AQA · Chemistry · 8462

GCSE Chemistry: The proportions of different gases in the atmosphere

Chemistry of the atmosphere · AQA GCSE Chemistry (8462), specification point 4.9.1.1. Cards are generated from the exam board's own specification for "The proportions of different gases in the atmosphere", and every card links back to the page it came from. Specification © AQA — used with attribution.

10 flashcards · Free to study · No account needed

Study this deck

Preparing your cards…

All questions and answers

Read through the full deck, or practise recalling each answer above.

  1. Approximately what percentage of the atmosphere is nitrogen?

    Show answer

    About 80% (roughly four-fifths).

  2. Approximately what percentage of the atmosphere is oxygen?

    Show answer

    About 20% (roughly one-fifth).

  3. Which gas makes up about four-fifths of the atmosphere?

    Show answer

    Nitrogen.

  4. Which gas makes up about one-fifth of the atmosphere?

    Show answer

    Oxygen.

  5. For roughly how long have the proportions of gases in the atmosphere been much the same as today?

    Show answer

    About 200 million years.

  6. The proportions of gases in the atmosphere have stayed much the same for about ? years.

    Show answer

    200 million

  7. Name one gas present in the atmosphere in only small proportions.

    Show answer

    Carbon dioxide (also water vapour or the noble gases, e.g. argon).

  8. Is carbon dioxide a major or minor component of today's atmosphere?

    Show answer

    Minor — it is present in only a small proportion, alongside water vapour and noble gases.

  9. What fraction of the atmosphere is nitrogen, expressed as a fraction?

    Show answer

    About four-fifths (4/5).

  10. What is the approximate ratio of nitrogen to oxygen in the atmosphere?

    Show answer

    About 4 : 1 (80% nitrogen to 20% oxygen).

Want to create your own cards? Create a free account. AI generation uses credits.