GCSE Chemistry Atmosphere questions by topic

This question is about today’s atmosphere.

1. (a)State the percentage of nitrogen in dry air.[1]
2. (b)State the percentage of oxygen in dry air.[1]
3. (c)Name the gas that makes up most of the remaining small fraction.[1]

This question is about how the atmosphere evolved.

1. (a)Name the main gases released by early volcanoes.[1]
2. (b)State what happened to the water vapour as Earth cooled.[1]
3. (c)Explain how plants and algae changed the atmosphere.[2]

This question is about greenhouse gases and human activities.

1. (a)Name two greenhouse gases.[2]
2. (b)Name a human source of carbon dioxide.[1]
3. (c)Name a human source of methane.[1]

A coal power station releases several pollutants.

1. (a)Name the toxic gas formed when burning is incomplete.[1]
2. (b)Explain why that gas is dangerous.[2]
3. (c)Name the solid pollutant that causes global dimming.[1]

Complete the sentences about today’s atmosphere.

1. (a)Nitrogen makes up about … % of the atmosphere.[1]
2. (b)Oxygen makes up about … %.[1]
3. (c)The most abundant noble gas is … .[1]
4. (d)Carbon dioxide accounts for about … % of the atmosphere.[1]
5. (e)Name one greenhouse gas in the atmosphere.[1]

Put the stages of Earth’s atmospheric evolution in order, then describe the key process of each.

1. (a)Order the stages: P — oceans form and dissolve much of the CO₂; Q — volcanoes release CO₂ and water vapour; R — plants and algae raise the oxygen level by photosynthesis.[1]
2. (b)Describe stage Q.[1]
3. (c)Describe stage P.[1]
4. (d)Describe stage R.[1]
5. (e)State one extra source of nitrogen in today’s atmosphere.[1]

This question is about photosynthesis.

1. (a)Write the balanced equation for photosynthesis.[3]
2. (b)Explain how photosynthesis changed the composition of the atmosphere.[2]

This question is about climate evidence.

1. (a)Name two sources of historical climate data.[2]
2. (b)Explain what peer review contributes to climate science.[2]
3. (c)State the difference between weather and climate.[1]

This question is about carbon footprints.

1. (a)Define the carbon footprint of a product.[2]
2. (b)Describe two ways a company could reduce its footprint.[2]
3. (c)Explain one reason national footprint reductions are hard to achieve.[2]

Write equations for the formation of three combustion pollutants.

1. (a)Sulfur dioxide from burning a sulfur impurity.[2]
2. (b)Nitrogen monoxide from air in a hot engine.[2]
3. (c)State what happens to nitrogen monoxide after it leaves the exhaust.[1]

Explain how the greenhouse effect keeps Earth warmer than space.

1. (a)Describe what happens to the Sun’s short-wavelength radiation when it reaches Earth.[2]
2. (b)Describe the radiation Earth sends back out, and what greenhouse gases do to it.[2]
3. (c)Name one natural greenhouse gas and one human activity that increases it.[2]

Write balanced equations showing how three combustion pollutants form.

1. (a)Sulfur dioxide from burning sulfur impurities.[1]
2. (b)Nitrogen monoxide forming inside a hot engine.[2]
3. (c)Carbon (soot) from incomplete combustion of methane.[2]
4. (d)Name the gas that forms when nitrogen monoxide is further oxidised in air.[1]

Describe the evolution of Earth’s atmosphere from volcanic beginnings to today’s composition.

1. (a)Describe the first atmosphere and its source.[2]
2. (b)Describe the role of the oceans.[2]
3. (c)Describe the role of photosynthetic organisms, including one equation.[4]

A table shows atmospheric CO₂ (ppm) and average temperature anomaly rising together: 1900: 296 ppm, +0.0 °C; 1960: 317 ppm, +0.1 °C; 2000: 369 ppm, +0.6 °C; 2020: 414 ppm, +1.0 °C.

1. (a)Describe the trend in the data.[2]
2. (b)Explain why correlation alone does not prove causation, and name one further line of evidence that supports the link.[4]
3. (c)State what peer review does for such studies.[1]

This question is about acid rain.

1. (a)Name the two pollutant families that cause acid rain and state where each forms.[2]
2. (b)Explain how they become acid.[2]
3. (c)State two effects of acid rain and one way a power station could reduce SO₂ emissions.[2]

A government must choose between cutting emissions now or later.

1. (a)State two technologies that reduce CO₂ emissions from power generation.[2]
2. (b)Explain one drawback of each technology you named.[2]
3. (c)Explain why delaying action makes the problem harder to solve.[2]

A school wants to cut its carbon footprint. Four proposals are on the table: (1) adding rooftop solar panels, (2) improving wall and roof insulation, (3) serving two meat-free lunches a week, (4) buying a larger car park for staff who drive.

1. (a)State which two proposals would reduce the school’s carbon footprint.[1]
2. (b)Explain, for each of your two choices, the source of the emissions it removes.[2]
3. (c)Explain why proposal 4 would increase emissions.[1]
4. (d)Suggest which single proposal is likely to cut the most carbon per pound spent, with a reason.[2]
5. (e)State one way to check that the chosen proposal is working.[1]

A city council compares petrol cars with hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles for reducing urban air pollution.

1. (a)Write the balanced equation for the complete combustion of octane, C₈H₁₈, a major petrol component.[2]
2. (b)Name two pollutants that petrol engines release when combustion is incomplete or at high temperature, and state one harm of each.[2]
3. (c)State the only substance released by a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle.[1]
4. (d)Evaluate whether switching the city’s fleet to hydrogen would end its contribution to climate change. Give a reasoned judgement.[3]