One world - Chemistry

Carbon dioxide

What is a Carbon dioxide Molecule?

This is a picture of a carbon dioxide molecule.

Structural formula for Carbon dioxide molecule: O = C = O

Basic information:

Oxygen and Carbon are both non-metals.

- An oxygen atom has 6 electrons in its outer shell.

Oxygen is in group 6 of the periodic table.

- A carbon atom has 4 electrons in its outer shell. Carbon is in group 4 of the periodic table.

Two oxygen atoms and 1 carbon atom will each share two electrons to form four

bonds and make a carbon dioxide molecule, which is CO2.

Physical properties

Qualitative
Quantitative
Colour: Colourless
Melting point: -55.6 degree ℃
Odour: No Odour
Boiling point: -78.5
State: Gas
Solid (Dry ice)
Formula: CO2
Texture: Depend on the texture of the walls
Critical Temp. (°F): 87.9
Lustre: N/a
Density: 1.977
Malleability: N/a
Specific gravity: 1.555

Viscosity: 1.38 × 10-5
Chemical properties

Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound composed of one carbon and two oxygen atoms. It is often referred to by its formula CO2. It is present in the

Earth 's atmosphere at a low concentration of approximately about 0.038% and it

is an important greenhouse gas. In its solid state, it is called dry ice. It is a major

component of the carbon cycle.

Carbon dioxide is a colorless gas, which, when inhaled at high

concentrations (a dangerous activity because of the “asphyxiation” risk),

produces a little sour taste in the mouth and a stinging sensation in the nose and

throat. These effects result from the gas dissolving in the mucus membranes and

saliva, forming a weak solution of carbonic, acid.

Scientific importance of CO2 (Positive)

Carbon dioxide is a colorless, odourless gas. It occurs in the atmospheres of many planets, including that of the earth. On the earth, all green plants must absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to live and grow. Green plants convert carbon dioxide and water into food and oxygen. Plants and animals, in turn, "burn" the food by combining it with oxygen to release energy for growth and other life activities. This process, called respiration, which is the reverse of photosynthesis. Oxygen is used up and carbon dioxide and water are used to produce more food and oxygen. The cycle of photosynthesis and respiration maintains the earth 's natural balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen.

Also, carbon dioxide is being important for the food processing. The global food industry depends on CO2 for short-term and long-term refrigeration of food products. CO2 not only serves as a refrigerant, but it also acts as an anaerobic agent, which boosts the chemical 's value for food preservation purposes. Many food processors use CO2 for individual quick-freeze, grinding and commercial packaging.
Use of CO2

Carbon dioxide is basically a chemical compound, which is composed of carbon and oxygen. It is found in the atmosphere of the Earth naturally.
There are several different uses of carbon dioxide such as by freezing them and producing "dry ice" which can be mixed with hot water to make a white gas that is used in theatres as steam, pumped into fire extinguishers to put out fires. Also, the gas of CO2 is used commonly to produce carbonated soft drinks and soda water too, which is the fizzy things that make us burp in our mouths. Furthermore, carbon dioxide is used in life jackets, which often contain carbon dioxide for quick deflation. High concentrations can also be used to kill pests, such as the common mothball.

Impact of Carbon dioxide on society (Negative)

Firstly, there are several environmental impacts due to the carbon dioxide. CO2 is main chief of greenhouse gas; too much of it can cause global warming. Due to human activities such as the combustion of fossil fuels and deforestation, the increased release of CO2 from the oceans due to the increase in the
Earth 's temperature, the concentration of (atmospheric) carbon dioxide has increased by about 35% since the beginning of the age of industrialization.

Solutions (Greenhouse effect):
We need the greenhouse effect to keep the earth warm. However, what we don 't need is the accelerated greenhouse effect, which we are experiencing now. The only solution is to move entirely to renewable energy and plant more trees, so we stop burning fossil fuels to reduce pollution and carbon emissions. There are proven technologies working now. What we need is the will to change.

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Also, carbon dioxide will increases the acidity (pH) of the oceans, since it forms carbonic acid when it dissolves in water, and that has a bad effect on some sea life, for examples; extinction of the fishes, destruction of every sea creature’s habitat.
Furthermore, there are Acid rain problems, which is also being caused by carbon dioxide. (CO2 + H2O ⇔ H2CO3) Acid rain is damaging crops, forests, wildlife populations, and causing respiratory in humans. However, the pollutants that cause acid rain—sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx)— also do damage human health. These gases interact in the atmosphere to form fine sulfate and nitrate particles that can be transported long distances by winds and inhaled deep into people 's lungs.

Solutions (Acid rain):

Since energy production creates large amounts of the pollutants that cause acid rain, one important step you can take is to conserve energy.
You can do this in a number of ways:
- Turn off lights, computers, televisions, video games, and other electrical equipment when you 're not using them.
- Try to limit the use of air conditioning.
- Try to adjust the thermostat (the device used to control the temperature in your home) when you go on vacation.

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Secondly, which is the social impact.
In July, the U.S. government began to control carbon dioxide through the Environmental Protection Agency’s mandate (make a law) to uphold the Clean Air Act. CO2, a so-called greenhouse gas, was declared an “air pollutant,”
The SCC (social cost of carbon) is the value in today’s dollars of the stream of damages caused by adding one metric ton of CO2 into the atmosphere; a ton is the amount a typical family car will emit every 10 weeks. The SCC figure adopted last February by an interagency working group is $21. The value has already been applied to standards for fuel efficiency emissions. It will be figured into any carbon mitigation strategy, whether cap and trade, cap and dividend or carbon tax. Robert. O. Mendelsohn who is the professor of the environment said that with a 1.5-degree temperature rise, “the good things will offset the bad things so that the net effect is small. For example, forests would like a small increase of CO2, temperature and precipitation. That’s a happy story for plants-a world they would vote for.” We haven’t known the solution for this yet.

Bibliography

"Carbon Dioxide." Carbon Dioxide. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2013. .

"The Viscosity of Carbon Dioxide." The Viscosity of Carbon Dioxide. N.p., n.d. Web. .

"What Are Chemical Properties of Carbon Dioxide That Makes It Good to Use in Fire Extinguishers?" Yahoo! Answers. Yahoo!, n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2013. .

"What Are The Uses Of Carbon Dioxide?" - Blurtit. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 May 2013. .

"NaturalGas.org." NaturalGas.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 May 2013. .

"The Social Cost of Carbon." Pacific Standard. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 May 2013. .

Bibliography: "Carbon Dioxide." Carbon Dioxide. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2013. . "The Viscosity of Carbon Dioxide." The Viscosity of Carbon Dioxide. N.p., n.d. Web. . "What Are Chemical Properties of Carbon Dioxide That Makes It Good to Use in Fire Extinguishers?" Yahoo! Answers. Yahoo!, n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2013. . "What Are The Uses Of Carbon Dioxide?" - Blurtit. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 May 2013. . "NaturalGas.org." NaturalGas.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 May 2013. . "The Social Cost of Carbon." Pacific Standard. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 May 2013. .