Question

$CO_{2}$ is inert and harmless gas. yet it is thought to be a serious pollutant. Explain.

Answer 1

The main source of $C{ O }_{ 2 }$ are:

(i)        Complete combustion of fuels, carbon compounds and carbonates are produced carbon dioxide.

$C{ \quad +\quad O }_{ 2 }\quad \rightarrow \quad { CO }_{ 2 }\\ CaC{ O }_{ 3 }\quad \xrightarrow { heat } \quad { CO }_{ 2 }\quad =\quad CaO$.

The levels of ${ CO }_{ 2 }$ reincreases by the auto exhaust process.

Biological decay and releases from ocean are the two important process for the formation of ${ CO }_{ 2 }$.

Sinks:

Most important sink of ${ CO }_{ 2 }$ is ocean. It contains bulk of dissolved ${ CO }_{ 2 }$ in the form of carbonates and bicarbonates and organic compounds.

Another sink of ${ CO }_{ 2 }$ is living green plants in which photosynthesis rate is accelerated with increase the ${ CO }_{ 2 }$ level.

Pollutant:

${ CO }_{ 2 }$ is a colorless gas with faint smell and weakly acidic taste in solution ${ H }_{ 2 }O$.

The increasing level of ${ CO }_{ 2 }$ can lead to increases the earth’s temperature.