Question

Which gas is primarily responsible for the greenhouse effect?

• A. Oxygen
• B. Nitrogen
• C. Carbon dioxide
• D. Hydrogen

Hint:

*Remember:* "Carbon dioxide = Greenhouse effect." It's the gas that most contributes to trapping heat in the atmosphere.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Solution:

The primary gas responsible for the greenhouse effect is carbon dioxide (CO₂). The greenhouse effect is the process by which radiation from a planet's atmosphere warms the planet's surface to a temperature above what it would be without its atmosphere. Carbon dioxide, a key greenhouse gas, traps heat in the atmosphere, contributing significantly to global warming and climate change.

Other options: Oxygen and Nitrogen are abundant gases in the Earth's atmosphere but do not contribute significantly to the greenhouse effect because they do not absorb thermal infrared radiation. Hydrogen is a light element and does not play a substantial role in the Earth's greenhouse effect.