How does no2 causes green house effect while n2 doesn't ?

Dear Student,

Greehouse house gases are the gases which absorb infrared radiations of the sun. N2 is a diatomic gas having same atoms, it has zero dipole moment and is infrared inactive. Therefore, it cannot absorb infrared radiations and hence is not a greenhouse gas, 
NO2 also is not a greenhouse gas, however N2O is. This gas is infrared active and thus absorbs infrared radiations.

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