AQA · GCSE · Chemistry
Course version: 8462 · Version from Sept 2018
Volcanoes also produced nitrogen which gradually built up in the…
Full specification wording
The Earth's early atmosphere: Volcanoes also produced nitrogen which gradually built up in the atmosphere and there may have been small proportions of methane and ammonia.
This statement explains that volcanic activity released nitrogen as well as water vapour and carbon dioxide.
Checked against the AQA 8462 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 5 of 7
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
This statement explains that volcanic activity released nitrogen as well as water vapour and carbon dioxide. Over time, nitrogen accumulated in the atmosphere because it is relatively unreactive and was not removed by reactions or dissolving in the oceans. The statement also notes that small proportions of methane and ammonia may have been present. The word ‘may’ indicates uncertainty, because these gases are not directly preserved in the rock record. A useful summary is: volcanoes released nitrogen, which built up; methane and ammonia were present in small amounts. Nitrogen is now the most abundant gas in the atmosphere, showing how volcanic gases shaped its long-term composition.
What earns the marks
- States that volcanoes produced nitrogen.
- Explains that nitrogen gradually built up in the atmosphere.
- States that there may have been small proportions of methane.
- States that there may have been small proportions of ammonia.
- Links the build-up of nitrogen to the fact that it is relatively unreactive and not easily removed.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Saying nitrogen was the main gas in the early atmosphere.
Put it right: Carbon dioxide was the main gas, and nitrogen built up later.
Treating methane and ammonia as certain major components.
Put it right: They are described as small proportions and may have been present.
Confusing nitrogen with oxygen.
Put it right: Nitrogen is relatively unreactive, whereas oxygen is reactive and appeared later.
Exam tips
- Use the word ‘gradually’ when describing the build-up of nitrogen to show it happened over a long time.
- Include the phrase ‘small proportions’ for methane and ammonia rather than saying they were abundant.
- If asked why nitrogen built up, refer to its relative unreactivity and lack of removal by oceans or reactions.
Try the lesson
The start of the The Earth's early atmosphere: Volcanoes also produced nitrogen which gradually built up in the atmosphere and there may have been small proportions of methane and ammonia. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which gas released by volcanoes gradually built up in the early atmosphere?
Listen
This statement explains that volcanic activity released nitrogen as well as water vapour and carbon dioxide. Over time, nitrogen accumulated in the atmosphere because it is relatively unreactive and was not removed by reactions or dissolving in the oceans. The statement also notes that small proportions of methane and ammonia may have been present. The word ‘may’ indicates uncertainty, because these gases are not directly preserved in the rock record. A useful summary is: volcanoes released nitrogen, which built up; methane and ammonia were present in small amounts. Nitrogen is now the most abundant gas in the atmosphere, showing how volcanic gases shaped its long-term composition. A strong answer earns marks for these points. States that volcanoes produced nitrogen. Explains that nitrogen gradually built up in the atmosphere. States that there may have been small proportions of methane. States that there may have been small proportions of ammonia. Exam tip: Use the word ‘gradually’ when describing the build-up of nitrogen to show it happened over a long time.
Key words
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Volcanic production of nitrogen
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Build-up of nitrogen in the atmosphere
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Trace gases methane and ammonia
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Long-term changes in atmospheric composition
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See every definition
- Volcanic production of nitrogen
- Volcanoes produced nitrogen, which then gradually built up in the atmosphere.
- Build-up of nitrogen in the atmosphere
- Nitrogen gradually built up in the atmosphere because it is relatively unreactive and was not removed by reactions or dissolving in the oceans.
- Trace gases methane and ammonia
- There may have been small proportions of methane and ammonia in the atmosphere.
- Long-term changes in atmospheric composition
- Volcanic gases shaped the atmosphere's long-term composition, and nitrogen is now the most abundant gas in it.
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