Download Solubility of Carbon Dioxide

RMetS
Experiments and Demonstrations
Royal Meteorological Society
Solubility of Carbon Dioxide
Learn about CO2 in the oceans!
SOLUBILITY= This is the property of a solid, liquid or gas to dissolve in another liquid.
Equipment
◊
◊
Two large bottles of identical fizzy drink
A fridge or freezer
Method
1. Keep one bottle out of the fridge or
freezer and put the other in the fridge/
freezer for about an hour.
3. Immediately open both bottles SEPARATELY
3. Immediately open both bottles
and listen to the fizzing noise made by each.
SEPERATELY
listen
to the
fizzing
The
solubility and
of the
carbon
dioxide
in water
noise
made
by
each.
The
solubility
of So the
increases as the temperature decreases.
the carbon
dioxide
inin
water
decreases
water
in the bottle
put
the freezer
will have
absorbed
more CO2 from
the airThis
above
as the temperature
increases.
is it, and
hence
there will be
less atmosphere
pressure of CO2. This is
very important
in the
very
important in the atmosphere system.
system.
2. Take the bottle out of the fridge/freezer.
What does this mean?
How does this affect the atmosphere?
By the
same token,
the solubility
of carbon
dioxide
in wateras
decreases
as the
The
solubility
of carbon
dioxide
in water
decreases
the temperature
of
temperature
of the water
increases.
This is important
for the climate
the
water increases.
This
is important
for the climate
systemsystem
because as
because
as the
oceans
warm, dioxide,
carbon dioxide,
a greenhouse
is releasedinto
into the
the
oceans
warm,
carbon
a greenhouse
gas,gas,
is released
the atmosphere.
Thisisisknown
known as
feedback
mechanism.
The release
of
atmosphere.
This
asaapositive
positive
feedback
mechanism.
The release
of
CO2 into
atmosphere
could
lead to
increased
trappingtrapping
of heat from
Earth
CO2
intothe
the
atmosphere
could
lead
to increased
of the
heat
from the
and and
theremany
is nowscientists
compellingnow
evidence
thatincreases
increases iningreenhouse
gases
in thein the
sun
believe
greenhouse
gases
atmosphere
are
causing
climate
change.
atmosphere is causing global warming.
Where can I find more information?
For more information on CO2 in ice cores please see the link below:
http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2004/12/co2-in-ice-cores/
For more information on ocean temperatures and CO2 please see the link below:
http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/gen06/gen06306.htm
www.rmets.org/experiments