Question

What causes carbon dioxide to absorb infrared light?

Answer 1

Absorption of light:

1. Light absorption is the process of absorbing light and converting it into energy. Photosynthesis in plants is one example of this process. However, light absorption occurs in all organisms and inorganic objects, not only plants.
2. ${\mathrm{CO}}_2$ (carbon dioxide) is another significant greenhouse gas. It has a long lifespan in the atmosphere of the Earth.
3. So it is a good absorber of infrared radiation because it can absorb energies with a wavelength of 15 micrometers
4. This ability to absorb and re-emit infrared energy is what makes CO₂ effective heat-trapping greenhouse gas.
5. The infrared radiation strikes a molecule such as carbon dioxide and causes the bonds to bend and vibrate – this is called the absorption of IR energy.

Therefore, carbon dioxide is an excellent absorber of wavelengths in the infrared range of the spectrum.