Question

Identify the non-GreenHouse Gas (GHG) from the following.
(A) Methane
(B) Nitrous oxide
(C) Sulphur hexafluoride
(D) Carbon monoxide

Answer 1

Hint: Gases that do not cause green-house effects are known as non-greenhouse gas. Generally, carbon derivative gases and other oxides containing nitrogen are considered as green-house gases. Here, one gas is a non- GreenHouse gas; it does not cause climatic changes directly.

Complete step by step solution:
Before answering this question, let us discuss the green-house effect.
We must know that the greenhouse effect is an effect caused by green-house gases which result in the trapping of heat close to the surface of the earth. This gas keeps the heat from exiting the earth’s atmosphere and thus keeps it trapped inside causing the temperature of the planet to rise.
The most common greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide that is $C{{O}_{2}}$, methane which is $C{{H}_{4}}$ and other oxides containing nitrogen.
These gases arise naturally in our atmosphere. These gases have kept our planet from overcooling since the very beginning and thus provided an environment for preferable conditions to live in.
However, since the last century human habits like the burning of fossil fuels etc. have caused a major increase in the percentage of these gases in the environment. The energy balance of the planet is interfered due to these habitats and has caused the level of carbon dioxide to increase.
The excess carbon dioxide traps extra heat on the surface of the earth which in turn causes a rise in temperature.
We can understand from the above discussion that methane and nitrous oxides are greenhouse gases. Sulphur hexafluoride also contributes to global warming and is considered a greenhouse gas. But, carbon monoxide does not affect the planet's environment directly so it is not considered a greenhouse gas.

Therefore, the correct answer is option (D) carbon monoxide.

Note: We do not consider carbon monoxide as a green-house gas because it does not trap heat like other green-house gases. However, its presence affects the abundance of green-house gases like methane and carbon dioxide. Greenhouse gases cause global warming i.e. the rise in temperature. Global warming is the major reason for the melting of glacial ice, droughts, water shortage, increases the risk of fire breakouts and many more.