Gases in the atmosphere: Edexcel International GCSE Chemistry questions

Every Edexcel International GCSE Chemistry exam question on Gases in the atmosphere (specification points 2.9–2.14), 2019–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

All 102 questions on Gases in the atmosphere, as a list

June 2025 (R), Paper 2, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): Identify the gas that makes up about 21% of the atmosphere. (1)
June 2025 (R), Paper 2, Q1(a)(iii) (1 mark): Identify a greenhouse gas. (1)
November 2024, Paper 1, Q2(a)(i) (1 mark): Name the gas needed for combustion. (1)
November 2024, Paper 1, Q2(a)(ii) (1 mark): Name the gas that is most abundant in air. (1)
November 2024, Paper 1, Q11(a)(ii) (1 mark): Give a reason why sulfur dioxide should not be released into the atmosphere. (1)
June 2024, Paper 1, Q7(a) (1 mark): What is the approximate percentage by volume of nitrogen in the atmosphere? (1) A 1% B 20% C 70% D 80%
June 2024, Paper 1, Q7(c)(ii) (1 mark): Nitric acid forms acid rain. State one environmental effect of acid rain. (1)
November 2023, Paper 1, Q4(a)(i) (1 mark): Give the name of the gas that is about 79 % of the atmosphere by volume. (1)
November 2023, Paper 1, Q4(a)(ii) (1 mark): Give the name of the gas that is a compound. (1)
November 2023, Paper 1, Q4(a)(iii) (1 mark): Give the name of the least reactive gas. (1)
November 2023, Paper 1, Q4(a)(iv) (1 mark): Give the name of the gas that is not normally found in the atmosphere. (1)
November 2023, Paper 1, Q4(a)(v) (1 mark): Give the name of the gas that affects global warming. (1)
November 2023, Paper 1, Q4(b)(i) (1 mark): Give the name for this type of reaction. (1)
November 2023, Paper 1, Q4(b)(ii) (2 marks): Give the colour change that occurs during this reaction. (2) to
November 2023, Paper 1, Q4(b)(iii) (1 mark): Give a chemical equation for this reaction. (1)
November 2023, Paper 2, Q2(a)(i) (1 mark): Give the appearance of the magnesium oxide. (1)
November 2023, Paper 2, Q2(a)(ii) (1 mark): Give a chemical equation for the reaction of magnesium with oxygen. (1)
November 2023, Paper 2, Q2(a)(iii) (2 marks): Explain why the water in the bell jar rises. (2)
November 2023, Paper 2, Q2(b) (3 marks): The volume of air in the bell jar at the start of the reaction is 2000 cm3. When the reaction ends, the apparatus cools down to room temperature. Calculate the
November 2023, Paper 2, Q2(c) (1 mark): State why the gas remaining in the bell jar at the end of the reaction is approximately 99% nitrogen. (1)
June 2023, Paper 2, Q2(a) (1 mark): Which of these gases has the lowest percentage by volume in the atmosphere? (1) A argon B carbon dioxide C nitrogen D oxygen
June 2023, Paper 2, Q2(c) (4 marks): A student uses this apparatus to find the percentage of oxygen in a sample of air. gas syringe air conical flask wet iron filings The student leaves the apparat
June 2023, Paper 2, Q2(d) (2 marks): Explain why an increasing amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is likely to cause a problem for the environment. (2)
June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q1(b)(i) (1 mark): Give one observation that can be made when sulfur burns in oxygen. (1)
June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q1(b)(ii) (2 marks): Some universal indicator is added to sulfur dioxide. Explain the final colour of the universal indicator. (2)
June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q4(a) (4 marks): The table gives information about some gases. Complete the table by choosing a gas from the box that matches the information. carbon dioxide carbon monoxide hel
June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q4(b)(i) (1 mark): State why the copper powder turns black. (1)
June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q4(b)(ii) (1 mark): Give a reason why the remaining gas is allowed to cool before its volume is recorded. (1)
June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q4(b)(iii) (2 marks): At the start of the experiment, the total volume of air in the apparatus is 138 cm3. At the end of the experiment, the volume of gas remaining is 108 cm3. Calcu
January 2023, Paper 1, Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): Name the gas that is about 1% of dry air by volume. (1)
January 2023, Paper 1, Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which is the most abundant gas in dry air by volume? (1) A carbon dioxide B methane C nitrogen D oxygen
January 2023, Paper 1, Q3(b)(iii) (2 marks): The table shows the student’s results. initial length of column of gas 75 mm final length of column of gas 30 mm Use the results to calculate the percentage of
January 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q2(a)(i) (1 mark): Name the most abundant gas in the atmosphere. (1)
January 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q2(a)(ii) (1 mark): Name the noble gas that makes up about 1% of the atmosphere. (1)
January 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q2(a)(iii) (1 mark): Name a greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. (1)
January 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q2(b)(i) (1 mark): State the appearance of the iron wool after one week. (1)
January 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q2(b)(ii) (2 marks): Use the student’s results to show that the percentage of oxygen in the sample of air is approximately 18%. (2)
January 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q2(b)(iii) (1 mark): The actual percentage of oxygen in air is approximately 21%. Give a reason why the percentage of air calculated from the student’s results is less than 21%. (1)
January 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q7(a) (2 marks): A teacher ignites a piece of magnesium ribbon and places it in a gas jar of oxygen. This is the equation for the reaction. 2Mg + O2 → 2MgO Give two observations
January 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q8(a)(i) (1 mark): Give the name for this type of reaction. (1)
June 2022, Paper 1, Q4(b) (2 marks): The syringe in the diagram shows the reading at the end of the experiment. Complete table 1 to show the readings on the syringe. Give both values to the nearest
June 2022, Paper 1, Q4(c) (3 marks): The student repeats the experiment and obtains a different set of results. Table 2 shows these results. volume of air in conical flask and glass tube in cm3 260
June 2022, Paper 1, Q7(b)(i) (1 mark): What is the name of this type of reaction? (1) A decomposition B neutralisation C oxidation D reduction
June 2022, Paper 1, Q7(b)(ii) (1 mark): Which colour change occurs during this reaction? (1) A blue to black B blue to white C green to black D green to orange
June 2022, Paper 2, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Identify the least reactive gas in the atmosphere. (1)
June 2022, Paper 2, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): Identify the most abundant gas in the atmosphere. (1)
June 2022, Paper 2, Q1(a)(iii) (1 mark): Identify the gas that is not normally found in the atmosphere. (1)
June 2022, Paper 2, Q1(b) (1 mark): State an environmental problem caused by increasing amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. (1)
June 2022, Paper 2, Q4(a) (2 marks): Magnesium burns in oxygen to form magnesium oxide. State two observations that would be seen during the reaction. (2) 1 2
June 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q5(a) (4 marks): A student is given three solid metal carbonates, a timer, some limewater and this apparatus. boiling tube test tube Describe a method the student can use to fin
June 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q5(b)(i) (1 mark): Give a reason why the student uses a cotton wool plug. (1)
January 2022, Paper 1, Q4(a)(i) (1 mark): Give a reason why the copper powder is heated. (1)
January 2022, Paper 1, Q4(a)(iii) (1 mark): Give the name of the black powder that forms when the oxygen reacts with the copper. (1)
January 2022, Paper 1, Q4(b)(i) (1 mark): State how the results show that all the oxygen has reacted. (1)
January 2022, Paper 1, Q4(b)(ii) (3 marks): The volume of gas in the glass tube and connecting tubes is 175 cm3. Use this value and the results table to calculate the percentage of oxygen in the mixture o
January 2022, Paper 1, Q4(b)(iii) (1 mark): Suggest one reason why the calculated percentage of oxygen in the mixture may not be accurate. (1)
January 2022, Paper 2, Q2(a)(i) (1 mark): Which of these is gas Z? (1) A hydrogen B methane C neon D nitrogen
January 2022, Paper 2, Q2(a)(ii) (1 mark): Which of these is the approximate percentage of oxygen in dry, unpolluted air? (1) A 0.04% B 0.9% C 21% D 35%
January 2022, Paper 2, Q2(b)(i) (2 marks): Identify two reactions that produce carbon dioxide by placing a tick () in two boxes. (2) cracking an alkane complete combustion of an alkane reaction between
January 2022, Paper 2, Q2(b)(ii) (1 mark): Name an environmental problem that is caused by the percentage of carbon dioxide increasing in the atmosphere. (1)
January 2022, Paper 2, Q2(b)(iii) (1 mark): Name the trace gas with the highest percentage in dry, unpolluted air. (1)
January 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q5(c)(i) (1 mark): State one observation made during the combustion of magnesium metal. (1)
January 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q5(d)(i) (1 mark): Give a reason why the reaction needs to be done in the absence of air. (1)
January 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q7(a) (2 marks): Explain the meaning of the term thermal decomposition. (2)
November 2021, Paper 1, Q5(a) (1 mark): In experiment 1, a student bubbles the mixture of gases through limewater. Carbon dioxide reacts with limewater. The diagram shows the apparatus the student use
November 2021, Paper 1, Q5(b)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the percentage by volume of carbon dioxide in the mixture of gases in syringe A. (2) percentage of carbon dioxide = %
November 2021, Paper 1, Q5(b)(iii) (2 marks): Explain why the gas syringes in experiment 1 cannot be used to find the percentage of carbon dioxide in a typical sample of air. (2)
November 2021, Paper 1, Q5(c)(i) (1 mark): Name the black substance that forms on the copper powder. (1)
November 2021, Paper 1, Q7(a)(iii) (1 mark): State why it is important that oxides of nitrogen are not released into the atmosphere. (1)
January 2021, Paper 1, Q4(a) (3 marks): When iron rusts, it reacts with oxygen in the air. A student uses the rusting of iron to find the percentage of oxygen in a sample of air. The diagram shows the
January 2021, Paper 2, Q2(a)(i) (1 mark): Name the most abundant gas in the Earth’s atmosphere. (1)
January 2021, Paper 2, Q2(a)(ii) (1 mark): Name the gas that is a compound. (1)
January 2021, Paper 2, Q2(a)(iii) (1 mark): Name the least reactive of the gases. (1)
January 2021, Paper 2, Q2(a)(iv) (1 mark): Name the gas formed by the complete combustion of hydrocarbons. (1)
January 2021 (R), Paper 1, Q4(b)(i) (2 marks): Use the readings to complete the table, giving all values to the nearest 0.5 cm3. (2) reading at start in cm3 20.5 reading at end in cm3 volume of oxygen used i
January 2021 (R), Paper 1, Q4(b)(ii) (1 mark): The student uses these results to calculate the percentage by volume of oxygen in air. Suggest why her calculated value is lower than the expected value. (1)
January 2021 (R), Paper 1, Q4(c) (3 marks): The student repeats the experiment using the same apparatus. These are her results for the second experiment. volume of air in tube at start = 80.0 cm3 reading
January 2021 (R), Paper 1, Q5(a) (1 mark): State the name given to this type of reaction. (1)
January 2021 (R), Paper 1, Q5(b) (2 marks): State two variables that the student should control in this investigation. (2) 1 2
January 2021 (R), Paper 1, Q5(c) (1 mark): Suggest why bubbles appear in the limewater immediately after heating has started but before there is any change to the metal carbonate. (1)
January 2021 (R), Paper 1, Q5(d) (2 marks): Explain the purpose of limewater in this investigation. (2)
January 2021 (R), Paper 1, Q5(e)(i) (2 marks): State the colour change that occurs for copper(II) carbonate. (2) from to
January 2021 (R), Paper 1, Q5(e)(ii) (1 mark): Give a chemical equation for this reaction of copper(II) carbonate. (1)
January 2021 (R), Paper 1, Q8(c)(ii) (1 mark): State an environmental problem caused by carbon dioxide. (1)
November 2020, Paper 1, Q9(a)(i) (1 mark): What type of reaction is this? (1) A combustion B decomposition C oxidation D reduction
November 2020, Paper 1, Q9(a)(ii) (1 mark): Suggest why the reaction makes the cakes increase in size. (1)
November 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q8(a)(i) (2 marks): Give two observations that would be made in this reaction. (2) 1 2
November 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q9(b)(i) (1 mark): Give the name of this type of reaction. (1)
November 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q9(b)(ii) (1 mark): Complete the equation for this reaction. (1) PbCO3 → +
January 2020, Paper 1, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Identify a noble gas. (1)
January 2020, Paper 1, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): Identify a gas that makes up about 78% of the atmosphere. (1)
January 2020, Paper 1, Q1(a)(iii) (1 mark): Identify a greenhouse gas. (1)
January 2020, Paper 1, Q1(a)(iv) (1 mark): Identify a gas produced by the thermal decomposition of calcium carbonate. (1)
January 2020, Paper 1, Q1(b)(i) (1 mark): Write a chemical equation for this reaction. (1)
January 2020, Paper 1, Q1(b)(ii) (1 mark): State an environmental problem caused when sulfur dioxide gas dissolves in water in the atmosphere. (1)
January 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q5(a) (1 mark): State how the results show that all the oxygen has reacted. (1)
January 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q5(b) (1 mark): Give one change to this experiment that would make the results more accurate. (1)
January 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q5(c) (3 marks): Use the results to calculate the percentage of oxygen in air. Give your answer to one decimal place. (3) percentage = %
June 2019 (R), Paper 2, Q1(a)(i) (1 mark): Identify the two noble gases. (1)
June 2019 (R), Paper 2, Q1(a)(ii) (1 mark): Identify the gas that is a compound. (1)
June 2019 (R), Paper 2, Q1(a)(iii) (1 mark): Identify the most abundant gas in the atmosphere. (1)
June 2019 (R), Paper 2, Q1(a)(iv) (1 mark): Identify the greenhouse gas. (1)

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