Lab: Global Warming and Greenhouse Gas Experiment

The Global Warming and Greenhouse Effect laboratory exercise was developed to demonstrate global warming for introductory chemistry courses for both majors and non-majors. The experiment was created for general chemistry or environmental science courses and tested at the Siena College workshop in 2013. Students compare and contrast temperature changes between two plastic containers under illumination - one containing ambient air and the other enriched with carbon dioxide. Students then answer questions related to the greenhouse gas effect and how green chemistry can help address climate change and global warming.