Question

some of the gases in earths atmosphere, such as co₂, are called greenhouse gases. greenhouse gases interact with sunlight in a way that traps heat in the atmosphere. by trapping heat, greenhouse gases help insulate earth. the table below lists some important greenhouse gases and their atmospheric concentrations in units of parts per million (ppm), parts per billion (ppb), or parts per trillion (ppt). table with greenhouse gas (carbon dioxide (co₂), sulfur hexafluoride (sf₆), methane (ch₄), nitrous oxide (n₂o)) and concentration in 2015 (400 ppm, 9 ppt, 1,750 ppb, 325 ppb) use the data in the table to put the following greenhouse gases in order of atmospheric concentration. highest concentration buttons: nitrous oxide, methane, carbon dioxide, sulfur hexafluoride lowest concentration

Explanation:

Step1: Convert units to same scale

Understand unit conversions: \(1\ \text{ppm} = 1000\ \text{ppb} = 1000000\ \text{ppt}\).

• \( \text{CO}_2 \): \(400\ \text{ppm} = 400\times1000 = 400000\ \text{ppb}\)
• \( \text{SF}_6 \): \(9\ \text{ppt} = \frac{9}{1000}\ \text{ppb} = 0.009\ \text{ppb}\)
• \( \text{CH}_4 \): \(1750\ \text{ppb}\)
• \( \text{N}_2\text{O} \): \(325\ \text{ppb}\)

Step2: Compare concentrations

Order from highest to lowest:
\( \text{CO}_2\ (400000\ \text{ppb}) > \text{CH}_4\ (1750\ \text{ppb}) > \text{N}_2\text{O}\ (325\ \text{ppb}) > \text{SF}_6\ (0.009\ \text{ppb}) \)

Answer:

Highest concentration: carbon dioxide
Then: methane
Then: nitrous oxide
Lowest concentration: sulfur hexafluoride

(Order: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulfur hexafluoride)