C1.7.5: Gases in the Atmosphere
Name: Lauren Fogden
Complete the questions below.
You will need to use the internet to conduct independent research.
1. Label each layer (A, B, C and D) on this diagram of the Earth.
A) Core
B) Mantle
C) Crust
D) Atmosphere
2. Draw a pie chart to show the percentage of each
gas in Earth’s current atmosphere:
Percentage of Gases in the
Earth's Atmosphere
3. Earth’s Changing Atmosphere:
a. What is the main gas forming Earth’s current
atmosphere?
Nitrogen
b. What were the main gases that formed Earth’s
early atmosphere?
Carbon dioxide, oxygen, water vapour, ammonia
and methane.
c. Which two planets have atmospheres similar to
this today?
Mars and Venus
Nitrogen
Oxygen
Argon
Carbon Dioxide
4. Earth’s early atmosphere was mainly composed of carbon dioxide (CO2). Where did this carbon dioxide go?
a. Describe two ways that carbon dioxide was removed from Earth’s atmosphere. Use key words:
Some of the carbon dioxide was dissolved into the ocean and a lot of carbon dioxide was used to create
sedimentary rocks and fossils.
b. Describe how oxygen then built up in our atmosphere.
Oxygen built up because plants photosynthesised which used up carbon dioxide and caused oxygen to be
released into the atmosphere.
HIGHER TIER:
5. Describe how air can be separated using fractional distillation. You can should words and diagrams:
Check the learning objectives below and decide if you have achieved them today:
The liquefied air is passed into the bottom of a
fractionating column. Just as in the columns
used to separate oil fractions, the column is
warmer at the bottom than it is at the top
Nitrogen gas rises to the top, where it is
piped off and stored.
Liquid nitrogen boils at the
bottom of the column.
Liquid oxygen is piped off and usually put
through another column as argon and
oxygen have similar boiling points.
Everyone should know:
 List the main gases in the atmosphere

Know the proportions of the main gases in the atmosphere

Explain how carbon dioxide was removed from Earth’s atmosphere
Higher Tier:
6. Whatare Explain
the products
distillation
air used for?
how of
airthe
canfractional
be separated
usingoffractional
distillation
a. Liquid nitrogen:

State some uses of the products of fractional distillation of air
b. Nitrogen gas:
Confidence
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Confidence
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