Question

Which of the following is not a Green House Gas?

• A. Nitrogen
• B. Methane
• C. Nitrous oxide
• D. Carbon dioxide

Hint:

Nitrogen is an inert gas that does not contribute to the greenhouse effect, unlike methane, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are gases in Earth's atmosphere that trap heat. They let sunlight pass through the atmosphere, but they prevent the heat that the sunlight brings from leaving the atmosphere.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Common Greenhouse Gases include:
- Carbon dioxide ($CO_{2}$)
- Methane ($CH_{4}$)
- Nitrous oxide ($N_{2}O$)
- Water vapor and Fluorinated gases.
Nitrogen ($N_{2}$) makes up about $78%$ of Earth's atmosphere but is not a greenhouse gas because its molecules, which consist of two atoms of the same element, do not vibrate in a way that traps infrared radiation.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Nitrogen is not a greenhouse gas.