(a) Greenhouse gases

(b) Catalytic converter

(c) Ultraviolet B

Solution: The following are discussed briefly below-

(a) Greenhouse gases

The global increase in the average temperature of the Earth as a result of greenhouse gases is referred to as this effect. Methane, carbon dioxide, and water vapour are the gases in question. Some solar rays are absorbed and released back into the atmosphere as they strike the Earth. The greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap these rays, helping to keep the Earth warm and so suited for human survival. As a result, a rise in greenhouse gas levels can lead to an increase in Earth’s general temperature, resulting in global warming.

(b) Catalytic converter

These are devices that are installed in cars to reduce vehicular pollution and contain valuable metals like palladium, platinum, and rhodium that act as catalysts. When unburned hydrocarbons in the vehicle exhaust flow through the catalytic converter, they are transformed into water and carbon dioxide. Catalytic converters convert nitric oxide and carbon monoxide into nitrogen gas and carbon dioxide, respectively.

(c) Ultraviolet-B

It is a type of electromagnetic radiation with a shorter wavelength than visible light. They are hazardous rays that penetrate through the ozone hole on the Earth’s surface and are produced by the Sun. UV-B is harmful to humans’ health because it destroys DNA and speeds up the aging process. These rays have also been linked to skin cancer and darkening. In humans, high doses of UV-B cause corneal cataracts.