Students will conclude high concentrations of carbon dioxide gas are unhealthy for human beings. Due to increased level of carbon dioxide, the trapped heat cannot pass through the atmosphere into space because heat's longer, infrared waves are too large. This causes a rise in the ambient temperature on Earth known as the greenhouse effect. Some scientists fear that the rise in temperature will disrupt weather patterns, causing the polar icecaps to melt and release more water into the ocean. The build up of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is caused by deforestation, which reduces the number of trees available to absorb carbon dioxide, and the burning of fossil fuels in power plants.
Carbon dioxide is produced when vinegar and baking soda are mixed.
The gas will replace the oxygen and without oxygen, the flame will go out. BTB is an indicator for carbon dioxide. BTB will change from dark blue to light blue, green to yellow depending on the concentration of carbon dioxide. Students can test for the concentration of carbon dioxide using the gas produced when they exhale and when vinegar and baking soda are mixed. Procedure Demonstrate how carbon dioxide gas will extinguish a flame.