A gas in an atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infrared range, so contributing to the 'greenhouse effect'.
| Member | Definition | Class |
|---|
| methane | A one-carbon compound in which the carbon is attached by single bonds to four hydrogen atoms. It is a colourless, odourless, non-toxic but flammable gas (b.p. -161degreeC). | methane |
| nitrous oxide | A nitrogen oxide consisting of linear unsymmetrical molecules with formula N2O. While it is the most used gaseous anaesthetic in the world, its major commercial use, due to its solubility under pressure in vegetable fats combined with its non-toxicity in low concentrations, is as an aerosol spray propellant and aerating agent for canisters of 'whipped' cream. | dinitrogen oxide |
| ozone | An elemental molecule with formula O3. An explosive, pale blue gas (b.p. -112degreeC) that has a characteristic, pungent odour, it is continuously produced in the upper atmosphere by the action of solar ultraviolet radiation on atmospheric oxygen. It is an antimicrobial agent used in the production of bottled water, as well as in the treatment of meat, poultry and other foodstuffs. | ozone |
| perfluorotributylamine | An organofluorine compound that is tributylamine in which all the hydrogens have been replaced by fluorine atoms. | perfluorotributylamine |
| sulfur hexafluoride | A sulfur coordination entity consisting of six fluorine atoms attached to a central sulfur atom. It is the most potent greenhouse gas currently known, with a global warming potential of 23,900 times that of CO2 over a 100 year period (SF6 has an estimated lifetime in the atmosphere of between 800 and 3,000 years). | sulfur hexafluoride |