<p>Earth's atmosphere is especially good at refracting blue light, which makes the sky blue.</p>
<p>Which gas or gasses is/are responsible for this?</p>
<p>If some gasses in the atmosphere do not refract blue light, what colors DO they refract?</p>
<p>Is it possible to have a breathable atmosphere with a non-blue sky?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-09-20T06:49:50.607Z
please take a look here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rayleigh_scattering you have multiple questions here please edit your question so it focuses on only one of them.
trond hansen
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-09-20T23:32:43.953Z
The simple answer to your question is "molecular nitrogen" since it is the majority of our atmosphere.  But, calling this refraction is incorrect IMO; it should be called scattered light.
f.thorpe
<atmosphere><atmospheric-optics>
Which chemicals are most responsible for the blue sky?
cowlinator
# Which chemicals are most responsible for the blue sky?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-09-20)

Earth's atmosphere is especially good at refracting blue light, which makes the sky blue.

Which gas or gasses is/are responsible for this?

If some gasses in the atmosphere do not refract blue light, what colors DO they refract?

Is it possible to have a breathable atmosphere with a non-blue sky?

**Tags:** atmosphere, atmospheric-optics

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: please take a look here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rayleigh_scattering you have multiple questions here please edit your question so it focuses on only one of them.  
> **username_2**: The simple answer to your question is "molecular nitrogen" since it is the majority of our atmosphere.  But, calling this refraction is incorrect IMO; it should be called scattered light.  

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