Stability of Carbon dioxide

Introduction : 

A Scottish chemist and physician JOSEPH BLACK discovered Carbon Dioxide, in 1754. Carbon Dioxide is very popular in Green house effect produced due to human activities, primarily by the combustion of fossil fuels. Carbon Dioxide can be easily found in the earth’s atmosphere, as the main source of carbon dioxide is humans and plants.

About Carbon Dioxide

Carbon Dioxide is a chemical compound composing of two oxygen atoms, which are covalently bonded to the single carbon atom.The chemical formula of carbon dioxide, is CO_2. Carbon dioxide generally exists as gas at room temperature. Carbon Dioxide forms 0.039% of the atmospheric air. Carbon dioxide is also present in liquid and solid forms under some special conditions. It can be solid when temperature will be as low as -78 ⁰C. Liquid carbon dioxide mainly exists when it is dissolved in water. Carbon dioxide is one of the gases, which is easily dissolved in water, when pressure is maintained. Carbon dioxide on leaving water gives bubbles

Properties of carbon Dioxide and its Stability

Carbon dioxide can be found mainly in air, but also in water because of carbon cycle. Some of the important properties of Carbon dioxide are as follows:

• Plants use it during the photosynthesis to make sugars, which will be consumed by them for their essential growth and development.
• It is generated as a byproduct in the combustion of fossil fuels and in the burning of vegetable matter.
• Amount of CO₂ present in the atmosphere changes due to the effect of plant growth.
• CO₂ has no liquid state below 5.1 atm pressure.
• In its solid-state carbon dioxide is known as Dry Ice.
• CO₂ is an acidic oxide; as a result, it turns litmus from blue to pink.
• CO₂ is an anhydride of Carbonic acid.
• CO₂ is toxic in higher concentrations, as a result it make people drowsy
• CO₂ is a colorless and odorless gas having acidic odor.
• It acts as an asphyxiant and an irritant.

The main reason for the stability of carbon dioxide in atmosphere is the carbon cycle, in which human, animals exhale carbon dioxide, and this CO₂ is being taken by plants during day to prepare their food essential for their growth, while in night plants also produce carbon dioxide. This entire process makes the carbon dioxide stable in the atmosphere.

Summary on Stability of Carbon dioxide

Carbon Dioxide is an organic compound used widely in commercial purposes. As it is used in the production of lasers and even in the soft drinks. This compound exists naturally in the earth's environment. Scientists became concerned by the fact that humans are producing too much carbon dioxide for plants to process, if it will continue to follow then it will lead to serious environmental problems.