The Many Uses of Carbon Dioxide Gas
Although only a tiny percentage of the earth’s atmosphere at about 0.04%, carbon dioxide has a huge impact on our lives. Perhaps you have heard the term “greenhouse gases” in reference to climate change. Well, the most prominent greenhouse gas in our atmosphere is CO2 and it is largely blamed for global warming over the last century. The reason that atmospheric CO2 has been increasing is because so many chemical processes that mankind conducts release carbon dioxide as a byproduct.
Sources of CO2 Gas
Combustion, fermentation, and digestion are three types of reactions that produce CO2. In terms of global warming, the burning of fossil fuels is commonly cited as the primary cause because carbon dioxide is released in massive quantities.
Breweries are another (less controversial) producer of CO2 as a result of large-scale fermentation. The natural production of CO2 is significant because the carbon dioxide can be captured and purified for commercial use at a very low cost. CO2 is easily produced, not very reactive, and stable under high pressure which makes it incredibly useful throughout a number of industries.
Carbonated Drinks
The most common association of CO2 gas is the bubbles in carbonated drinks. It isn’t a coincidence that it’s called “carbonation.” That term comes from the fact that carbon dioxide gas is added to the still liquid to make it sparkle or give it fizz.
In terms of alcoholic drinks, carbon dioxide is produced naturally by the yeast that ferments the sugars in the beverage. Interestingly, the desirable properties of beer, namely the alcohol and the carbonation, are “waste” products of fermentation.
Compressed CO2 Gas Bottles
The second most common use of CO2 is as a compressed gas. Under pressure, CO2 can be used as a propellant, as in paintball markers or fire extinguishers. But, CO2 is also contained and used in life preservers and the tires of bike and automobiles. Simply put, because CO2 is not very reactive (under normal conditions) or flammable and is extremely cheap, it makes an ideal compressed gas.
Other common uses of CO2 occur in nature, medicine, and the welding industry. Carbon dioxide is a key component of photosynthesis and essential to all plant life on earth. Plants take in CO2 and make the sugars they use to grow, producing oxygen gas in the process. Hospitals use CO2 gas in respirators to air in breathing and maintain the gas equilibrium of a patient’s blood.
Co2 as a Welding Gas
Finally, in welding CO2 is often used as a component of shielding gas mixtures, especially when MIG welding. Usually found in conjunction with majority argon gas, a small amount of carbon dioxide increases the temperature of the weld, allowing for greater penetration of materials.
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring gas with a number of industrial uses. Because it is easy to produce, cheap to buy, and has some desirable chemical properties, CO2 has become an important part of human civilization.
