Question 1 Medium
Melting ice caps and warming oceans cause which change that floods coasts?
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Answer: rising sea level
- Water from melting ice and expanding oceans adds to the sea.
- So the sea level rises.
Greenhouse gases, climate change and air pollution: GCSE Combined Science Chemistry practice questions
A second set of questions on greenhouse gases, climate change and air pollution. They are different from the ones on the topic page. Try each, then open the answer and compare your working.
More questions
Question 2 Medium
Do greenhouse gases mainly absorb short wavelength or long wavelength radiation?
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Answer: long wavelength
- The Earth gives out infrared radiation.
- Greenhouse gases absorb the long wavelength radiation.
Question 3 Hard
Complete combustion of methane makes carbon dioxide and one other product. Name it.
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Answer: water
- Methane contains hydrogen as well as carbon.
- The hydrogen forms water.
Question 4 Hard
Why is carbon monoxide difficult to detect without an alarm?
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Answer: it is colourless and odourless
- You cannot see or smell it.
- It is colourless and odourless.
Question 5 Hard
Tiny solid particles in the air reduce the sunlight reaching the Earth's surface. What is this effect called?
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Answer: global dimming
- Particulates reflect or block sunlight.
- The effect is global dimming.
Question 6 Hard
A car gives out 0.17 kg of carbon dioxide per kilometre. How much carbon dioxide does it give out over 40 km? Give your answer in kg.
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Answer: 6.8 kg
- Total = 0.17 × 40.
- 0.17 × 40 = 6.8 kg.
Question 7 Hard
Coal contains 1.5% sulfur by mass. A power station burns 1000 kg of coal. What mass of sulfur does the coal contain? Give your answer in kg.
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Answer: 15 kg
- 1.5% = 0.015.
- 0.015 × 1000 = 15 kg.
Question 8 Hard
The concentration of carbon dioxide in the air rose from 280 ppm to 420 ppm. Calculate the percentage increase.
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Answer: 50%
- Increase = 420 − 280 = 140.
- 140 ÷ 280 × 100 = 50%.
Quick checks
Short questions with options. Choose one before you open the answer.
Check 1
Name three greenhouse gases.
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Water vapour, carbon dioxide and methane.
Check 2
What is the greenhouse effect?
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Greenhouse gases absorb infrared radiation from the Earth and release it again, some back to the surface, keeping the Earth warm.
Check 3
What type of radiation does the Sun give out that passes through the atmosphere?
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Short wavelength radiation.
Check 4
What type of radiation does the warm Earth give out?
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Long wavelength (infrared) radiation.
Check 5
Give two human activities that increase carbon dioxide.
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Burning fossil fuels and deforestation.
Check 6
Give two human activities that increase methane.
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Cattle farming, rice paddy fields and landfill sites.
Check 7
Give four possible effects of climate change.
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Rising sea level, more extreme weather, changes in rainfall and changes to where species can live.
Check 8
Why is a correlation between carbon dioxide and temperature not proof of cause?
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Two things can change together by chance or because of a third factor, so more evidence is needed.
Check 9
What does peer review mean?
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Other scientists check the work before it is accepted.
Check 10
What is a carbon footprint?
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The total greenhouse gases emitted over the full life cycle of a product, service or event.
Check 11
Give three ways to reduce a carbon footprint.
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Use renewable energy, save energy, use public transport, plant trees or capture carbon dioxide.
Check 12
Why can actions to reduce emissions be limited?
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Cost, available technology, lifestyle choices and countries not agreeing.
Check 13
What is complete combustion of a hydrocarbon?
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Burning in plenty of oxygen to make carbon dioxide and water.
Check 14
What is made when a fuel burns with too little oxygen?
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Carbon monoxide and soot (carbon), as well as water.
Check 15
Where does the sulfur dioxide from burning a fuel come from?
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Sulfur impurities in the fuel.
Check 16
How are oxides of nitrogen made in an engine?
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Nitrogen and oxygen from the air react at the high temperature in the engine.
Check 17
Why is carbon monoxide dangerous?
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It is toxic. It stops red blood cells carrying oxygen. It is colourless and odourless so it is hard to detect.
Check 18
What problems do sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen cause?
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Breathing problems and acid rain.
Check 19
What is acid rain?
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Rain made acidic by sulfur dioxide or oxides of nitrogen dissolved in it.
Check 20
What harm does acid rain do?
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Damages buildings and statues, harms trees and makes lakes too acidic for fish.
Check 21
What are particulates?
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Tiny solid particles such as soot released when fuels burn.
Check 22
What is global dimming?
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Less sunlight reaching the Earth's surface because of particulates in the air.
Check 23
Why is hydrogen a possible fuel for cars?
Show answer
It makes only water when it burns, so it makes no carbon dioxide.
Check 24
What are two problems with hydrogen as a car fuel?
Show answer
It is hard and costly to store, and making it often uses energy from fossil fuels.
Keep going with Greenhouse gases, climate change and air pollution
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