What Kind of Gas Can You Not See?

Every day we are surrounded by gases. Some are visible, but most are not. One gas that we cannot live without is oxygen, which is a colorless, odorless gas without which every living thing on earth would cease to exist. Some other gases are classified as volatile organic compounds or VOCs. VOCs are gases that combine with particles in the air to produce gases that are visible, like smog.

Carbon Monoxide

• Carbon monoxide is called the invisible danger. This colorless, odorless compound is commonly released into the atmosphere through organic sources such as algae, kelp and the decomposition of plants in the water. Other sources stem from volcanoes, smoke from forest fires, and even lightning. The problem with carbon monoxide lies in human interaction leading to an over-production of the gas. When carbon monoxide is combined with fossil fuels such as gasoline, natural gas or propane it can become deadly if it is not completely burned as fuel. Carbon monoxide poisoning can make people feel dizzy, queasy, drowsy, or produce headaches. Prolonged exposure can lead to death.

Carbon Dioxide

• Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring gas that is released into the atmosphere whenever a person exhales, but breathing is not the only way carbon dioxide makes its way into the atmosphere. Burning fossil fuels such as gas and coal releases more carbon dioxide into the air. Generally carbon dioxide can be neutralized by plant photosynthesis, which removes the carbon dioxide from the air and stores it in the plant's biomass as carbon. Deforestation has caused the amount of carbon dioxide to increase to a point that there is not enough plant life to neutralize it in the atmosphere, leading to greenhouse gases and global warming.

Hydrogen

• Hydrogen in its pure state is colorless and odorless. This gas can be produced cheaply using a number of waste materials that currently go into landfills. Garbage, sewage, and waste materials from paper products can be used to produce hydrogen. Hydrogen can be used as a pollution-free replacement for the fuels we currently use to heat our homes and power our vehicles. Hydrogen is currently used in the production of methanol, rocket fuel, hydrochloric acid and for the production of hydrogenated fats and oils.

Methane

• Methane gas is the byproduct of the production of fossil fuels and waste management. Methane is also naturally occurring from wetlands, termites, oceans, and bodies of fresh water. Methane gas is released into the atmosphere from garbage landfills, waste from cattle and other livestock and untreated human waste. Methane gases are trapped inside coal and are released when coal is removed from the earth. Mining releases methane regardless of whether the mining operation takes place underground or on the surface. In addition to coal mining, natural gas and oil systems are responsible for increases of methane gas in the atmosphere.