Which of the following gases contributes most to the greenhouse effect?
Answer
Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
The correct answer is Carbon dioxide (CO₂) — Carbon dioxide is the most abundant greenhouse gas released by human activities, thus it contributes the most.
Step-by-step solution
- Read each option and recall its role in the greenhouse effect.
- Methane is a potent greenhouse gas but its atmospheric concentration is much lower than CO₂.
- Ozone absorbs UV radiation in the stratosphere and is not a major contributor to surface warming.
- Nitrogen is an inert gas and does not trap heat.
- Carbon dioxide is the most abundant greenhouse gas released by human activities, thus it contributes the most.
Common mistake: Confusing ozone with carbon dioxide as the major greenhouse gas
Concept tested: Greenhouse gases
Published · How this solution was prepared and checked
Related questions
- 1 Compare the global warming potential (GWP) of methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) over a 100‑year time horizon. State which gas has the higher GWP, give their approximate GWP values, and mention one major anthropogenic source for each gas.
- 2 Which of the following gases has the highest global warming potential (GWP) over a 20‑year time horizon?
- 3 Which synthetic chemical compound is primarily responsible for the depletion of the ozone layer in the stratosphere?
- 4 Which of the following activities contributes the most to air pollution in Indian urban areas?
- 5 A factory emitted 1200 tonnes of CO₂ in 2018. After installing a scrubber, emissions reduced by 15% each year. What will be the total emissions in 2021? Round to the nearest tonne.
- 6 In a grassland ecosystem, 20,000 J of solar energy falls on green plants. Calculate the amount of energy transferred to the tertiary consumer in this food chain.