AQA GCSE Chemistry — Atmosphere and Resources flashcards
10 of 77 cards free to study here · 2 topics · the whole deck is built into Willys
Topics 4.9 and 4.10 of AQA GCSE Chemistry: the evolving atmosphere, greenhouse gases, pollutants, potable and waste water, phytomining and bioleaching, life cycle assessment, corrosion, alloys, materials, the Haber process and NPK fertilisers. Higher Tier and Chemistry-only cards are marked.
Learn deck · part of AQA GCSE Chemistry · written against: AQA GCSE Chemistry (8462) specification, version 1.2, 16 January 2026; Higher Tier and separate-science-only cards marked on the front. Updated 2026-10-10.
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What are the approximate proportions of nitrogen and oxygen in the atmosphere today?About 80% (four-fifths) nitrogen and about 20% (one-fifth) oxygen.Chemistry of the Atmosphere › Evolution of the Atmosphere
Why: the rest is small amounts of carbon dioxide, water vapour and noble gases such as argon. -
For roughly how long has the composition of the atmosphere been much the same as it is today?About 200 million years.Chemistry of the Atmosphere › Evolution of the Atmosphere
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According to one widely held theory, what formed the Earth's early atmosphere, and what was it mainly made of?Intense volcanic activity in the first billion years released the gases; the atmosphere was mostly carbon dioxide, with almost no free oxygen.Chemistry of the Atmosphere › Evolution of the Atmosphere
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How did the oceans form?Water vapour released by volcanoes condensed as the Earth cooled.Chemistry of the Atmosphere › Evolution of the Atmosphere
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Which planets' atmospheres today may resemble the Earth's early atmosphere?Mars and Venus: both have atmospheres made mostly of carbon dioxide and almost free of oxygen.Chemistry of the Atmosphere › Evolution of the Atmosphere
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What is sustainable development?Development that provides for the needs of people today while leaving future generations able to meet their own needs too.Using Resources › Sustainable Development
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What is the difference between a finite and a renewable resource? Give an example of each.A finite resource will run out (such as crude oil or metal ores); a renewable resource can be replaced as fast as it is used (such as timber from managed forests).Using Resources › Sustainable Development
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Give an example of a natural product that has been supplemented or replaced by a synthetic one.Wool and cotton supplemented by synthetic fibres such as polyester; natural rubber by synthetic rubber.Using Resources › Sustainable Development
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What is potable water, and why is it not pure water?Water that is safe to drink; it is not pure because it still contains dissolved substances, at low levels.Using Resources › Potable Water and Waste Water
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In the UK, what are the main steps in producing potable water from rain water?Choose a suitable source of fresh water, pass it through filter beds, then sterilise it.Using Resources › Potable Water and Waste Water
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About these cards
Review status: Second-reader reviewed, with corrections applied.
Checked against:
- Topic outline follows the AQA GCSE Chemistry (8462) specification, version 1.2 (16 January 2026) (outline only; no specification text reproduced).
- OpenStax Chemistry 2e, consulted as a reference; no text copied.
- Also checked against NASA NSSDC planetary fact sheets, PubChem compound records and CropNutrition (reference only; no text copied).
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