Although carbon dioxide is present in very small proportions on the earth, it performs very useful functions. Some important functions of CO2 are described below:

(i) Carbon dioxide is used up by plants to prepare their food through photosynthesis. Thus, atmospheric carbon dioxide provides us food through plants.

(ii) Carbon dioxide dissolves an ocean water to form sedimentary carbonate rocks such as marble.

(iii) Carbon dioxide gas can absorb infrared radiation. This property of carbon dioxide has helped in maintaining temperature on the earth atomic a moderate level. Earth’s moderate temperature is necessary for the existence of life on this planet.

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However, if the concentration of CO2 in the air increases then the temperature of the earth’s atmosphere would also rise due to the greenhouse effect. This rise in temperature would adversely affect the plant and the animal life only the earth.