Air Quality & Climate (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Chemistry)

Exam Questions

3 hours35 questions
11 mark

Clean air contains oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and some noble gases. Which row correctly states the percentages of each gas present in clean, unpolluted air?

 

% O2 

% N

% CO2 & noble gases 

A

20

78

2

B

21

78

1

C

19

79

2

D

20

79

1

    Did this page help you?

    21 mark

    Nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide are all air pollutants. Which row correctly describes the major source of each pollutant?

     

    NO2 

    SO2 

    CO

    A

    car engines

    power stations

    respiration

    B

    power stations

    car engines

    car engines

    C

    respiration

    power stations

    car engines

    D

    car engines

    power stations

    car engines

      Did this page help you?

      31 mark

      Human activities are contributing to the increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. 

      Which two human activities contribute to the release of methane?

      • Deforestation and cattle farming

      • Burning fossil fuels and deforestation 

      • Cattle farming and sending rubbish to landfill

      • Sending rubbish to landfill and deforestation

      Did this page help you?

      41 mark

      Separate: Chemistry Only

      Which words complete the gaps 1 & 2 in the word equation for photosynthesis?

      carbon dioxide +                 1                →                 2                + oxygen

       

      1

      2

       A

      water

      hydrogen

       B

      glucose

      water

       C

      hydrogen

      carbon monoxide

       D

      water

      glucose

        Did this page help you?

        51 mark

        Human activities increase the level of nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide in our atmosphere.

        Which row correctly shows the effect of each of these gases in our atmosphere?

         

        Oxides of nitrogen

        Sulfur dioxide

        Carbon dioxide

        A

        global warming

        respiratory problems

        photochemical smog

        B

        acid rain

        photochemical smog

        respiratory problems

        C

        photochemical smog

        acid rain

        global warming

        D

        respiratory problems

        global warming

        acid rain

          Did this page help you?

          11 mark

          Four chemical processes are described below. Which reactions contribute to global warming?

          1

          Reacting hydrochloric acid with magnesium carbonate.

          2

          The complete combustion of propane.

          3

          Heating calcium carbonate.

          4

          Reacting sodium hydroxide with magnesium carbonate.

          • 1, 2 & 3

          • 1 & 4

          • 1, 3 & 4

          • All 4

          Did this page help you?

          21 mark

          Petrol engines produce pollutants as a by-product of internal combustion. Catalytic converters are fitted to cars to reduce the level of pollution they produce in their exhaust gases.

          Which statement about this process is not correct?

          • Nitrogen and oxygen react to produce nitrogen dioxide.

          • Carbon monoxide undergoes oxidation in the catalytic converter.

          • Carbon monoxide is formed when petrol undergoes complete combustion.

          • Nitrogen monoxide undergoes reduction in the catalytic converter.

          Did this page help you?

          31 mark

          Which row correctly shows two ways of reducing the formation of acid rain?

          A

          Use a catalytic convertor

          Reduce the amount of livestock farming

          B

          Plant more trees

          Use fuels containing low levels of sulfur

          C

          Use fuels containing low levels of sulfur

          Use a catalytic convertor

          D

          Reduce the amount of livestock farming

          Plant more trees

            Did this page help you?

            41 mark

            The table below shows the composition of the atmosphere found on a new planet. 

            gas

            percentage by volume

            nitrogen

            74

            carbon dioxide

            4

            oxygen

            22

            Which gases are present in the atmosphere of the planet in a lower percentage than they are in the Earth's atmosphere? 

            • oxygen and carbon dioxide

            • nitrogen and oxygen

            • nitrogen only

            • carbon dioxide only

            Did this page help you?

            51 mark

            Which strategy for reducing the effect of environmental issues would not help reduce climate change?

            • Reduce the amount of livestock farming

            • Plant more trees

            • Fit catalytic convertors on vehicles

            • Use renewable energy resources 

            Did this page help you?

            11 mark

            Internal combustion engines produce oxides of nitrogen which are pollutants. Which statement about oxides of nitrogen is correct?

            • Oxides of nitrogen are formed by the reaction of fuel with nitrogen.

            • Oxides of nitrogen are formed by the reaction of exhaust gases with air.

            • Catalytic converters remove oxides of nitrogen from car exhausts by oxidation.

            • Catalytic converters remove oxides of nitrogen from car exhausts by reduction.

            Did this page help you?

            21 mark

            Oxides, XO and YO2 are released into the air from power stations and car exhausts. 

            What are X and Y?

             

            X

            Y

            A

            carbon and nitrogen

            carbon and nitrogen only

            B

            carbon and nitrogen

            carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur 

            C

            carbon only

            sulfur only

            D

            carbon only

            sulfur and nitrogen only

              Did this page help you?

              31 mark

              Flue gas desulfurisation uses calcium oxide to reduce the emissions of sulfur dioxide.

              Which statements are correct?

              1

              Sulfur dioxide is a basic oxide

              2

              Sulfur dioxide is responsible for the production of acid rain 

              3

              Calcium oxide reacts with acids

              4

              Sulfur dioxide emissions can also be reduced by using low sulfur fuels

              • 1, 2 and 3 

              • 1 and 2 only

              • 1, 3 and 4

              • 2, 3 and 4

              Did this page help you?

              41 mark

              Extended Only

              Which of the following equations would not occur inside a catalytic converter?

              • 2NO → N2 + O2

              • N2 + 2CO2 → 2NO + 2CO

              • 2NO2 → N2 + 2O2

              • 2CO + O2 → 2CO2

              Did this page help you?

              5
              Sme Calculator
              1 mark

              Separate: Chemistry and Extended Only

              Photosynthesis is an endothermic reaction in which carbon dioxide and water react to form glucose and oxygen

              What is the maximum mass of glucose that can be produced from 40 cm3 of carbon dioxide?

              • 0.05 g

              • 0.30 g

              • 50 g

              • 300 g

              Did this page help you?