Question

Answer the following about what makes a molecule a good greenhouse gas, for 10 points each.
[10e] A good greenhouse gas must be able to absorb and re-emit thermal radiation from the Earth, which is mostly in this region of the EM spectrum that is slightly less energetic than visible light.
ANSWER: infrared light [or IR light; accept near IR light]
[10m] Diatomic molecules like oxygen and nitrogen aren't greenhouse gasses because IR-active vibrational modes must be accompanied by a change in this quantity, which is zero for O2 and N2.
ANSWER: dipole moment [prompt on electric dipole moment; prompt on polarity]
[10h] A 2024 paper by Wordsworth et al. suggests that CO2 is so effective as a greenhouse gas because its absorption range is significantly broadened by a coincidental Fermi resonance between a bending mode and its first of these modes. In this vibrational mode, bonds lengthen and contract together.
ANSWER: symmetric stretch [prompt on stretching modes]
<VD, Chemistry>

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Summary

2024 ARCADIA at UC Berkeley2024-12-06Y215.00100%50%0%
2024 ARCADIA at Waterloo2024-11-09Y110.00100%0%0%
2024 ARCADIA at GT2024-12-06Y110.00100%0%0%
2024 ARCADIA at Illinois2024-11-09Y110.00100%0%0%
2024 ARCADIA at Warwick2024-12-06Y210.00100%0%0%

Data

Illinois OrangeChicago A100010