Some time ago we gave our readers information on the effect of oxygen and nitrogen on our lives and on other living things. Today we’ll consider carbon dioxide - what it is and what it does. The dictionary describes it this way: “a heavy, colorless, non-burning gas.”
Trees and plants need great quantities of carbon dioxide, which they get from the air moving around them. Humans and animals, however, can’t use it. We have to have oxygen every moment to stay alive. The Creator has designed a wonderful arrangement to maintain this balance. Every breath you take draws both oxygen and carbon dioxide into your lungs. The lungs immediately separate the two, sending the oxygen to your heart and discarding the carbon dioxide when you exhale.
But that’s only part of the story. By a process called photosynthesis, plants and trees use the carbon dioxide out of the air and release oxygen back into it. Thus, vegetation which uses the part harmful to people releases the oxygen so necessary to people. Isn’t that an amazing design!
Of course, we need to be careful about going into unused caves, or hiding inside a big box, or entering a small space where there is no fresh air. Workmen having to go into dangerous places are wise to wear special masks. And there are some miners without special ventilating equipment who take caged canary birds into mines with them. These cute little birds always fall off their perches if too much carbon dioxide accumulates. When that happens, the miners grab the cages and don’t waste any time getting outside with them, saving the lives of both the canaries and themselves.
But in spite of some dangers, carbon dioxide, when properly used, has some very good things about it. For instance, it helps give flavor to some soft drinks and adds the fizz to them as well. That’s where the name “carbonated soda” comes from. Another important use is in fighting fire with extinguishers loaded with this gas. Blown over a flame soon enough, the vapor from the carbon dioxide will put it out. And yet another use is sometimes in bakeries, where controlled amounts are applied to the yeast used in making dough for bread, cookies, cake, etc. This helps them hold their shape and stay fresh longer.
Surely when we think of this wonderful gas created by the Lord God, we should praise Him for His loving care over us, as the opening Bible verse tells us to. That love was most wonderfully expressed when the Lord Jesus gave Himself on the cross as a sacrifice to God for all the sins of each one who comes to Him to be their Saviour. Any who do this are assured a happy home in heaven with Him when life on earth is over. Come to Him today, if you have not yet done so. He will warmly welcome you.
ML-05/09/1993