal–carbon bond  2.5. Polymer chemistry  2.5.1. Polymerization mechanism  2.5.2. Polymer Characteristics  2.5.3. Biodegradable Polymer  2.5.4. Conducting polymer  2.5.5. Supramolecular polymers  2.6. Medicinal chemistry  2.6.1. Drug design and development  2.6.2. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics  2.6.3. Structure-activity relationships  2.6.4. Molecular docking and drug screening
  3. Inorganic chemistry  3.1. Coordination chemistry  3.1.1. Crystal field theory  3.1.2. Ligand field theory  3.1.3. Spectrochemical Series  3.1.4. Chelation and stability  3.2. Organometallic Chemistry  3.2.1. Metal Carbonyls  3.2.2. Catalysis by organometallic complexes  3.2.3. Metallocenes  3.3. Bio-inorganic chemistry  3.3.1. Metalloproteins and enzymes  3.3.2. The role of metals in biological systems  3.3.3. Metal ion transport and storage  3.4. Solid state chemistry  3.4.1. Crystal Structures  3.4.2. Band theory of solids  3.4.3. Superconductors  3.4.4. Defects in the crystal  3.5. Lanthanides and Actinides  3.5.1. Electronic configuration in lanthanides and actinides  3.5.2. Coordination chemistry of the lanthanides  3.5.3. Magnetic Properties of Lanthanides
  4. Analytical chemistry  4.1. Chromatography  4.1.1. Gas Chromatography  4.1.2. High Performance Liquid Chromatography  4.1.3. Thin Layer Chromatography  4.2. Spectroscopic Techniques  4.2.1. Atomic absorption spectroscopy  4.2.2. X-ray diffraction  4.2.3. Inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy  4.3. Electroanalytical methods  4.3.1. Potentiometry  4.3.2. Voltammetry  4.3.3. Colometry  4.4. Mass Spectrometry  4.4.1. Ionization Technique  4.4.2. Fragmentation Pattern  4.5. Chemometrics  4.5.1. Multidisciplinary analysis  4.5.2. Machine Learning in Chemistry
  5. Theoretical and Computational Chemistry  5.1. Molecular dynamics simulation  5.1.1. Force fields and energy minimization  5.1.2. Monte Carlo simulation in molecular dynamics simulations  5.2. Quantum chemical methods  5.2.1. Hartree–Fock theory  5.2.2. Density functional theory  5.2.3. Semi-empirical methods  5.3. Computational drug design  5.3.1. Molecular Docking  5.3.2. QSAR Modeling  5.3.3. Virtual Screening
  6. Biochemistry  6.1. Enzyme Kinetics  6.1.1. Michaelis-Menten kinetics  6.1.2. Inhibition mechanism  6.2. Metabolism and Bioenergetics  6.2.1. Glycolysis  6.2.2. Citric acid cycle  6.2.3. Electron transport chain  6.3. molecular Biology  6.3.1. DNA replication and repair  6.3.2. Protein synthesis  6.3.3. Gene Regulation  6.4. Structural Biochemistry  6.4.1. Protein Folding  6.4.2. Membrane Biophysics
  7. Environmental Chemistry  7.1. Atmospheric Chemistry  7.1.1. Greenhouse gases  7.1.2. Ozone depletion  7.1.3. Air pollutants and smoke  7.2. Water Chemistry  7.2.1. pH and water hardness  7.2.2. Wastewater treatment  7.2.3. Aquatic Chemistry  7.3. Soil Chemistry  7.3.1. Heavy metal contamination  7.3.2. Soil pH and Buffering  7.3.3. Nutrient cycling  7.4. Toxicology and Chemical Safety  7.4.1. Toxicokinetics  7.4.2. Risk Assessment in Toxicology and Chemical Safety in Environmental Chemistry  7.4.3. Effects of pollutants on the environment

Graduate → Environmental Chemistry → Atmospheric Chemistry ↓


Greenhouse gases


Greenhouse gases (GHGs) play an important role in atmospheric chemistry and environmental chemistry because they have a significant impact on Earth's climate. These gases contribute to the greenhouse effect, which is essential for maintaining our planet's temperature, but can also cause global warming when present in excessive amounts.

What are greenhouse gases?

Greenhouse gases are compounds in the Earth's atmosphere that are able to absorb and emit infrared radiation, thereby warming the Earth's surface. The primary greenhouse gases found in the Earth's atmosphere include:

  • Carbon dioxide (CO2)
  • Methane (CH4)
  • Nitrous oxide (N2O)
  • Water vapor (H2O)
  • Ozone (O3)
  • Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)

How do greenhouse gases work?

The greenhouse effect is a natural process that warms the Earth's surface. When the sun's energy reaches the Earth, it is absorbed by the surface and then radiated back as heat. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb this heat and re-radiate it in all directions, including back toward the Earth's surface, causing the temperature to rise.

Explaining the greenhouse effect

Solar radiation reaches Earth. | v Earth absorbs some of this energy. | v Earth emits heat (infrared radiation). | v Greenhouse gases absorb and re-emit heat. | v Some heat returns to Earth's surface, warming it.

Without the greenhouse effect, the average temperature on Earth would be so cold that life would not be possible. The problem arises when human activities cause the concentration of these gases in the atmosphere to increase, increasing the natural greenhouse effect and causing global warming.

Sources of greenhouse gases

Natural sources

Greenhouse gases are emitted from both natural and man-made sources. Natural sources include:

  • Volcanic eruptions, which release carbon dioxide and water vapor.
  • Decomposition of organic matter increases methane and carbon dioxide emissions.
  • Carbon dioxide is emitted by plants and animals through respiration.
  • Nitrous oxide emissions occur due to nitrogen cycling in the soil.

Anthropogenic sources

Human activities have significantly increased the levels of greenhouse gases through a variety of processes:

  • Burning of fossil fuels for energy and transportation (CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O).
  • Industrial processes such as cement production and chemical manufacturing.
  • Agricultural activities, including livestock fermentation and rice cultivation.
  • Deforestation is reducing the Earth's ability to absorb carbon dioxide.
  • Use of CFC (CCl2F2) in refrigeration and industrial activities.

Effects of excessive greenhouse gases

As the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere increases, so does the effect of global warming. This warming can lead to environmentally and socially harmful effects such as:

  • The sea level is rising due to the melting of polar ice and glaciers.
  • More frequent and severe weather events, including storms, droughts and heat waves.
  • Ecosystem disruption and loss of biodiversity.
  • Impact on agriculture and food security.
  • Health risks due to heat stress and changing disease patterns.

Mitigation strategies

Various strategies can be adopted to deal with the effects of rising greenhouse gas emissions:

  • Switching to renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power.
  • Increasing energy efficiency in buildings, transport and industries.
  • Afforestation and reforestation to increase carbon sinks.
  • Implementation of policies to reduce emissions from industrial processes.
  • Promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

Conclusion

Greenhouse gases are essential for maintaining Earth's climate, but when their concentrations increase due to human activities, they can have serious consequences. Understanding the chemistry and environmental impact of these gases is important for developing strategies to reduce their effects and protect the planet for future generations.

Sun energy Infrared radiation

Graduate → 7.1.1


U
username
0%
completed in Graduate

← Prev (7.1)
Atmospheric Chemistry
Next (7.1.2) →
Ozone depletion

Comments 



Greenhouse gases

https://www.chemistryelite.com/g/7.1.1?ceal=en