AlGore - Natural CO2 is heavier than man-made CO2. Is this true?

[rrr51]

I was listening to the hearings and just heard AlGore say that natural CO2, such as CO2 produced by volcanos, is heavier than CO2 produced by man. Did I hear right? Is that what he said? Is it true? Does anybody know?

[Doogle]

..this clowns neurons have never used,will never use,can't possibly find the HOV lanes in his brain.


Doogle

[Bob]

The only possible explanation for this would be the differences between carbon-12, carbon-13, and carbon-14 atoms. The ratios of these are used in the radiocarbon dating process.

The extra proton would make carbon-14 a bit heavier than a carbon-13 atom. I can hardly imagine that difference could be measured though.

Also, since C-14 results initially from cosmic rays, I don't see how natural versus man-made CO2 would have any differences in the ratios anyway.

Wiki link on radiocarbon dating

[true_blue_texican]

Natural Al Gore is heavier than .... oh, this is too easy!

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Man-made CO2 comes from burning carbon compounds that have been in the ground for millions of years. It's almost all carbon 12.

Natural CO2 contains carbon 14 that is created in the atmosphere by radiation from space, which would be heavier.

[montomike]

Gore did get a degree in "Govement" from Harvard. He also dropped out of Divinity School.

He also aced "Bong 101". He holds the Guiness Book of World Records longest time for rebreathing without taking his lips off a bong. I believe that it is 8 hours, 45 minutes, and 43 seconds.

[RockinRight]

CO2 is, by definition, Carbon Dioxide, one carbon atom for two oxygen atoms. As the weight of oxygen and carbon atoms is what it is, and the composition of CO2 is what it is, there's no way "artificial" CO2 weighs more than "natural."

[gesully]

Seems to me if some CO2 is heavier than another we should be able to capture a volume of air, separate out the "light CO@" and "heavy CO2", weigh them, do a little arithmetic and determine what the human contribution is.

[pabianice]

G-D, that man is stupid!

[Puppage]

and just heard AlGore say that natural CO2, such as CO2 produced by volcanos, is heavier than CO2 produced by man

What weighs more a ton of feathers or a ton of bricks?

[Dr.Deth]

ROFL!

[azhenfud]

"The American people would not want to know of any misquotes that Al Gore may or may not make."

[HEY4QDEMS]

I guess they didn't teach chemistry at divinity school.

[ArrogantBustard]

CO2 is CO2 ... molecules are indistinguishable. I suppose that the Carbon-14 content might be a bit different, but that doesn't affect the chemical properties, or significantly affect the material properties. I think Manbearpig's knowledge of physics is unimpressive.

[CougarGA7]

I really dont have much to say about neutrons...neither positive or negative.

[Night Hides Not]

Man, you guys are making this thing way too complicated. All algore's trying to say is that CO2 emitted by volcanoes is natural, CO2 emitted by humans is not. Thus, CO2 emitted by humans is bad. Got it?

[azhenfud]

"We're going to have the best educated American people in the world." --Vice President Al Gore, 9/21/97

[geo40xyz]

Don't waste your time listening to a FOOL!!!

[Mrs.Z]

"If its Carbon-14 then we can radio-carbon date algores carbon footprint."

Too late.

He decayed long ago.

[Mom MD]

THe only thing I can think of is given his body habitus, Algores CO2 may be heavier than ours :-)
otherwise, his grasp of chemistry is astounding. Simply brilliant in fact.

[jpsb]

Possible, but unlikely is any real sense. Some carbon atoms might have more protons/neutrons then "normal" making it slightly heavier. Not up on the numbers, but either way it is not significant in it's effect on weather/warming/whatever. Kinda like a meaningless factoid.