Lesson T10.1.2

T10.1.2 Composition of the atmosphere Quiz: KS3 Chemistry, Unit 10

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson T10.1.2, Composition of the atmosphere: 20 multiple choice questions for the KS3 Chemistry (National Curriculum), Unit 10: Carbon cycle and atmosphere, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which gas makes up about 78% of the atmosphere?

    • Argon
    • Nitrogen
    • Carbon dioxide
    • Oxygen

  2. Which gas makes up about 21% of the atmosphere?

    • Hydrogen
    • Oxygen
    • Carbon dioxide
    • Nitrogen

  3. What percentage of the atmosphere is carbon dioxide, approximately?

    • 4% by volume
    • 21% by volume
    • 78% by volume
    • 0.04% by volume

  4. Which gas makes up nearly 1% of the atmosphere?

    • Argon
    • Water vapour only
    • Carbon dioxide
    • Methane

  5. What did the early atmosphere of the Earth contain mainly?

    • Carbon dioxide and water vapour, with very little oxygen
    • Mostly argon and neon, two noble gases that do not react at all
    • Mostly hydrogen and helium only, with almost no other gases at all
    • Mostly oxygen and nitrogen, like the air we breathe today in full

  6. Which organisms added oxygen to the atmosphere over time?

    • Animals that eat plants and breathe out a lot of air
    • Volcanoes that emit only ash and dust
    • Photosynthesising plants and algae
    • Fungi that decompose wood in forests

  7. Which gas is produced when plants photosynthesise?

    • Carbon dioxide
    • Nitrogen
    • Methane
    • Oxygen

  8. Which gas in the atmosphere is the most abundant and does not support burning?

    • Carbon dioxide
    • Hydrogen
    • Oxygen
    • Nitrogen

  9. Which gas in the atmosphere is needed by animals for respiration?

    • Nitrogen
    • Carbon dioxide
    • Oxygen
    • Argon

  10. Which gas is a greenhouse gas that is present in the atmosphere in small amounts?

    • Nitrogen gas, which is inert
    • Oxygen gas, which is needed for life
    • Carbon dioxide
    • Argon gas, which is a noble gas

  11. Which statement about the atmosphere today is correct?

    • It is mostly carbon dioxide and water vapour
    • It is mostly water vapour with a little oxygen
    • It is mostly nitrogen and oxygen
    • It is mostly argon with some neon and helium

  12. Water vapour is a variable part of the atmosphere. What does this mean?

    • It is only found over the sea surface and large lakes
    • It is never present in air in any amount at all
    • It is always exactly the same amount everywhere on Earth
    • Its amount changes from place to place and time to time

  13. Which gas in the atmosphere was not significant in the early Earth's atmosphere?

    • Oxygen
    • Carbon dioxide
    • Nitrogen
    • Water vapour

  14. A student wants to find the percentage of oxygen in dry air. Which value is correct?

    • About 78%
    • About 0.04%
    • About 50%
    • About 21%

  15. Which process removes oxygen from the atmosphere?

    • Respiration and combustion
    • Photosynthesis in green plants
    • Condensation of water into clouds
    • Evaporation from oceans and lakes

  16. Which statement compares carbon dioxide and nitrogen in the atmosphere?

    • Carbon dioxide is far more abundant than nitrogen
    • Both gases make up exactly 50% each
    • Neither gas is present in the atmosphere
    • Nitrogen is far more abundant than carbon dioxide

  17. Which is the best description of the composition of the atmosphere?

    • Mainly nitrogen and oxygen, with small amounts of argon, carbon dioxide and water vapour
    • Mainly argon, with small amounts of nitrogen, carbon and water vapour in it
    • Mainly oxygen, with almost no other gases of any kind present in the air
    • Mainly carbon dioxide, with small amounts of nitrogen and oxygen in the mix

  18. Why is the proportion of argon in the air almost constant?

    • It is an unreactive noble gas that does not join other elements
    • It is produced by animals in respiration and released into the air
    • It dissolves completely in the oceans, forming a weak acid solution
    • It is removed by plants in photosynthesis as they grow each year

  19. Which statement about nitrogen in the atmosphere is correct?

    • It is a liquid at room temperature and pressure in the air
    • It is largely unreactive and makes up most of the air
    • It is produced by animal respiration as they breathe out air
    • It is mostly removed by plants during photosynthesis each day

  20. Which of these is NOT one of the main gases in dry air?

    • Nitrogen
    • Methane
    • Argon
    • Oxygen

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