4-9 Chemistry/5-9 Trilogy – Chemistry of the atmosphere
1.0 This question is about fuels.
1.1 There are two main types of diesel fuel used for cars:
• biodiesel, made from vegetable oils
• petroleum diesel, made from crude oil.
The table below gives information about the pollutants produced by cars using
biodiesel or petroleum diesel as a fuel.
Relative amounts of pollutants
Fuel Oxides of Particulate Carbon
Nitrogen matter dioxide
Biodiesel 108 44 26
Petroleum diesel 100 100 100
Compare the pollutants produced from cars using biodiesel with those from cars using
petroleum diesel.
[3 marks]
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1.2 Coal is a fossil fuel.
The bar chart shows the percentage of some of the elements in a type of coal.
1.2 Draw the bar for carbon on the chart
Assume all other elements are only found in trace amounts.
[2 marks]
1.3 Coal is burned in the atmosphere to release energy.
Which gas is needed for burning to take place?
[1 mark]
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1.4 Burning coal produces carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and water.
What is the environmental effect of sulfur dioxide on the atmosphere?
[1 mark]
Tick one box.
Acid rain
Flooding
Global dimming
Global warming
2.0 Oxygen gas is critical to life on Earth.
2.1 State the name of the process by which plants produce oxygen.
[1 mark]
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2.2 Complete the word equation for this process:
[2 marks]
___________________ + ___________________→_________________ + oxygen
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3.0 The graph shows the concentration of carbon dioxide in the air from 1905 to 2005.
380
370
Concentration of carbon dioxide in ppm
360
350
340
330
320
310
300
290
1905 1915 1925 1935 1945 1955 1965 1975 1985 1995 2005
Year
3.1 Draw a curved line of best fit through these points.
[1 mark]
3.2 State the concentration of carbon dioxide in 1960.
[1 mark]
Concentration = ................................... ppm
3.3 Give two conclusions you can make from the graph.
[2 marks]
1. __________________________________________________________________
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2. __________________________________________________________________
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3.4 State the main process responsible for the change in carbon dioxide concentration
since the start of the 20th century.
[1 mark]
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3.5 Calculate the percentage change in carbon dioxide concentration between 1955 and
2005.
Give your answer to 2 significant figures.
Show your working.
[2 marks]
Percentage change = ____________________ %
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4.0 This question is about the Earth’s atmosphere
Scientists have been using data from the Kepler space telescope to look for planets in
the Milky Way galaxy which might be similar to Earth. They have spotted a planet that
they think is like the early Earth. The atmosphere is mainly carbon dioxide.
4.1 Which process was responsible for producing gases in the early atmosphere?
[1 mark]
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4.2 Water vapour was one of the gases produced in the early atmosphere.
Describe what scientists think happened to the water vapour as the Earth cooled.
[2 marks]
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4.3 There are many different theories about what the Earth’s early atmosphere was made
of and how it formed.
Give one reason why scientists can find it hard to agree on one theory.
[1 mark]
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4.4 For the last 200 million years, the amounts of the gases in the Earth’s atmosphere
have been much the same as they are today.
Label the pie chart below to show the percentages and names of the two main gases in
the Earth’s atmosphere today.
[3 marks]
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5.0 Heptane is a compound in petrol.
5.1 Balance the equation for heptane burning in air.
[1 mark]
Reaction 1 C7H16 + ________ O2 → _______CO2 + _______H2O
5.2 Heptane can also burn in air to form different products.
Reaction 2 2C7H16 + 15O2 → 14CO + 16H2O
The second reaction produces different carbon products to the first reaction.
Name the products formed in reaction 2
[1 mark]
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5.3 Give a reason why the products produced in reaction 2 are different from those in
reaction 1.
[1 mark]
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6 Earth is approximately 4500 million (4.5 billion) years old.
The graph below shows how the percentages of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the
atmosphere changed over the first 4000 million years.
It is known that the early atmosphere also contained a lot of water vapour.
It is thought the first oceans appeared at approximately 500 million years.
The earliest undisputed evidence for life on Earth dates back to about 1000 million
years.
The earliest evidence for air breathing land animals dates from about 4000 million
years.
6.1 Between which years was the rate of change of carbon dioxide concentration greatest?
[1 mark]
_______________________________ and_______________________________
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6.2 Describe and explain the changes in both oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the
atmosphere from when the Earth formed until a few thousand years ago.
[6 marks]
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6.3 Many scientists believe that an increased level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is
now causing global warming.
Describe how carbon dioxide causes global warming.
[3 marks]
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6.4 What is meant by carbon footprint?
[1 mark]
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6.5 Describe two changes that a company could make to reduce its carbon footprint.
[2 marks]
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6.6 In 2015, 196 countries agreed to reduce climate change by lowering the emission of
greenhouse gases.
Suggest two reasons why countries may find it difficult to cut emissions of greenhouse
gases.
[2 marks]
_____________________________________________________________________
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MARK SCHEME
Qu No. Extra Information Marks
Biodiesel Accept reverse for petroleum diesel for
Produces less carbon dioxide each marking point. 1
1.1
Produces less particulates 1
Produces more oxides of nitrogen 1
Bar drawn between 84 and 86 2
Allow one mark for bar drawn to a height
1.2 that corresponds to any given calculation
of percentage with a maximum of one
mistake (eg missing one element or
misreading one bar)
1.3 Oxygen 1
1.4 Acid rain 1
Qu No. Extra Information Marks
2.1 Photosynthesis 1
Carbon dioxide + water → 1
2.2
→ glucose (+ oxygen) 1
Qu No. Extra Information Marks
Curve of best fit drawn through all of the Do not accept “lumpy” curve or curve 1
3.1
points with multiple strokes for line
318 (ppm) Allow values in range 317 – 319 1
3.2
Allow ecf from drawn line of best fit
The later the year, the greater the 1
concentration of carbon dioxide
3.3
The rate of increase in carbon dioxide 1
concentration is increasing
3.4 Combustion of fossil fuels Allow burning 1
Change in concentration 1
380 – 313 = 67
Percentage change Allow 1 mark for 18% (from 67/380) 1
3.5
67/313 × 100 = 21% Allow 1 mark for 0.21
Allow 1 mark for correct answer to more
than 2 significant figures
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Qu No. Extra Information Marks
4.1 Volcanic eruptions Allow volcanoes 1
Condensed 1
4.2
To form the oceans Allow sea for oceans 1
Any one from: 1
• There is not enough proof or evidence Allow no evidence/proof
4.3
• The Earth was created millions of years Allow a long time ago
ago Ignore reference to no one being there
Percentages correctly worked out as 20 % 1
and 80%
20 % oxygen Allow values in range 20 – 21 % 1
4.4 80 % nitrogen Allow values in range 78 – 80 % 1
If no marks obtained from MP2 and MP3,
but gases are correctly named as
nitrogen and oxygen, allow 1 mark
Qu No. Extra Information Marks
5.1 C7H16 + 11O2 → 7CO2 + 8H2O 1
5.2 Carbon monoxide and water 1
Because of partial / incomplete combustion Allow because there is less / insufficient 1
(in reaction 2) or complete combustion (in oxygen (in reaction 2) or sufficient
reaction 1) oxygen (in reaction 1)
5.3
Allow different amounts of oxygen used
(in the reactions)
Ignore air
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Qu No. Extra Information Marks
6.1 0 and 500 (million years) Both required for the mark 1
6.2
A detailed and coherent explanation is given, which demonstrates a broad 5-6
Level 3: understanding of the key scientific ideas. The response makes logical links between
the points raised and uses sufficient specific facts to support these links.
An explanation is given which demonstrates a reasonable understanding of the key 3-4
Level 2: scientific ideas. Links are made but may not be fully articulated and / or precise.
Statements may lack detail or include a few mistakes such as incorrect dates.
Simple statements are made which demonstrate a basic understanding of some of the 1-2
Level 1:
relevant ideas. The response may fail to make logical links between the points raised.
No relevant content 0
Indicative content
Carbon dioxide; description
• level drops rapidly over 1st billion years
• drops steadily, but more slowly to present day
Carbon dioxide; explain
• dissolved in oceans
• reacted to form carbonate rocks
• plants evolve so photosynthesis uses / takes in carbon dioxide
• plants die and are converted to fossil fuels locking up CO2 (for millions of years)
Oxygen; description
• no significant level until 1 to 1.5 billion years
• rises steadily until 3,000-3,500 million years
• stays (approximately) same until 4,500 million years
Oxygen; explain
• plants evolve and photosynthesis releases oxygen
Energy / radiation from the sun warms the 1
earth’s surface
6.3 (Infra-red) radiation from the earth’s surface 1
is absorbed / trapped by carbon dioxide 1
causing an increase in temperature
The total amount of carbon dioxide (and 1
6.4 other greenhouse gases) emitted (in a
process/by a person/organisation)
Any two from: 2
• increased use of alternative/renewable
energy supplies
• energy conservation
6.5 • carbon capture and storage
• carbon taxes and licences
• carbon off-setting, including through tree
planting
• carbon neutrality – zero net release
Any two from: 2
• expensive to invest in the equipment
6.6 • insufficient renewable energy resources
• difficult to provide for transport systems
• lack of political resolve
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