Question

Is oxygen a greenhouse gas?

Answer 1

Greenhouse gas:

1. A greenhouse gas absorbs and emits radiant energy within the thermal infrared range, causing the greenhouse effect.
2. Greenhouse gases are- carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, ozone, nitrous oxide, and CFC (chlorofluorocarbons).
3. So, no O₂ is not a greenhouse gas.
4. Typically, the greenhouse gases have three or more atoms in their molecules.
5. The vibrations of any gas molecule such as nitrogen and oxygen tend to be invisible to the electromagnetic field.
6. It does not absorb infrared light, in other words, they are not infrared active.
7. Hence, both these gases are not greenhouse gases as they are transparent to infrared light.
8. Such molecules are not visible as when stretched, they do not alter the electric field.
9. They are symmetric molecules composed of two identical atoms wherein the electric fields just cancel one another.
10. Neither of these atoms can tightly hold the electrons further compared to others.
11. Hence, typically, the symmetrical molecules with two atoms only are not considered to be greenhouse gases.