Atmospheric carbon
I can describe how too much carbon dioxide affects Earth’s atmosphere and is leading to global warming.
Atmospheric carbon
I can describe how too much carbon dioxide affects Earth’s atmosphere and is leading to global warming.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- When fuels containing carbon are burned, it is common for carbon dioxide to be made.
- Carbon dioxide is a compound with molecules that each contain one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms.
- Less than 1% of the Earth’s atmosphere is carbon dioxide.
- Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas.
- In the atmosphere, some gases are greenhouse gases and have properties that enable its temperature to rise over time.
Common misconception
Burning hydrocarbons results in harmless products.
Teach about carbon dioxide being a greenhouse gas, and the impact on global temperatures.
Keywords
Carbon dioxide - Carbon dioxide is a compound with molecules that each contain one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms.
Atmosphere - The atmosphere is a layer of gases that surround a planet. It may contain small amounts of solid and liquid particles.
Greenhouse gas - Greenhouse gases absorb infrared (IR) radiation emitted from Earth.
Global warming - An increase in Earth’s surface temperature is known as global warming.
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
CO₂
H₂O
O₂
a layer of gases that surround a planet
absorb infrared (IR) radiation and trap ‘heat’ in the atmosphere
an increase in Earth’s surface temperature
molecules made of hydrogen and carbon atoms only