What gases do not contribute to the greenhouse effect?

Answer 1

There are many gasses that don't cause air pollution, such as nitrogen and any noble gasses such as argon (among others). They are rarely discussed because they are rare or simply because things that do nothing and aren't causing problems are generally ignored.

Answer 2

Any gas with 3 or more atoms can be a greenhouse gas, (as at least three atoms are necessary for the gas to vibrate and capture the infrared light) so gases made up of one atom (Hydrogen, H) or two atoms (Oxygen, O2) are not greenhouse gases.

Answer 3

• Nitrogen, it is 80% of the atmosphere and inert.
• Helium, inert.
• Neon, inert.
• Argon, inert.
• Krypton, inert.
• Xenon, inert.
• Fluorine, so reactive it will combine with solids on the earth's surface and remove itself quickly from the air.
• etc.

Answer 4

Wind and geothermal energy contribute very little to global warming. Solar panels lower earth's albedo, but they cover such a small portion of the surface they don't contribute much. The energy generated by solar power significantly offsets the global warming generated by an equal wattage of coal oxidation.

Water backed up behind hydroelectric dams also tend to decrease earth's albedo, but the net effect again is pretty minimal.

Nuclear power consumes a measure of fuel in the extraction and processing of heavy radioisotope ores, but even small quantities generate considerable amounts of power.

Answer 5

Any gas with fewer than three atoms will NOT warm up in the atmosphere. Oxygen (O2) is an example.

Answer 6

Oxygen, nitrogen etc have fewer than three atoms in their molecule and so do NOT contribute to the greenhouse effect.

Answer 7

Oxygen, or any gas with fewer than three molecules. All greenhouse gases have at least three molecules (carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4)). This allows them to capture the heat.