Question

Combustion of hydrocarbons such as undecane (_____) produces carbon dioxide, a "greenhouse gas." Greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere can trap the Sun's heat, raising the average temperature of the Earth. For this reason there has been a great deal of international discussion about whether to regulate the production of carbon dioxide.

Answer 1

Answer: Undecane, C11H24 is a liquid hydrocarbon from the alkane homologue ( family ).

Explanation:

All hydrocarbons burn in air to release H20 and CO2.

Combustion of hydrocarbons thus increases the percentage of CO2 present in the atmosphere which is not so good as CO2 is a greenhouse gas. Greenhouse gases produce the greenhouse effect. The green house effect is the warming effect produced when gases present in the atmosphere allow and retain the radiation from the sun to the earth. Examples of greenhouse gases are CO2, CH4, SO3, NO, CFCs. The greenhouse effect leads to an increase in the temperature of the earth subsequently leading to (I) melting of large amounts of ice at the poles causing flooding. (II) rapid evaporation of water from Earth’s surface. (III) decrease in crop yield.

Also, high concentration CFCs ( chlorofluorocarbons ), as widely used in aerosols, coolants and packaging foams, in the atmosphere depletes the ozone layer leading to global warming. In 1996 an international agreement was reached for a complete ban of CFCs and more countries are now going Green ( using alternative energy sources ) so as to minimize emissions of these greenhouse gases