Explain what happened in that mountain village we described in class. You explanation will need to include detail that includes density and molecular weight of gases.
The mountain village that was drawn on the board had a valley between mountains. To the right of the picture there was an old Volcanoe that has a lot of CO2 present. There was a house and some dead stick figures. When the new people came along and found the dead people. There was no visable reason that the people should be dead. So how did they die?
Density is the quanitity of mass per unit volume.
The molecular weight of carbon dioxide (CO2) is 44.01.
At standard temperature and pressure, the density of carbon dioxide is around 1.98 kg/m3, about 1.5 times that of air.
"Volcanoes release more than 130 million tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere every year. This colorless, odorless gas usually does not pose a direct hazard to life because it typically becomes diluted to low concentrations very quickly whether it is released continuously from the ground or during episodic eruptions. But in certain circumstances, CO2 may become concentrated at levels lethal to people and animals. Carbon dioxide gas is heavier than air and the gas can flow into in low-lying areas; breathing air with more than 30% CO2 can quickly induce unconsciousness and cause death. In volcanic or other areas where CO2 emissions occur, it is important to avoid small depressions and low areas that might be CO2 traps." (http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hazards/gas/index.php)
According to this quote that I found online volcanoes release a lto of CO2 each year. Towards the end of the quote it says how it is important to avoice low areas that could trap CO2. This is exactly was this low valley from the diagram does. The CO2 gets trapped between the mountains in that low area and since the people are inhaling it, they die.
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