Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 20: Problem 47

Water and sulfur dioxide are both polar molecules and their geometry is similar. Why is \(\mathrm{SO}_{2}\) not considered a major greenhouse gas?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Although sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a polar molecule like water, it doesn't have the same ability to absorb and emit radiation in the infrared region, which means it's less effective at contributing to the greenhouse effect. Furthermore, its atmospheric lifetime is relatively short as it transforms into other compounds that are removed from the atmosphere, thus it is not considered a major greenhouse gas.

Step by step solution

01

Identify the Properties of Major Greenhouse Gases

The major greenhouse gases (GHGs) share some important properties. They can absorb and emit radiation at specific wavelengths within the spectrum of infrared radiation emitted by Earth’s surface, the atmosphere and clouds. Gases that contain three or more atoms, due to their structure and vibrational modes, have the property of being greenhouse gases. For example, water (H2O), a triatomic molecule, has three modes of vibration and thus possesses the characteristic of a greenhouse gas.
02

Analyze the Structure of SO2

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is also a triatomic molecule, similar to water, but its structure is slightly different. It consists of a sulfur atom bonded to two oxygen atoms. While the molecule is polar due to the difference in electronegativity between sulfur and oxygen, this doesn't automatically make it a greenhouse gas.
03

Conclusions About the Properties of SO2

Although SO2 is indeed a polar molecule, its absorption of radiation in the infrared region is not as significant as that of water or other greenhouse gases. Thus, it has a lesser ability to contribute to the greenhouse effect. Apart from this, its residence time in the atmosphere is relatively short because it is often converted into other sulfur-containing compounds that are removed from the atmosphere.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

Why is more emphasis placed on the role of carbon dioxide in the greenhouse effect than on that of water?

As mentioned in the chapter, spraying the stratosphere with hydrocarbons such as ethane and propane should eliminate \(\mathrm{Cl}\) atoms. What is the drawback of this procedure if used on a large scale for an extended period of time?

A volume of \(5.0 \mathrm{~L}\) of polluted air at \(18.0^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\) and \(747 \mathrm{mmHg}\) is passed through lime water [an aqueous suspension of \(\left.\mathrm{Ca}(\mathrm{OH})_{2}\right]\), so that all the carbon dioxide present is precipitated as \(\mathrm{CaCO}_{3}\). If the mass of the \(\mathrm{CaCO}_{3}\) precipitate is \(0.026 \mathrm{~g}\), calculate the percentage by volume of \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\) in the air sample.

Instead of monitoring carbon dioxide, suggest another gas that scientists could study to substantiate the fact that \(\mathrm{CO}_{2}\) concentration is steadily increasing in the atmosphere.

Identify the gas that is responsible for the brown color of photochemical smog.
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Chemistry Textbooks

Chemical Reactions

Read Explanation

Kinetics

Read Explanation

Ionic and Molecular Compounds

Read Explanation

Inorganic Chemistry

Read Explanation

Nuclear Chemistry

Read Explanation

Chemical Analysis

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free