Carbon dioxide is one of the gases in our atmosphere, which is uniformly distributed over the earth's surface.
Layman's explanation:
Carbon dioxide was first described in the 17th century by Jan Baptist van Helmont, a Belgium chemist. The chemical CO2 is released into the atmosphere when carbon-containing fossil fuels like oil, natural gas, and coal are burned in air. It is also produced by various microorganisms in fermentation and is breathed out by animals. Plants absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, using both the carbon and the oxygen to construct carbohydrates. Every year the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere is increasing. CO2 build-up in the atmosphere is caused by deforestation, therefore reducing the number of trees available to absorb CO2. Excess CO2 in the environment causes Global Warming and the Greenhouse Effect. It is also toxic to humans since inhalation of large amounts of CO2 can cause suffocation. Some beverages, such as beer and sparkling wine contain carbon dioxide as a result of fermentation.
Miscellaneous comments:
Structure obtained courtesy of the Cambridge Structural Database
Citation of a publication:
C.S. Yoo, H. Kohlmann, H. Cynn, M.F. Nicol,
V. Iota, T. LeBihan; Phys. Rev. B, Condens.
Mat., 65, (2002), 104103.
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