Carbon Dioxide, CO<SUB>2</SUB>

Carbon Dioxide, CO₂

Fortunatly HCl is not present in high concentrations and it does not absorb very strongly. CO₂, however, is present at higher concentrations and it absorbs strongly in the IR. Because CO₂ has more than two atoms, it can vibrate several different ways. These different types of motion occur at different frequencies.

The frequencies of these motions may be calculated based upon the mass of the atoms and the strength of the bonds. Much like the motion of a spring is calculated in a physics class. The animations that are presented here are based upon this type of calculation.

The IR spectrum of CO₂ (4.0 kPa total pressure) is shown below. You may select the animations by clicking on the image, or from the menu below.

CO2 IR Spectrum

IR Spectrum of CO2 (*.jdx)
Animation of vibrational modes: (link to flc files, animated gif's courtesy of Marty Schultz)
- Asymetric Stretch
- Symetric Stretch (not IR active)
- Vertical Bend
- Horizontal Bend (A degenerate mode with same motion as above but rotated by 90^o)

This page is maintained by
Scott Van Bramer
Department of Chemistry
Widener University
Chester, PA 19013

Please send any comments, corrections, or suggestions to svanbram@science.widener.edu.

This page has been accessed times since 1/5 /96 .
Last Updated 1/5/96

Carbon Dioxide, CO2

Carbon Dioxide, CO₂