Carbonic acid gas
Carbonic acid gas, also known as carbon dioxide (CO2), is a colorless, odorless gas that is vital to life on Earth. It is produced by the respiration of animals and humans, the decay of organic matter, and the burning of fossil fuels. Carbonic acid gas plays a crucial role in the carbon cycle, a process that regulates the Earth's climate and supports the growth of plants.
Production[edit | edit source]
Carbonic acid gas is produced naturally through several processes. The primary source is the respiration of animals and humans, which exhale carbonic acid gas as a waste product. It is also produced by the decay of organic matter, such as dead plants and animals. Human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, have significantly increased the amount of carbonic acid gas in the atmosphere.
Role in the Carbon Cycle[edit | edit source]
The carbon cycle is a complex process that involves the movement of carbon between the atmosphere, oceans, soil, and living organisms. Carbonic acid gas plays a crucial role in this cycle. Plants absorb carbonic acid gas from the atmosphere during photosynthesis, converting it into glucose to fuel their growth. When these plants die and decay, or are consumed by animals, the carbon is released back into the atmosphere as carbonic acid gas.
Impact on Climate Change[edit | edit source]
Carbonic acid gas is a greenhouse gas, which means it traps heat in the Earth's atmosphere, contributing to global warming and climate change. The concentration of carbonic acid gas in the atmosphere has been increasing steadily since the Industrial Revolution, largely due to human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. This increase in carbonic acid gas is one of the main drivers of the current trend of global warming.
Health Effects[edit | edit source]
In high concentrations, carbonic acid gas can be harmful to human health. It can cause shortness of breath, unconsciousness, and even death in extreme cases. However, in normal atmospheric concentrations, it is harmless to humans.
See Also[edit | edit source]
This climate change related article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it.
 | This environment-related article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it. |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
