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This question is about the chemistry of the Earth's atmosphere - AQA - GCSE Chemistry - Question 6 - 2022 - Paper 2
Question 6
This question is about the chemistry of the Earth's atmosphere. Figure 3 shows how the percentages of gases in the Earth’s atmosphere may have changed since the atm... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:This question is about the chemistry of the Earth's atmosphere - AQA - GCSE Chemistry - Question 6 - 2022 - Paper 2
Step 1
Explain the change in the percentage of gas in the region labelled A on Figure 3.
Answer
In the region labelled A, the percentage of nitrogen increased due to intense volcanic activity. This volcanic activity released nitrogen into the atmosphere as a result of the gases being emitted from volcanic eruptions.
Step 2
Explain the change in the percentage of gas in the region labelled B on Figure 3.
Answer
In the region labelled B, the percentage of carbon dioxide decreased as carbon dioxide dissolved in oceans. Additionally, the formation of carbonate sediments contributed to the reduction of atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Step 3
Compare the changes in the percentages of gases in the region labelled C on Figure 3.
Answer
In region C, the percentage of carbon dioxide decreased while the percentage of oxygen increased. The changes occurred at a similar rate over the same period of time, indicating a significant alteration in the composition of the atmosphere during this period.
Step 4
Step 5
Describe how deposits of natural gas were formed.
Answer
Deposits of natural gas were formed from the remains of ancient organisms, primarily plankton, which died and were subsequently covered by sediments. Over millions of years, these remains were subjected to high temperatures and pressure, converting them into natural gas under anaerobic conditions.