One/Some of the products of combustion of fossil fuels, which act(s) like the glass in a greenhouse, causing the earth's atmosphere to warm up is/are

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BPSC AE Paper 4 (General Engineering Science) 10 Nov 2022 Official Paper
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  1. NO2
  2. CO and NO
  3. CO2
  4. SO2 and H2O

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 3 : CO2
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Explanation:

Greenhouse effect:

  • The greenhouse effect is a natural process that warms the Earth's surface. It occurs when certain gases in the Earth's atmosphere trap heat, preventing it from escaping into space.
  • These gases act like the glass of a greenhouse, allowing sunlight to enter but trapping some of the heat that radiates back from the Earth's surface.

Among the gases produced by the combustion of fossil fuels, the primary contributor to the greenhouse effect is carbon dioxide (CO2).

Carbon Dioxide (CO2):

  • CO2 is the most significant greenhouse gas produced
  • CO2 is the most significant greenhouse gas produced by the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas.
  • When fossil fuels are burned, carbon reacts with oxygen in the air to form CO2, which is then released into the atmosphere.
  • CO2 has a long residence time in the atmosphere, meaning it accumulates and persists, contributing significantly to the warming of the Earth’s atmosphere.
  • This gas traps heat within the atmosphere, leading to global warming and climate change.

Important Points

While other gases such as water vapor (H2O), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) also contribute to the greenhouse effect, CO2 is the primary gas emitted by human activities, particularly from the burning of fossil fuels.

Additional Information

Other greenhouse gases produced by fossil fuel combustion include:

(1) Methane (CH4):

  • Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, though it is released in smaller quantities compared to CO2.
  • It has a higher global warming potential (GWP) than CO2, making it much more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere.

(2) Nitrous Oxide (N2O):

  • N2O is another greenhouse gas produced during combustion, particularly in high-temperature processes like those in internal combustion engines.
  • It has a significant global warming potential, even though its concentrations in the atmosphere are lower than CO2.

Conclusion:

The product of fossil fuel combustion that acts most like the glass in a greenhouse, trapping heat in the Earth's atmosphere and contributing to global warming, is CO2.

Correct Answer: 3) CO2

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