Carbon Dioxide

Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom. It is a colorless and odorless gas that is essential for life on Earth. Carbon dioxide plays a crucial role in the carbon cycle, which is the process by which carbon is exchanged and recycled through the Earth's atmosphere, oceans, and biosphere.

Properties of Carbon Dioxide

Chemical formula: CO2
State at room temperature: Gas
Solubility: Carbon dioxide is soluble in water, forming carbonic acid, which contributes to the acidity of rainwater and the oceans.
Role in the greenhouse effect: Carbon dioxide is a major greenhouse gas, contributing to the Earth's natural greenhouse effect and influencing the planet's temperature.

Sources and Uses of Carbon Dioxide

Carbon dioxide is produced through various natural and human activities, including respiration, volcanic eruptions, and the combustion of fossil fuels. It is also used in various industrial processes, such as carbonation of beverages, fire extinguishers, and as a refrigerant.

Study Guide

Here are some key points to remember about carbon dioxide:

What is the chemical formula of carbon dioxide?
What state is carbon dioxide at room temperature?
How does carbon dioxide contribute to the acidity of rainwater and the oceans?
What is the role of carbon dioxide in the greenhouse effect?
What are some sources and uses of carbon dioxide?

Understanding the properties and significance of carbon dioxide is important for understanding its role in the environment and in various industrial processes.

◂Science Worksheets and Study Guides Second Grade. What is science?

Vocabulary/Answer key

What is science?

The resources above cover the following skills:

LIFE SCIENCE

Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

Obtain information from literature and other media to illustrate that there are many different kinds of living things and that they exist in different places on land and in water (e.g., woodland, tundra, desert, rainforest, ocean, river).

EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE

Earth’s Systems

Make observations from media to obtain information about Earth’s events that happen over a short period of time (e.g., tornados, volcanic explosions, earthquakes) or over a time period longer than one can observe (e.g., erosion of rocks, melting of glaciers).

Collect and evaluate data to identify water found on Earth and determine whether it is a solid or a liquid (e.g., glaciers as solid forms of water; oceans, lakes, rivers, streams as liquid forms of water).