What Scientific Term or Concept Ought to be More Widely Known? Organic Reactions By Zachary Arroyo ('20)
Organic reactions are very important and happen all around us in everyday life. An organic reaction is a combustion reaction containing hydrogen, oxygen and carbon. This type of reaction will always yield both gaseous H2O (water) and gaseous CO2 (carbon dioxide). In order for a combustion reaction to occur, the presence of gaseous O2 (oxygen gas) is necessary. A combustion reaction also always releases energy, usually in the form of heat or light.
A form of an organic reaction that often takes place is the burning of gasoline in cars. While this may allow for the our cars to move, there are major negative side effects that occur. Since gasoline contains hydrogen, carbon and oxygen, it is an organic compound. Therefore when it is burned (combusted), it releases carbon dioxide into the air which is harmful for the atmosphere. The carbon dioxide released is considered to be a greenhouse gas since it acts similar to a greenhouse roof. The light from the sun shines through the atmosphere during the day, but at night the carbon dioxide, along with other greenhouse gases, do not allow the accumulated heat to leave the atmosphere. This diagram demonstrates how greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere:
The heat trapped in the atmosphere is harmful since it affects weather and melts glaciers and the polar ice caps. This process is called global warming. The melting leads to a rise in sea levels, which can be devastating to coastal settlements around the world.
Organic reactions do not only occur in the burning of gasoline to power cars, it occurs all around us in many different forms, many of which release greenhouse gases. That is why it is important for everyone to understand not only the impact of greenhouse gases, which can be released through organic reactions, but also the science behind them as well. Without an understanding of the science, it is difficult to grasp the reality and danger which this problem poses to everyone.
Work Cited:
Stoller-Conrad, J. (2018, March 8). [Greenhouse effect of Earth's atmosphere keeps some of the Sun's energy from escaping back into space at night.]. Retrieved April 2, 2018, from https://climatekids.nasa.gov/greenhouse-effect/
Stoller-Conrad, J. (2018, March 8). What is the Greenhouse Effect? Retrieved April 02,
2018, from https://climatekids.nasa.gov/greenhouse-effect/
A form of an organic reaction that often takes place is the burning of gasoline in cars. While this may allow for the our cars to move, there are major negative side effects that occur. Since gasoline contains hydrogen, carbon and oxygen, it is an organic compound. Therefore when it is burned (combusted), it releases carbon dioxide into the air which is harmful for the atmosphere. The carbon dioxide released is considered to be a greenhouse gas since it acts similar to a greenhouse roof. The light from the sun shines through the atmosphere during the day, but at night the carbon dioxide, along with other greenhouse gases, do not allow the accumulated heat to leave the atmosphere. This diagram demonstrates how greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere:
The heat trapped in the atmosphere is harmful since it affects weather and melts glaciers and the polar ice caps. This process is called global warming. The melting leads to a rise in sea levels, which can be devastating to coastal settlements around the world.
Organic reactions do not only occur in the burning of gasoline to power cars, it occurs all around us in many different forms, many of which release greenhouse gases. That is why it is important for everyone to understand not only the impact of greenhouse gases, which can be released through organic reactions, but also the science behind them as well. Without an understanding of the science, it is difficult to grasp the reality and danger which this problem poses to everyone.
Work Cited:
Stoller-Conrad, J. (2018, March 8). [Greenhouse effect of Earth's atmosphere keeps some of the Sun's energy from escaping back into space at night.]. Retrieved April 2, 2018, from https://climatekids.nasa.gov/greenhouse-effect/
Stoller-Conrad, J. (2018, March 8). What is the Greenhouse Effect? Retrieved April 02,
2018, from https://climatekids.nasa.gov/greenhouse-effect/
