Jump to this Activity »
Automotive Emissions and the Greenhouse Effect
http://www.enetlearning.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Automotive-Emission-and-the-Greenhouse-Effect.pdf

Texas State Energy Conservation Office

When last checked this resource was offline Our automated link checker has alerted the folks responsible for the part of our site where this problematic link is referenced. If you have further information about the link (e.g. a new location where the information can be found) please let us know.

You may be able to find previous versions at the Internet Archive.

This is a laboratory activity in which students will compare the amount of carbon dioxide in four different sources of gas and determine the carbon dioxide contribution from automobiles. They test ambient air, human exhalation, automobile exhaust, and nearly pure carbon dioxide from a vinegar/baking soda mixture.

Activity takes one 90-minute class period to conduct experimental work. Additional materials are necessary

Learn more about Teaching Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness»

Grade Level

Topics

Climate Literacy

This Activity builds on the following concepts of Climate Literacy.

Click a topic below for supporting information, teaching ideas, and sample activities.

Energy Literacy

This Activity builds on the following concepts of Energy Literacy.

Click a topic below for supporting information, teaching ideas, and sample activities.

Excellence in Environmental Education Guidelines

1. Questioning, Analysis and Interpretation Skills:C) Collecting information
Other materials addressing:
C) Collecting information.
2. Knowledge of Environmental Processes and Systems:2.4 Environment and Society:A) Human/environment interactions
Other materials addressing:
A) Human/environment interactions.
2. Knowledge of Environmental Processes and Systems:2.4 Environment and Society:C) Resources
Other materials addressing:
C) Resources.
2. Knowledge of Environmental Processes and Systems:2.4 Environment and Society:D) Technology
Other materials addressing:
D) Technology.
3. Skills for Understanding and Addressing Environmental Issues:3.1 Skills for Analyzing and Investigating Environmental Issues:C) Identifying and evaluation alternative solutions and courses of action
Other materials addressing:
C) Identifying and evaluation alternative solutions and courses of action.

Notes From Our Reviewers The CLEAN collection is hand-picked and rigorously reviewed for scientific accuracy and classroom effectiveness. Read what our review team had to say about this resource below or learn more about how CLEAN reviews teaching materials
Teaching Tips | Science | Pedagogy | Technical Details

Teaching Tips

  • Instructions are provided to the educator for collecting exhaust from a vehicle; this will need to be done prior to class and the educator may wish to seek the assistance of another adult for this process.
  • Educators should describe the pH changes that occur when brothymol blue is combined with CO2 (forms an acid), and when an acidic solution is treated with ammonia. (Ammonia is a base and thus neutralizes the acid.)
  • Students with a latex allergy should observe this lab, but not directly handle balloons.
  • Educators might discuss the relative concentrations of CO2 in air (0.04%), human exhalation (5.5%), automobile exhaust (varies), and pure CO2 (100%) and how these concentrations relate to the amount of ammonia drops added.
  • Educators could use dry ice as an opener for this activity or add it to the list of substances to test.

About the Content

  • The lab's application section walks students through the steps for calculating the amount of CO2 created by 3 different automobiles to understand the difference in contribution.
  • The activity uses brothymol blue to indicate the presence of carbonic acid, formed when CO2 from various sources is bubbled through water. Drops of ammonia are used to indicate relative amounts of CO2 present between the samples.
  • Correction from expert scientist: The activity states that the CO2 content of the atmosphere of 380 ppm is an unprecedented value. Based on the latest ice core data, this value is unprecedented in at least the last 800,000 years; however, prior to 150 million years ago the values have exceeded 1000 ppm - see IPCC AR4 chapter 6.

About the Pedagogy

  • Students will need to construct their own data tables.
  • Students will likely need assistance bubbling the collected CO2 through the water in the vials/test tubes.

Technical Details/Ease of Use

  • Required materials can almost all be found in a typical chemistry laboratory.
Entered the Collection: February 2012 Last Reviewed: February 2012

Jump to this Activity »