What is Carbon Dioxide?
Carbon Dioxide is one of the most commonly found gases on earth. Its chemical formula is CO2, meaning it is comprised of one carbon atom covalently double bounded two oxygen atoms. CO2 is incombustible, colorless, and in the typical exposure concentrations, odorless gas, that is also water soluble. Carbon dioxide is the result of oxidization of carbon.
Where is Carbon Dioxide Found?
Carbon dioxide comes from both natural and anthropogenic sources, and is necessary for all living things.
Natural: Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring compound, that is released when living organisms respire or decompose. Carbon dioxide is also naturally released into the atmosphere by the oceans, volcanos, forest fires, and carbonate rocks. Natural sources, like these, produce more carbon dioxide than anthropogenic sources.
Anthropogenic: The sources of CO2 that get the most attention are anthropogenic, meaning human-initiated or created. These sources are a part of everyday life for most people, and are unavoidable in most cases. These human activities include transportation, power and heat generation, chemical and petrochemical production and use, fossil fuel use, manufacturing, agriculture, food production, etc… The carbon dioxide produced by the harvesting and use of fossil fuels gets the most attention as a contributor to climate change. Recently, the oil and gas industries have started taking significant steps to curb their CO2 emissions. [Read more…]
