Which type of gas absorbs infrared light energy, leading to an increase in temperature?

The correct answer is greenhouse gas because these gases have molecular structures that allow them to absorb and emit infrared radiation effectively. When sunlight reaches the Earth’s surface, it is absorbed and then re-radiated as infrared energy. Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor, trap some of this infrared energy in the atmosphere, which leads to warming. This process is essential for maintaining the Earth’s temperature, preventing it from dropping too low for life to thrive.

In contrast, inert gases do not typically interact with infrared radiation in the way greenhouse gases do; they have stable configurations that make them unreactive and incapable of absorbing this type of energy. Ozone does absorb some infrared radiation, but its primary role is in absorbing ultraviolet radiation from the sun, which protects living organisms. Carbon monoxide, while it can absorb some infrared light, is not considered a significant greenhouse gas compared to carbon dioxide or methane and plays a minimal role in the greenhouse effect.