Which of the following physical mechanisms best explains why carbon dioxide (CO2) acts as a greenhouse gas by absorbing infrared radiation, while nitrogen (N2) and oxygen (O2) do not?

Options:

• A: CO2 has a higher molecular weight than N2 and O2, which allows it to trap heavier thermal photons.
• B: CO2 molecules can undergo asymmetrical stretching and bending vibrations that create a temporary dipole moment, whereas homonuclear diatomic molecules like N2 and O2 cannot.
• C: CO2 possesses a permanent magnetic dipole that interacts with the electromagnetic field of solar radiation.
• D: CO2 is highly soluble in water vapor, which chemically alters its absorption spectrum to match the infrared band.

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