How do astronauts prevent the buildup of carbon dioxide inside the spacecraft?

Question

How do astronauts prevent the buildup of carbon dioxide inside the spacecraft?

In: Chemistry

Answer 1

Spacecraft have CO2 scrubbers. Traditionally, scrubbers use box or cylinder containing soda lime that, when air is passed through it, chemically bonds with the carbon, and removes it from the air. Once the air has passed through the scrubber, the CO2 is broken down into carbon and oxygen through a simple chemical reaction. The carbon bonds to the soda lime, and stays in the scrubber, but the oxygen passes through it.