Earth and Atmosphere questions

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Earth and Atmosphere question collection

Review Earth and Atmosphere questions for Chemistry, with correct answers shown and coverage across the layers that make up the Earth; igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks; the rock cycle.

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Question 1

Which gas is most abundant in Earth's atmosphere today?
  1. Nitrogen
  2. Oxygen
  3. Carbon dioxide
  4. Argon

Question 2

Roughly what percentage of Earth's atmosphere is oxygen?
  1. About \(21\%\)
  2. About \(78\%\)
  3. About \(50\%\)
  4. Less than \(1\%\)

Question 3

Which gas is a major greenhouse gas?
  1. Carbon dioxide
  2. Nitrogen
  3. Oxygen
  4. Argon

Question 4

Which human activity is a major source of extra carbon dioxide?
  1. Burning fossil fuels
  2. Condensation of water vapour
  3. Earthquakes
  4. Planting trees

Question 5

What did fossil fuels form from?
  1. Ancient organisms
  2. Molten rock
  3. Atmospheric gases
  4. Metal ores

Question 6

Which of these is a fossil fuel?
  1. Natural gas
  2. Hydrogen
  3. Bioethanol
  4. Solar energy

Question 7

What effect does photosynthesis have on atmospheric carbon dioxide?
  1. It removes carbon dioxide
  2. It releases carbon dioxide
  3. It converts carbon dioxide into nitrogen
  4. It leaves carbon dioxide unchanged

Question 8

Which process returns carbon dioxide to the atmosphere?
  1. Respiration
  2. Photosynthesis
  3. Condensation
  4. Filtration

Question 9

Which stores exchange carbon in the carbon cycle?
  1. The atmosphere, oceans, organisms and rocks
  2. The atmosphere, rivers, metals and planets
  3. The oceans, clouds, magnets and soils
  4. Organisms, stars, metals and glaciers

Question 10

Why can deforestation raise atmospheric carbon dioxide?
  1. Less photosynthesis removes it
  2. More photosynthesis releases it
  3. Less respiration absorbs it
  4. More condensation produces it

Question 11

Which gases are the main causes of acid rain?
  1. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides
  2. Carbon dioxide and methane
  3. Oxygen and hydrogen
  4. Nitrogen and argon

Question 12

What health problem can particulate pollution cause?
  1. Breathing difficulties
  2. Hearing loss
  3. Tooth decay
  4. Broken bones

Question 13

Which equation represents complete combustion of methane?
  1. \(\mathrm{CH}_{4} + 2\mathrm{O}_{2} \to \mathrm{CO}_{2} + 2\mathrm{H}_{2}\mathrm{O}\)
  2. \(\mathrm{CH}_{4} + \mathrm{O}_{2} \to \mathrm{CO} + \mathrm{H}_{2}\)
  3. \(\mathrm{CH}_{4} \to \mathrm{C} + 2\mathrm{H}_{2}\)
  4. \(2\mathrm{CH}_{4} + \mathrm{O}_{2} \to 2\mathrm{CO}_{2} + 2\mathrm{H}_{2}\mathrm{O}\)

Question 14

Why is the natural greenhouse effect important?
  1. It keeps Earth warm enough for life
  2. It supplies oxygen for respiration
  3. It blocks ultraviolet radiation
  4. It creates Earth's magnetic field

Question 15

Which noble gas is most abundant in Earth's atmosphere?
  1. Argon
  2. Helium
  3. Neon
  4. Krypton

Question 16

Roughly what percentage of today's atmosphere is nitrogen?
  1. About 78%
  2. About 21%
  3. About 50%
  4. Less than 1%

Question 17

What gas is needed for combustion?
  1. Oxygen
  2. Nitrogen
  3. Carbon dioxide
  4. Argon

Question 18

Which gas besides carbon dioxide contributes to the greenhouse effect?
  1. Methane
  2. Nitrogen
  3. Oxygen
  4. Argon

Question 19

Which human activity releases substantial methane?
  1. Cattle farming
  2. Planting forests
  3. Generating solar power
  4. Recycling glass

Question 20

What pollutant can cause acid rain?
  1. Sulfur dioxide
  2. Oxygen
  3. Nitrogen
  4. Water vapour

Question 21

Which exhaust gas is not removed by a catalytic converter?
  1. Carbon dioxide
  2. Carbon monoxide
  3. Nitrogen monoxide
  4. Unburned hydrocarbons

Question 22

Which process returns carbon from dead organisms to the atmosphere?
  1. Decomposition
  2. Photosynthesis
  3. Sedimentation
  4. Fossilisation

Question 23

Which layer of the Earth lies directly below the crust?
  1. The mantle
  2. The outer core
  3. The inner core
  4. The atmosphere

Question 24

Which process forms sedimentary rock?
  1. Layers of sediment are compacted
  2. Molten rock cools and solidifies
  3. Heat and pressure alter existing rock
  4. Dissolved gases condense underground

Question 25

What is the main reason for recycling metals?
  1. Ores are a limited resource
  2. Metals cannot be melted
  3. Recycling makes metals purer
  4. Metals decay in landfill

About this topic

Review Earth and Atmosphere questions for Chemistry, with correct answers shown and coverage across the layers that make up the Earth; igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks; the rock cycle.

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