A reading that discusses how chemical bonds in molecules respond to incident IR light and absorb IR energy during certain modes of vibration. The reading includes discussions on the vibrational modes of water vapor and carbon dioxide (CO2) molecules and explains why these gases act as greenhouse gases.
Students will learn how the absorption of incident IR radiation by water vapor and carbon dioxide gas molecules in certain vibrational modes makes them behave as greenhouse gases.
Use this tool to help students find answers to:
What are the vibrational modes of carbon dioxide molecules?
Why do carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor behave like greenhouse gases while oxygen and nitrogen do not?
About the Tool
Tool Name
Why some gases are greenhouse gases, but most aren’t, and some are stronger than others
Discipline
Chemistry
Topic(s) in Discipline
Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy, Molecular Vibration, Vibrational Modes, IR Active Molecule, IR Absorption and Greenhouse Gases, Greenhouse Effect, Stretching and Bending Modes of Vibration
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