Explain that burning fossil fuels increases carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

In the subtopic Human activities which contribute to an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, this learning objective focuses on explain that burning fossil fuels increases carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Within Carbon dioxide and methane as greenhouse gases, students should explain this idea in the exact curriculum context rather than as an isolated fact. Approved keywords for this objective include fossil fuels and carbon dioxide. fossil fuels means natural fuels formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals, which release carbon dioxide when burned. Avoid students often think that burning fossil fuels only releases carbon dioxide that was already present in the fuel, ignoring that the combustion process also produces new CO₂ from the oxygen in the air; instead explain that when fossil fuels are burned, the carbon atoms in the fuel combine with oxygen from the atmosphere to form new CO₂ molecules, thereby increasing the total amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere. For exam answers, make sure to explain how burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.