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The composition and evolution of the atmosphere

Edexcel IGCSE Chemistry

Topic questions Chemistry of the atmosphere The composition & evolution of the atmosphere

The composition & evolution of the atmosphere

18 questions · 130 marks · about 2.5 hours

The composition and evolution of the atmosphere questions

TopicThe composition & evolution of the atmosphere

Chemistry Paper 2 June 2025 (R), Question 1 6 marks

This question is about gases.

(a)

The box gives the names of some gases.

Choose gases from the box to answer questions (i) to (iv).

You may use each gas once, more than once or not at all.

(a)(i)

Identify two gases in Group 0 of the Periodic Table.

[1]

(a)(ii)

Identify the gas that makes up about 21% of the atmosphere.

[1]

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(a)(iii)

Identify a greenhouse gas.

[1]

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(a)(iv)

Identify the toxic gas formed by incomplete combustion of a hydrocarbon.

[1]

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(b)

Describe a test to show that a gas is carbon dioxide.

[2]

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Chemistry Paper 1 November 2024, Question 2 6 marks

The table gives some information about five gases.

Name	Formula	Boiling point in °C
chlorine	Cl₂	–35
hydrogen chloride	HCl	–114
oxygen	O₂	–183
nitrogen	N₂	–196
hydrogen	H₂	–253

(a)

Use gases from the table to answer these questions.

You may use each gas once, more than once or not at all.

(a)(i)

Name the gas needed for combustion.

[1]

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(a)(ii)

Name the gas that is most abundant in air.

[1]

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(a)(iii)

Name the gas that can bleach damp litmus paper.

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(b)

Explain why hydrogen chloride is classified as a compound.

[2]

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(c)

Why does chlorine have the highest boiling point of the gases in the table?

$Question 2, shown as an image$

[1]

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Chemistry Paper 1 June 2024 (R), Question 2 6 marks

This question is about methane, CH₄

The diagram shows a Bunsen burner that uses methane.

(a)

During combustion, methane reacts with a gas in the air.

Give the name of this gas.

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(b)

Give the two products of the complete combustion of methane.

[2]

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(c)

During the incomplete combustion of methane, carbon monoxide forms.

(c)(i)

Give a reason why carbon monoxide forms during incomplete combustion.

[1]

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(c)(ii)

State why carbon monoxide is poisonous.

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(d)

The equation shows the reaction of methane with bromine.

$Question 2, shown as an image$

Give the name of this type of chemical reaction.

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Chemistry Paper 1 November 2023, Question 4 11 marks

This question is about gases.

(a)

The table gives information about five gases.

Name of gas	argon	carbon dioxide	hydrogen	oxygen	nitrogen
Formula of gas	Ar	CO₂	H₂	O₂	N₂
M_r of gas	40		2	32	28

Use information from the table to answer these questions. Each gas may be used once, more than once or not at all.

(a)(i)

Give the name of the gas that is about 79 % of the atmosphere by volume.

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(a)(ii)

Give the name of the gas that is a compound.

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(a)(iii)

Give the name of the least reactive gas.

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(a)(iv)

Give the name of the gas that is not normally found in the atmosphere.

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(a)(v)

Give the name of the gas that affects global warming.

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(a)(vi)

Calculate the M_r for carbon dioxide.

[1]

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(a)(vii)

Give a reason why it is not possible to give information for air in the table.

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(b)

When copper(II) carbonate is heated, the products are copper(II) oxide and carbon dioxide.

(b)(i)

Give the name for this type of reaction.

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(b)(ii)

Give the colour change that occurs during this reaction.

[2]

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(b)(iii)

Give a chemical equation for this reaction.

[1]

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Chemistry Paper 2 November 2023, Question 2 8 marks

This question is about gases in the atmosphere.

A teacher uses this apparatus to determine the percentage of oxygen in air.

The teacher removes the stopper, ignites the magnesium ribbon and immediately replaces the stopper.

The magnesium reacts with oxygen to form magnesium oxide.

During the reaction the water level in the bell jar rises.

When the flame goes out, some magnesium remains in the basin.

(a)

(a)(i)

Give the appearance of the magnesium oxide.

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(a)(ii)

Give a chemical equation for the reaction of magnesium with oxygen.

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(a)(iii)

Explain why the water in the bell jar rises.

[2]

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(b)

The volume of air in the bell jar at the start of the reaction is 2000 cm³.

When the reaction ends, the apparatus cools down to room temperature.

Calculate the expected volume of gas in the bell jar at room temperature.

[3]

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(c)

State why the gas remaining in the bell jar at the end of the reaction is approximately 99% nitrogen.

[1]

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Chemistry Paper 1 June 2023 (R), Question 4 8 marks

This question is about gases.

(a)

The table gives information about some gases.

Complete the table by choosing a gas from the box that matches the information.

You may use each gas once, more than once, or not at all.

[4]

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(b)

A teacher uses this apparatus to determine the percentage of oxygen in a sample of air.

This is the teacher’s method.

• record the total volume of air in the apparatus

• heat the copper powder

• use the syringes to pass air over the heated copper powder several times

• allow the remaining gas to cool and record its volume

The copper powder turns black.

(b)(i)

State why the copper powder turns black.

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(b)(ii)

Give a reason why the remaining gas is allowed to cool before its volume is recorded.

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(b)(iii)

At the start of the experiment, the total volume of air in the apparatus is 138 cm³.

At the end of the experiment, the volume of gas remaining is 108 cm³.

Calculate the percentage of oxygen in the sample of air.

Assume that all the oxygen has reacted.

[2]

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Chemistry Paper 2 June 2023, Question 2 10 marks

This question is about gases in the atmosphere.

(a)

Which of these gases has the lowest percentage by volume in the atmosphere?

$Question 2, shown as an image$

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(b)

When copper(II) carbonate is heated, copper(II) oxide and carbon dioxide form.

(b)(i)

What is the name of this type of reaction?

$Question 2, shown as an image$

[1]

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(b)(ii)

Which colour change occurs when copper(II) carbonate is heated?

$Question 2, shown as an image$

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(b)(iii)

Give the chemical equation for this reaction.

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(c)

A student uses this apparatus to find the percentage of oxygen in a sample of air.

The student leaves the apparatus until there is no further change in volume of gas in the syringe.

These are the student’s results.

Calculate the percentage of oxygen in the sample of air.

Give your answer to two significant figures.

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(d)

Explain why an increasing amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is likely to cause a problem for the environment.

[2]

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Chemistry Paper 1 January 2023 (R), Question 2 7 marks

This question is about gases in the atmosphere.

(a)(i)

Name the most abundant gas in the atmosphere.

[1]

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(a)(ii)

Name the noble gas that makes up about 1% of the atmosphere.

[1]

(a)(iii)

Name a greenhouse gas in the atmosphere.

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(b)

A student uses this apparatus to determine the percentage of oxygen in a sample of air.

This is the student’s method.

• measure the initial length of the column of air in the tube

• leave the apparatus for one week

• measure the final length of the column of air

The table shows the student’s results.

(b)(i)

State the appearance of the iron wool after one week.

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(b)(ii)

Use the student’s results to show that the percentage of oxygen in the sample of air is approximately 18%.

[2]

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(b)(iii)

The actual percentage of oxygen in air is approximately 21%.

Give a reason why the percentage of air calculated from the student’s results is less than 21%.

[1]

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Chemistry Paper 1 January 2023, Question 3 6 marks

This question is about gases.

(a)(i)

Name the gas that is about 1% of dry air by volume.

[1]

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(a)(ii)

Which is the most abundant gas in dry air by volume?

$Question 3, shown as an image$

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(b)

A student uses this apparatus to find the percentage by volume of oxygen in a mixture of oxygen and neon.

This is the student's method.

• measure the initial length of the column of gas in the inverted test tube

• leave the test tube in the beaker for a week

• measure the final length of the column of gas in the test tube

(b)(i)

Some of the iron wool rusts.

Give the chemical name for rust.

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(b)(ii)

Give a reason why neon does not react with the iron wool.

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(b)(iii)

The table shows the student’s results.

Use the results to calculate the percentage of oxygen in the mixture of oxygen and neon.

[2]

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Chemistry Paper 1 June 2022, Question 4 10 marks

Also involves Chemical measurements and uncertainty

A student uses the reaction between iron and oxygen to find the percentage of oxygen in air.

The diagram shows the apparatus the student uses.

(a)(i)

State why the iron powder needs to be wet.

[1]

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(a)(ii)

State the colour of the compound formed in the reaction between iron and oxygen.

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(a)(iii)

Give the formula of the compound formed.

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(a)(iv)

Explain the advantage of using iron powder rather than pieces of iron.

[2]

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(b)

The syringe in the diagram shows the reading at the end of the experiment.

Complete table 1 to show the readings on the syringe.

Give both values to the nearest 1 cm³.

[2]

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(c)

The student repeats the experiment and obtains a different set of results.

Table 2 shows these results.

Use the results from table 2 to calculate the percentage by volume of oxygen in the air.

[3]

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Chemistry Paper 2 June 2022, Question 1 6 marks

This question is about gases in the atmosphere.

The box gives the names of some gases.

(a)

Choose gases from the box to answer these questions.

(a)(i)

Identify the least reactive gas in the atmosphere.

[1]

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(a)(ii)

Identify the most abundant gas in the atmosphere.

[1]

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(a)(iii)

Identify the gas that is not normally found in the atmosphere.

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(b)

State an environmental problem caused by increasing amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

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(c)

Describe a test for carbon dioxide.

[2]

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Chemistry Paper 1 January 2022, Question 4 8 marks

Also involves Chemical measurements and uncertainty

A teacher uses this apparatus to find the percentage of oxygen in a gaseous mixture of oxygen and argon.

This is the teacher’s method. Step 1 maths symbol heat the copper powder Step 2 push the plunger on syringe A to pass the mixture of oxygen and argon over the hot copper so that the mixture moves into syringe B Step 3 push the plunger on syringe B to pass the mixture of oxygen and argon over the hot copper so that the mixture moves into syringe A Step 4 maths symbol record the reading on syringe A Step 5 repeat Steps 2, 3 and 4 a number of times

The volume of gas decreases as the oxygen reacts with the copper.

Argon is unreactive so does not react with the copper.

The copper powder turns black.

(a)(i)

Give a reason why the copper powder is heated.

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(a)(ii)

State why argon is unreactive.

[1]

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(a)(iii)

Give the name of the black powder that forms when the oxygen reacts with the copper.

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(b)

The table shows the teacher’s results.

Reading number	Reading on syringe A in cm³
Start	78
1	70
2	67
3	65
4	63
5	61
6	60
7	59
8	58
9	58
10	58

(b)(i)

State how the results show that all the oxygen has reacted.

[1]

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(b)(ii)

The volume of gas in the glass tube and connecting tubes is 175 cm³.

Use this value and the results table to calculate the percentage of oxygen in the mixture of oxygen and argon.

[3]

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(b)(iii)

Suggest one reason why the calculated percentage of oxygen in the mixture may not be accurate.

[1]

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Chemistry Paper 2 January 2022, Question 2 8 marks

This question is about gases in the air.

The pie chart represents the percentages of gases in dry, unpolluted air.

Gases with percentages of less than 1% in air are called trace gases.

(a)(i)

Which of these is gas Z?

$Question 2, shown as an image$

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(a)(ii)

Which of these is the approximate percentage of oxygen in dry, unpolluted air?

$Question 2, shown as an image$

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(b)

One of the trace gases is carbon dioxide.

(b)(i)

Identify two reactions that produce carbon dioxide by placing a tick (✓) in two boxes.

[2]

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(b)(ii)

Name an environmental problem that is caused by the percentage of carbon dioxide increasing in the atmosphere.

[1]

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(b)(iii)

Name the trace gas with the highest percentage in dry, unpolluted air.

[1]

(c)

Rainwater is acidic because carbon dioxide dissolves in water to form carbonic acid.

Acid rain is more acidic than rainwater because acidic pollutant gases also dissolve in water.

(c)(i)

Give the name of the acid that forms when nitrogen dioxide dissolves in water.

[1]

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(c)(ii)

Name another pollutant gas that also forms acid rain.

[1]

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Chemistry Paper 1 January 2021 (R), Question 4 9 marks

When iron is left in damp air, rust forms on its surface.

(a)(i)

State the chemical name for rust.

[1]

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(a)(ii)

Explain how a barrier method prevents rusting.

[2]

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(b)

A student uses this apparatus to find the approximate percentage by volume of oxygen in air.

This is the student’s method.

maths symbol place a graduated glass tube in a beaker of water

maths symbol place some damp iron wool and a rubber bung in the top of the tube

maths symbol record the reading of the water level in the tube

maths symbol leave the apparatus for a few days

maths symbol record the reading of the water level again

The diagram shows the readings at the start and at the end of the experiment.

(b)(i)

Use the readings to complete the table, giving all values to the nearest 0.5 cm³.

[2]

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(b)(ii)

The student uses these results to calculate the percentage by volume of oxygen in air.

Suggest why her calculated value is lower than the expected value.

[1]

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(c)

The student repeats the experiment using the same apparatus.

These are her results for the second experiment.

volume of air in tube at start = 80.0 cm³

reading at start = 20.0

reading at end = 35.5

Use the results to calculate the percentage by volume of oxygen in air.

[3]

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Chemistry Paper 2 January 2021, Question 2 5 marks

This question is about gases.

(a)

The box gives the names of some gases.

Use gases from the box to answer these questions.

Each gas may be used once, more than once or not at all.

(a)(i)

Name the most abundant gas in the Earth’s atmosphere.

[1]

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(a)(ii)

Name the gas that is a compound.

[1]

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(a)(iii)

Name the least reactive of the gases.

[1]

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(a)(iv)

Name the gas formed by the complete combustion of hydrocarbons.

[1]

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(b)

Describe the test for hydrogen gas.

[1]

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Chemistry Paper 1 January 2020, Question 1 6 marks

This question is about gases in the atmosphere.

(a)

The box gives the names of some gases in the atmosphere.

Choose gases from the box to answer these questions.

Each gas may be used once, more than once or not at all.

(a)(i)

Identify a noble gas.

[1]

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(a)(ii)

Identify a gas that makes up about 78% of the atmosphere.

[1]

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(a)(iii)

Identify a greenhouse gas.

[1]

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(a)(iv)

Identify a gas produced by the thermal decomposition of calcium carbonate.

[1]

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(b)

Sulfur reacts with oxygen to produce sulfur dioxide gas.

(b)(i)

Write a chemical equation for this reaction.

[1]

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(b)(ii)

State an environmental problem caused when sulfur dioxide gas dissolves in water in the atmosphere.

[1]

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Chemistry Paper 1 January 2020 (R), Question 5 5 marks

A teacher uses the reaction between phosphorus and oxygen to calculate the percentage of oxygen in air.

She uses this apparatus and excess phosphorus.

The volume of gas in the tube decreases as the phosphorus reacts with oxygen.

The teacher measures the volume of gas in the tube at one-minute intervals.

The table shows the teacher’s results.

Time in minutes	Volume of gas in tube in cm³
0	48.5
1	41.0
2	38.0
4	37.5
5	37.0
6	37.0
7	37.0

(a)

State how the results show that all the oxygen has reacted.

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(b)

Give one change to this experiment that would make the results more accurate.

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(c)

Use the results to calculate the percentage of oxygen in air.

Give your answer to one decimal place.

[3]

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Chemistry Paper 2 June 2019 (R), Question 1 5 marks

This question is about gases in the atmosphere.

(a)

The box gives the names of some gases in the atmosphere.

Use gases from the box to answer the questions.

Each gas may be used once, more than once or not at all.

(a)(i)

Identify the two noble gases.

[1]

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(a)(ii)

Identify the gas that is a compound.

[1]

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(a)(iii)

Identify the most abundant gas in the atmosphere.

[1]

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(a)(iv)

Identify the greenhouse gas.

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(b)

Describe the test for oxygen.

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The composition & evolution of the atmosphere

The composition and evolution of the atmosphere questions

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Chemistry Paper 1 June 2024 (R), Question 2 Chemistry Paper 1 · June 2024 (R) · Question 2 6 marks

Chemistry Paper 1 November 2023, Question 4 Chemistry Paper 1 · November 2023 · Question 4 11 marks

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Chemistry Paper 1 June 2023 (R), Question 4 Chemistry Paper 1 · June 2023 (R) · Question 4 8 marks

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Chemistry Paper 1 January 2023, Question 3 Chemistry Paper 1 · January 2023 · Question 3 6 marks

Chemistry Paper 1 June 2022, Question 4 Chemistry Paper 1 · June 2022 · Question 4 10 marks

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Chemistry Paper 1 January 2022, Question 4 Chemistry Paper 1 · January 2022 · Question 4 8 marks

Chemistry Paper 2 January 2022, Question 2 Chemistry Paper 2 · January 2022 · Question 2 8 marks

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Chemistry Paper 1 November 2024, Question 2 6 marks

Chemistry Paper 1 June 2024 (R), Question 2 6 marks

Chemistry Paper 1 November 2023, Question 4 11 marks

Chemistry Paper 2 November 2023, Question 2 8 marks

Chemistry Paper 1 June 2023 (R), Question 4 8 marks

Chemistry Paper 2 June 2023, Question 2 10 marks

Chemistry Paper 1 January 2023 (R), Question 2 7 marks

Chemistry Paper 1 January 2023, Question 3 6 marks

Chemistry Paper 1 June 2022, Question 4 10 marks

Chemistry Paper 2 June 2022, Question 1 6 marks

Chemistry Paper 1 January 2022, Question 4 8 marks

Chemistry Paper 2 January 2022, Question 2 8 marks

Chemistry Paper 1 January 2021 (R), Question 4 9 marks

Chemistry Paper 2 January 2021, Question 2 5 marks

Chemistry Paper 1 January 2020, Question 1 6 marks

Chemistry Paper 1 January 2020 (R), Question 5 5 marks

Chemistry Paper 2 June 2019 (R), Question 1 5 marks