Question

the diagram below shows how greenhouse gases trap infrared radiation near earth’s surface. the yellow arrows show solar radiation and the red arrows show infrared radiation. the diagram also shows the chemical formulas for some important atmospheric gases: nitrogen (n₂), oxygen (o₂), carbon dioxide (co₂), methane (ch₄), and water vapor (h₂o). the greenhouse gases are shown in red. though the greenhouse gases are all shown near each other in this diagram, in reality they are spread throughout earth’s atmosphere. use the diagram to sort each gas according to whether or not it can absorb infrared (ir) radiation. carbon dioxide methane oxygen water vapor absorbs ir radiation does not absorb ir radiation

Explanation:

Step1: Identify greenhouse gases

Greenhouse gases can absorb infrared radiation. From the problem statement, greenhouse gases are shown in red in the diagram. Carbon dioxide (\(CO_2\)), methane (\(CH_4\)), and water vapor (\(H_2O\)) are greenhouse gases.

Step2: Identify non - greenhouse gases

Oxygen (\(O_2\)) is not a greenhouse gas. Non - greenhouse gases do not absorb infrared radiation in the context of the greenhouse effect shown in the diagram.

Answer:

Absorbs IR radiation: carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor
Does not absorb IR radiation: oxygen