Unit 2 The atmosphere 39

Part II Multiple choice questions

Directions: Q u e s t i o n s 7 – 9 re f e r t o t h e f o l l o w i n g The separation of gases in the air is done in several

information. stages:

The table below gives information about the gases in the • carbon dioxide is first removed;
air after the water vapour has been removed.
• the air is then cooled to −200 °C so it liquefies;
Melting Boiling Abundance • the liquefied air is allowed to warm up;
Gas
point (°C) point (°C) (%)
• two main fractions, oxygen and nitrogen, are
Nitrogen −210 −196 78
collected;
Oxygen −218 −183 21
• a third fraction that is mainly argon is also
Carbon collected.
−78 −78 0.03
dioxide
Helium −272 −269 Less than 0.01 7 A correct conclusion from this information is that

Neon −248 −246 Less than 0.01 A hydrogen, a gas with a very low density, is present
in the nitrogen from ammonium nitrate.
Argon −189 −186 0.9
B the nitrogen from the air contains a small amount
Krypton −157 −153 Less than 0.01 of hydrogen.
C a gas that is denser than nitrogen is mixed with

Unit Exercise
Xenon −112 −108 Less than 0.01
the nitrogen from the air.
D some carbon dioxide was given off when the
In 1892, scientists believed that the air consisted of three ammonium nitrate was heated.
gases, nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Lord Rayleigh extracted nitrogen from air. 8 The carbon dioxide is removed before the air is liquefied
because

A it is present only in very small quantities.

B it is a compound and the other gases are
elements.
C it would solidify during cooling and cause blockages
in the pipes.
D its density is very similar to the density of argon.

He also collected very pure nitrogen by decomposing 9 What is the order in which these fractions boil off from
ammonium nitrate. the liquefied air?

He found that there was a very small difference in the A Argon, nitrogen, oxygen
densities of the nitrogen samples from the two different B Oxygen, nitrogen, argon
sources. C Argon, oxygen, nitrogen
D Nitrogen, argon, oxygen
• Density of nitrogen from the air = 1.2572 g per litre
(AQA GCSE (Foundation and Higher Tiers), Chemistry, Unit
• Density of nitrogen from ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) C1b, Nov. 2012, 9(a), (c)–(d))
= 1.2511 g per litre

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 40 Topic 1 Planet Earth

10 Which of the following substances is a pure 15 Which of the following statements about oxygen is
substance? INCORRECT?

A Air A Oxygen is flammable.

B Ammonia B Oxygen is a colourless gas.
C Beer C Oxygen relights a glowing splint.
D Pond water D Air contains 21% of oxygen.

11 Which of the following substances is a compound? 16 Which of the following combinations concerning the
change of physical state of a substance is correct?
A Aluminium
B Ammonia Change of physical state Process
C Chlorine
A gas to solid freezing
D Sodium
B solid to liquid boiling
C solid to gas sublimation
12 How many elements does calcium carbonate consist
D liquid to gas condensation
of?

A 2 17 Which of the following is NOT a physical property of

B 3 carbon?
C 4
D 5 A It is black in colour.
B It is a solid at room temperature.
C It is denser than water.
Directions: Questions 13 and 14 refer to the following
Unit Exercise

D It can burn in air.

information.

The diagram represents the reaction between substance J 18 Which of the following are mixtures?
and substance K to creat a new substance L.
(1) Carat gold ring
(2) Cola drink
(3) Distilled water

A (1) and (2) only

B (1) and (3) only
C (2) and (3) only
D (1), (2) and (3)
13 Which substance or substances are elements?
19 Which of the following statements about a compound
A J only
is / are correct?
B Both K and L
C Both J and K (1) Its properties are similar to those of its constituent
D L only elements.
(2) It has a sharp melting point.
14 Substance L (3) It can be separated into its constituent elements
by physical methods.
A is an impure substance.
B is a mixture. A (1) only
C will have the same chemical properties as substances B (2) only
J and K. C (1) and (3) only
D is a compound of J and K. D (2) and (3) only
(AQA GCSE (Foundation and High Tiers), Chemistry, Unit
C1a, Jun. 2010, 4(a)–(b))

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 Unit 2 The atmosphere 41

20 Which of the following processes involve chemical

changes?

(1) Putting hot sodium into a jar of chlorine

(2) Condensation of water
(3) Electrolysis of sea water

A (1) and (2) only

B (1) and (3) only
C (2) and (3) only
D (1), (2) and (3)

Part III Structured questions

21 The tables give information about the elements in the 22 The table shows some data about oxygen and some
air and in the Earth’s crust. other chemicals A, B, C and D.

Elements in the air Elements in the Melting Boiling

Chemical
Earth’s crust point (°C) point (°C)
element percentage
element percentage Oxygen –218 –183
nitrogen 78%

Unit Exercise
silicon 47% A –7 59
oxygen 21%
oxygen 28% B –210 –196
other gases
(including aluminium 8% C –157 –152
1%
carbon
all other D 1 074 1 740
dioxide) 17%
elements
Use the letters A, B, C and D to answer the following
a) Which of the following elements are found only in
questions.
air, only in the Earth’s crust or in both? Put ticks
‘✔’ in the correct boxes. a) Which chemical has a lower boiling point than
oxygen?
Only in
Only in air the Earth’s In both b) Which chemical is a liquid at room temperature
crust (20° C)?
(OCR GCSE 21st Century Science (Higher Tier), Chem. A,
metal
Unit 2, Jan. 2009, 4(a)–(b))
elements
non-metal
elements

b) The information given in this question contains

examples of both elements and compounds.
Explain the difference between elements and
compounds.

Give examples in your answer.

(OCR GCSE 21st Century Science (Higher Tier), Chem. A,
Unit 2, Jun. 2011, 5(a), (c))

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 42 Topic 1 Planet Earth

23 Some of the foods need to be cooked before eating 24 The boiling points and melting points for some gases
them. present in the air are given in the table. This information
can be used to separate the components of air in
Look at the picture of a barbecue. industry.
This is used to cook food at a high temperature.
Melting Boiling
Gases
point (°C) point (°C)
Water vapour 0 100
Oxygen –218 –183
Nitrogen –210 –196
Neon –248 –246

Use the values in the table to answer the following

questions.

a) Write down ONE reason why some foods need to a) State what happens to water vapour when the
be cooked. temperature is lowered from room temperature to
–10 °C.
b) Cooking food is an example of a chemical
change. b) In the industrial process, the gases are passed
through a series of pipes until the temperature
Unit Exercise

Explain why. reaches –200 °C.

(OCR GCSE Gateway Science (Higher Tier), Chem. B, Unit
Why must water vapour be removed before this
1, Jan. 2010, 2)
takes place?

c) State what happens to the remaining gases when

the temperature is lowered to –200 °C. Describe
how the gases can then be separated so as to
obtain a pure sample of each one.
(Edexcel GCE O Level, Paper 2, May 2010, 6(a))

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