Question

Photosynthetic plants use the following reaction to produce glucose, cellulose, and more:

${\mathbf{\text{6CO}}}_{\mathbf{\text{2}}}{\mathbf{\text{(g)\hspace{0.17em}+\hspace{0.17em}6H}}}_{\mathbf{\text{2}}}\mathbf{\text{O(l)}}\mathbf{\to }{\mathbf{\text{C}}}_{\mathbf{\text{6}}}{\mathbf{\text{H}}}_{\mathbf{\text{12}}}{\mathbf{\text{O}}}_{\mathbf{\text{6}}}{\mathbf{\text{(s)\hspace{0.17em}+\hspace{0.17em}6O}}}_{\mathbf{\text{2}}}\mathbf{\text{(g)}}$

How might extensive destruction of forests exacerbate the greenhouse effect?

Short answer

Extensive destruction of forests leads to an increase in carbon dioxide gases as it cannot be converted to other molecules via the photosynthesis process resulting in exacerbating the greenhouse effect.

Step-by-step solution

Cause of greenhouse effect.

The main cause of the greenhouse effect is carbon dioxide, which releases from natural processes like respiration and from the burning of fossil fuels like oil, gas, and coal.

Deforestation is another cause of the release of ${\text{CO}}_2$.

Destruction of forests exacerbates the greenhouse effect.

Forests eliminate carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by utilizing carbon dioxide and water to produce different types of molecules but extensive destruction of forests leads to an increase in carbon dioxide gases as it cannot be converted to other molecules via the photosynthesis process thus resulting in exacerbating the greenhouse effect.