Do greenhouse gases need to be polar?

In summary, greenhouse gases do not necessarily need to be polar molecules in order to absorb energy and heat up. While non-polar diatomic molecules cannot undergo pure vibrational transitions, molecules with 3 or more atoms can have active asymmetric vibrational modes in the infra-red. It is possible for a gas to be heated through an absorption line, but it may not result in a significant temperature rise due to limited power and bandwidth.
  • #1
Maartenc
10
0
Hi,

I have been wondering if greenhouse gases always need to be polar molecules. Can a gas also absorb energy, and heat up, without being polar?
 
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  • #2
Obviously no, since CO2 and CH4 are not a polar molecules :smile:

What is important is that the molecule be active in the infra-red, which corresponds to vibrational excitation. This precludes non-polar diatomic molecules, for which pure vibrational transitions are dipole-forbidden, but for molecules of 3 and more atoms, there are asymmetric vibrational modes that are active in the infra-red.
 
  • #3
Ah, thanks, and apologies for my ignorance. I guess what I wanted to know was can you heat up a gas through an absorption line?
 
  • #4
I don't know the definitive answer to this but I suspect that there could be insufficient power in the limited bandwidth of a well single absorption line (even starting with 1kW/m2 from the Sun) to give a measurable temperature rise from that mechanism.
Someone may well tell me different.
 

FAQ: Do greenhouse gases need to be polar?

1. Do all greenhouse gases have to be polar to contribute to global warming?

No, not all greenhouse gases need to be polar to contribute to global warming. While polar molecules such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, and methane are major contributors to the greenhouse effect, non-polar molecules like ozone and nitrous oxide also play a role in trapping heat in the Earth's atmosphere.

2. Why are polar greenhouse gases more effective at trapping heat than non-polar ones?

Polar molecules have a dipole moment, which means that one end of the molecule has a slight positive charge and the other end has a slight negative charge. This allows them to interact with other polar molecules and absorb and emit infrared radiation, which is the main way that the Earth's atmosphere traps heat.

3. Can non-polar greenhouse gases still contribute to climate change?

Yes, non-polar greenhouse gases can still contribute to climate change. While they may not be as effective at trapping heat as polar molecules, they can still absorb and emit some infrared radiation, contributing to the overall warming of the Earth's atmosphere.

4. Are greenhouse gases the only factor causing global warming?

No, greenhouse gases are not the only factor causing global warming. Other factors such as deforestation, changes in land use, and human activities like burning fossil fuels also contribute to the increase in the Earth's average temperature.

5. Are there any benefits to greenhouse gases?

Yes, greenhouse gases play an important role in regulating the Earth's temperature and making it habitable for life. Without them, the Earth would be too cold to sustain life. However, an excess of greenhouse gases and the resulting increase in temperature can have negative impacts on the environment and human health.

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