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The composition and evolution of the Earth's atmosphere: AQA GCSE Combined Science questions

Every AQA GCSE Combined Science exam question on 5.9.1 The composition and evolution of the Earth's atmosphere, 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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3,069 questions

  1. Q02.2

    June 2025 · Chemistry Paper 2 Higher

    6 marks5.9.1 The composition and evolution of the Earth's atmosphere
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, question 02.2: Table 1 shows the percentages of some gases in the Earth’s early atmosphere and in the Earth’s atmosphere today. Table 1 Percentage (%) of gas in the atmosphere

  2. Q06.2

    June 2025 · Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation

    6 marks5.9.1 The composition and evolution of the Earth's atmosphere
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, question 06.2: Table 5 shows the percentages of some gases in the Earth’s early atmosphere and in the Earth’s atmosphere today. Table 5 Percentage (%) of gas in the atmosphere

  3. Q03.1

    June 2024 · Chemistry Paper 2 Higher

    4 marks5.7.1 Carbon compounds as fuels and feedstock5.9.1 The composition and evolution of the Earth's atmosphere
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, question 03.1: Describe how crude oil was formed. [4 marks]

  4. Q01.1

    June 2024 · Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marks5.9.1 The composition and evolution of the Earth's atmosphere
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, question 01.1: What is the approximate percentage of nitrogen and of oxygen in the Earth’s atmosphere today? Draw one line from each gas to the percentage of that gas. [2 mark

  5. Q01.2

    June 2024 · Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marks5.9.1 The composition and evolution of the Earth's atmosphere
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, question 01.2: The approximate percentage of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s early atmosphere was 95%. Which are two reasons why the percentage of carbon dioxide has decreased s

  6. Q01.4

    June 2023 · Chemistry Paper 2 Higher

    1 mark5.9.1 The composition and evolution of the Earth's atmosphere5.9.3 Common atmospheric pollutants and their sources
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, question 01.4: When diesel burns in car engines, oxides of nitrogen are produced. Where does the nitrogen come from? [1 mark]

  7. Q05.3

    June 2023 · Chemistry Paper 2 Higher

    3 marks5.9.1 The composition and evolution of the Earth's atmosphere
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, question 05.3: Explain how planting trees reduces global warming. [3 marks]

  8. Q02.1

    June 2023 · Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marks5.9.1 The composition and evolution of the Earth's atmosphere
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, question 02.1: Gases in the Earth’s early atmosphere caused changes on the Earth. Draw one line from each change to the gas that caused the change. [2 marks] Change Gas that c

  9. Q02.2

    June 2023 · Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation

    1 mark5.9.1 The composition and evolution of the Earth's atmosphere
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, question 02.2: Which gas has the highest percentage in the Earth’s atmosphere? [1 mark]

  10. Q02.3

    June 2023 · Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation

    3 marks5.9.1 The composition and evolution of the Earth's atmosphere
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, question 02.3: Calculate how many times more carbon dioxide there is in the atmosphere of Mars than in the atmosphere of Earth. Use Table 1. Give your answer in standard form.

  11. Q02.6

    June 2023 · Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation

    1 mark5.9.1 The composition and evolution of the Earth's atmosphere
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, question 02.6: Planting trees helps to reduce climate change, because trees use carbon dioxide from the Earth’s atmosphere. Name the process in trees which uses carbon dioxide

  12. Q05.4

    June 2023 · Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation

    1 mark5.9.1 The composition and evolution of the Earth's atmosphere5.9.3 Common atmospheric pollutants and their sources
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, question 05.4: When diesel burns in car engines, oxides of nitrogen are produced. Where does the nitrogen come from? [1 mark]

  13. Q05.1

    June 2022 · Chemistry Paper 2 Higher

    4 marks5.9.1 The composition and evolution of the Earth's atmosphere
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, question 05.1: After the formation of the Earth’s early atmosphere, the amounts of nitrogen and oxygen in the atmosphere changed. Explain the main changes in the amounts of ni

  14. Q05.2

    June 2022 · Chemistry Paper 2 Higher

    4 marks5.9.1 The composition and evolution of the Earth's atmosphere
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, question 05.2: Describe how coal was formed from the carbon dioxide present in the Earth’s early atmosphere. [4 marks]

  15. Q01.1

    June 2022 · Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation

    1 mark5.9.1 The composition and evolution of the Earth's atmosphere
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, question 01.1: The Earth’s atmosphere contains 21% oxygen. Draw the bar for oxygen on Figure 1. [1 mark] Figure 1

  16. Q01.3

    June 2022 · Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marks5.9.1 The composition and evolution of the Earth's atmosphere
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, question 01.3: The percentages of nitrogen and oxygen in the Earth’s atmosphere today are different from the Earth’s early atmosphere. Complete the sentences. Choose answers f

  17. Q01.4

    June 2022 · Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation

    2 marks5.9.1 The composition and evolution of the Earth's atmosphere
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, question 01.4: The Earth’s atmosphere today contains a small amount of carbon dioxide. Why has the percentage of carbon dioxide decreased since the Earth’s early atmosphere? [

  18. Q02.1

    June 2022 · Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation

    1 mark5.9.1 The composition and evolution of the Earth's atmosphere
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, question 02.1: Name the process in the leaves of trees that uses carbon dioxide. [1 mark]

  19. Q02.2

    June 2022 · Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation

    1 mark5.9.1 The composition and evolution of the Earth's atmosphere
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, question 02.2: How is coal formed after trees die? [1 mark] Tick () one box. The trees are burned. The trees are compressed. The trees are melted. Coal contains small amounts

  20. Q04.1

    November 2021 · Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation

    1 mark5.9.1 The composition and evolution of the Earth's atmosphere
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, question 04.1: Earth’s early atmosphere may have been like the atmosphere of Mars today. Why are scientists not certain about the percentage of gases in the Earth’s early atmo
All 32 questions on The composition and evolution of the Earth's atmosphere, as a list
  1. June 2025, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q02.2 (6 marks): Table 1 shows the percentages of some gases in the Earth’s early atmosphere and in the Earth’s atmosphere today. Table 1 Percentage (%) of gas in the atmosphere
  2. June 2025, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q06.2 (6 marks): Table 5 shows the percentages of some gases in the Earth’s early atmosphere and in the Earth’s atmosphere today. Table 5 Percentage (%) of gas in the atmosphere
  3. June 2024, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q03.1 (4 marks): Describe how crude oil was formed. [4 marks]
  4. June 2024, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q01.1 (2 marks): What is the approximate percentage of nitrogen and of oxygen in the Earth’s atmosphere today? Draw one line from each gas to the percentage of that gas. [2 mark
  5. June 2024, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q01.2 (2 marks): The approximate percentage of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s early atmosphere was 95%. Which are two reasons why the percentage of carbon dioxide has decreased s
  6. June 2023, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q01.4 (1 mark): When diesel burns in car engines, oxides of nitrogen are produced. Where does the nitrogen come from? [1 mark]
  7. June 2023, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q05.3 (3 marks): Explain how planting trees reduces global warming. [3 marks]
  8. June 2023, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q02.1 (2 marks): Gases in the Earth’s early atmosphere caused changes on the Earth. Draw one line from each change to the gas that caused the change. [2 marks] Change Gas that c
  9. June 2023, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q02.2 (1 mark): Which gas has the highest percentage in the Earth’s atmosphere? [1 mark]
  10. June 2023, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q02.3 (3 marks): Calculate how many times more carbon dioxide there is in the atmosphere of Mars than in the atmosphere of Earth. Use Table 1. Give your answer in standard form.
  11. June 2023, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q02.6 (1 mark): Planting trees helps to reduce climate change, because trees use carbon dioxide from the Earth’s atmosphere. Name the process in trees which uses carbon dioxide
  12. June 2023, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q05.4 (1 mark): When diesel burns in car engines, oxides of nitrogen are produced. Where does the nitrogen come from? [1 mark]
  13. June 2022, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q05.1 (4 marks): After the formation of the Earth’s early atmosphere, the amounts of nitrogen and oxygen in the atmosphere changed. Explain the main changes in the amounts of ni
  14. June 2022, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q05.2 (4 marks): Describe how coal was formed from the carbon dioxide present in the Earth’s early atmosphere. [4 marks]
  15. June 2022, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q01.1 (1 mark): The Earth’s atmosphere contains 21% oxygen. Draw the bar for oxygen on Figure 1. [1 mark] Figure 1
  16. June 2022, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q01.3 (2 marks): The percentages of nitrogen and oxygen in the Earth’s atmosphere today are different from the Earth’s early atmosphere. Complete the sentences. Choose answers f
  17. June 2022, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q01.4 (2 marks): The Earth’s atmosphere today contains a small amount of carbon dioxide. Why has the percentage of carbon dioxide decreased since the Earth’s early atmosphere? [
  18. June 2022, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q02.1 (1 mark): Name the process in the leaves of trees that uses carbon dioxide. [1 mark]
  19. June 2022, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q02.2 (1 mark): How is coal formed after trees die? [1 mark] Tick () one box. The trees are burned. The trees are compressed. The trees are melted. Coal contains small amounts
  20. November 2021, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.1 (1 mark): Earth’s early atmosphere may have been like the atmosphere of Mars today. Why are scientists not certain about the percentage of gases in the Earth’s early atmo
  21. November 2021, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.2 (1 mark): What was formed from the water vapour in the Earth’s early atmosphere? [1 mark] Tick () one box. Crude oil Limestone Natural gas Oceans
  22. November 2021, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.3 (2 marks): The Earth’s atmosphere today consists mainly of nitrogen and oxygen. Draw one line from each gas to what produced the gas. [2 marks] Gas What produced the gas N
  23. November 2021, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.4 (1 mark): Why are animals not able to live on Mars? [1 mark] Tick () one box. The atmosphere of Mars does not contain enough argon. The atmosphere of Mars does not conta
  24. November 2021, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.5 (1 mark): There is more carbon dioxide on Mars than on Earth. Which other gas is found in larger quantities on Mars than on Earth? [1 mark]
  25. November 2021, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q04.6 (3 marks): Calculate how many times more nitrogen than oxygen there is in the atmosphere of Earth. Use Table 2. Give your answer to 2 significant figures. [3 marks] Number
  26. November 2020, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q06.2 (3 marks): The mass of gas in Earth’s atmosphere remains constant at 5.15 × 1018 kg Determine the maximum mass of carbon dioxide that was in the Earth’s atmosphere. Use Fi
  27. November 2020, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q06.3 (6 marks): Describe the processes that have caused the main changes in the percentage of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere over the last 4.6 billion years. Use Figu
  28. November 2020, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q02.1 (1 mark): What was the highest percentage of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere? Use Figure 2. [1 mark] Highest percentage = %
  29. November 2020, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q02.2 (2 marks): The percentage of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has decreased since Earth’s early atmosphere. Which two processes have decreased the percentage of carbon dio
  30. November 2020, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q02.4 (2 marks): Complete Table 1. Use Figure 3. [2 marks] Table 1 Water temperature in °C Mass of carbon dioxide in g dissolved in 1 dm3 of water 5 15
  31. November 2020, Chemistry Paper 2 Foundation, Q02.5 (1 mark): Calculate the difference in the mass of carbon dioxide dissolved in 1 dm3 of water at 5 °C and at 15 °C Use Table 1. [1 mark] Mass = g
  32. June 2018, Chemistry Paper 2 Higher, Q02.5 (6 marks): Explain how the percentages of nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere today have changed from the Earth’s early atmosphere. [6 marks]

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