Air quality and climate
10.3What the syllabus asks of you
- State the composition of clean, dry air as approximately 78% nitrogen, N2, 21% oxygen, O2, and the remainder as a mixture of noble gases and carbon dioxide, CO2
- State the source of each of these air pollutants: (a) carbon dioxide from the complete combustion of carbon-containing fuels (b) carbon monoxide and particulates from the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing fuels (c) methane from the decomposition of vegetation and waste gases from digestion in animals (d) oxides of nitrogen from car engines (e) sulfur dioxide from the combustion of fossil fuels which contain sulfur compounds
- State the adverse effects of these air pollutants: (a) carbon dioxide: higher levels of carbon dioxide leading to increased global warming, which leads to climate change (b) carbon monoxide: toxic gas (c) particulates: increased risk of respiratory problems and cancer (d) methane: higher levels of methane leading to increased global warming, which leads to climate change (e) oxides of nitrogen: acid rain, photochemical smog and respiratory problems (f) sulfur dioxide: acid rain
- Describe how the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and methane cause global warming, limited to: (a) the absorption, reflection and emission of thermal energy (b) reducing thermal energy loss to space
- State and explain strategies to reduce the effects of these environmental issues, limited to: (a) climate change: planting trees, reduction in livestock farming, decreasing use of fossil fuels, increasing use of hydrogen and renewable energy, e.g. wind, solar (b) acid rain: use of catalytic converters in vehicles, reducing emissions of sulfur dioxide by using low‑sulfur fuels and flue gas desulfurisation with calcium oxide
- Explain how oxides of nitrogen form in car engines and describe their removal by catalytic converters, e.g. 2CO + 2NO → 2CO2 + N2
- Describe photosynthesis as the reaction between carbon dioxide and water to produce glucose and oxygen in the presence of chlorophyll and using energy from light
- State the word equation and symbol equation for photosynthesis
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Chapter 10: Air quality and climate
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Every question on Air quality and climate, untimed, marked as you go.
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39 questions
1May / June 2026 · Paper 11 · Q30Show mark scheme →
Aboth contain carbon ✓, both are greenhouse gases ✗, both lower the pH of water when they dissolve in it ✓
Bboth contain carbon ✓, both are greenhouse gases ✓, both lower the pH of water when they dissolve in it ✗
Cboth contain carbon ✗, both are greenhouse gases ✓, both lower the pH of water when they dissolve in it ✓
Dboth contain carbon ✗, both are greenhouse gases ✓, both lower the pH of water when they dissolve in it ✗
Mark scheme
2May / June 2026 · Paper 12 · Q30Show mark scheme →
ACO
BN2
CH2O
DNO2
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3Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 11 · Q29Show mark scheme →
Acarbon dioxide only
Bcarbon dioxide and methane
Ccarbon dioxide and oxygen
Dmethane only
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4Oct / Nov 2025 · Paper 12 · Q29Show mark scheme →
Aargon
Bchlorine
Chydrogen
Dwater vapour
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5May / June 2025 · Paper 11 · Q30Show mark scheme →
Acarbon dioxide — increases plant growth
Bmethane — causes cancer
Coxides of nitrogen — photochemical smog
Dparticulates — acid rain
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6May / June 2025 · Paper 11 · Q31Show mark scheme →
A1, 2 and 3
B1 and 2 only
C1 and 3 only
D2 and 3 only
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7May / June 2025 · Paper 12 · Q31Show mark scheme →
Aflue gas desulfurisation
Bplanting more trees
Creduction in livestock farming
Duse of catalytic converters
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8Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 11 · Q30Show mark scheme →
Acarbon monoxide | hydrogen | oxygen
Bcarbon monoxide | nitrogen monoxide | carbon dioxide
Cmethane | nitrogen monoxide | oxygen
Dmethane | hydrogen | carbon dioxide
Mark scheme
9Oct / Nov 2024 · Paper 12 · Q33Show mark scheme →
Aincreased global warming; respiratory problems; cancer
Bcancer; acid rain; increased global warming
Cincreased global warming; cancer; respiratory problems
Drespiratory problems; increased global warming; acid rain
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10Oct / Nov 2023 · Paper 11 · Q31Show mark scheme →
A1 and 2
B1 and 3
C2 and 4
D3 and 4
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11Oct / Nov 2023 · Paper 12 · Q32Show mark scheme →
Astrategy to reduce the effects of climate change: reduction in livestock farming; strategy to reduce the effects of acid rain: planting trees
Bstrategy to reduce the effects of climate change: reduction in livestock farming; strategy to reduce the effects of acid rain: using low-sulfur fuels
Cstrategy to reduce the effects of climate change: reduction in use of renewable energy; strategy to reduce the effects of acid rain: planting trees
Dstrategy to reduce the effects of climate change: reduction in use of renewable energy; strategy to reduce the effects of acid rain: using low-sulfur fuels
Mark scheme
12May / June 2023 · Paper 11 · Q32Show mark scheme →
AMethane produced by digestion in animals has no effect on the rate of global warming.
BThe products of burning fossil fuels have no effect on the rate of global warming.
CThe products of decomposition of vegetation have no effect on the rate of global warming.
DThe products of photosynthesis have no effect on the rate of global warming.
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13May / June 2023 · Paper 12 · Q33Show mark scheme →
ACatalytic converters in vehicles change a toxic gas into a non-toxic gas.
BFlue gas desulfurisation uses calcium nitrate.
CPhotosynthesis is a process that releases carbon dioxide.
DSulfur dioxide is responsible for photochemical smog.
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14Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 11 · Q34Show mark scheme →
A1 and 2 only
B1 and 3 only
C2 and 3 only
D1, 2 and 3
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15Oct / Nov 2022 · Paper 12 · Q34Show mark scheme →
Acarbon, nitrogen and sulfur
Bcarbon and nitrogen only
Ccarbon and sulfur only
Dnitrogen and sulfur only
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16May / June 2022 · Paper 12 · Q33Also set in May / June 2022 Paper 11, May / June 2016 Paper 12Show mark scheme →
Adiagram A
Bdiagram B
Cdiagram C
Ddiagram D
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17Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 11 · Q35Show mark scheme →
Acombustion increases, photosynthesis increases, respiration increases
Bcombustion increases, photosynthesis decreases, respiration increases
Ccombustion decreases, photosynthesis increases, respiration decreases
Dcombustion decreases, photosynthesis decreases, respiration decreases
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18Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 12 · Q3Show mark scheme →
Aby decomposition of calcium carbonate
Bby decomposition of hydrogen peroxide
Cby filtration of liquid air
Dby fractional distillation of liquid air
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19Oct / Nov 2021 · Paper 12 · Q16Show mark scheme →
AIt can occur in the dark.
BIt is endothermic.
CIt needs chlorophyll as a catalyst.
DIt occurs in plants but not in animals.
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20May / June 2021 · Paper 11 · Q34Show mark scheme →
ACarbon monoxide is a pollutant which causes acid rain.
BCatalytic converters reduce carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide.
CMethane in the atmosphere depletes the ozone layer.
DPhotosynthesis adds oxygen to the atmosphere.
Mark scheme
21Oct / Nov 2020 · Paper 11 · Q32Show mark scheme →
Acarbon dioxide only
Bcarbon dioxide and methane
Ccarbon dioxide and oxygen
Dmethane only
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22Oct / Nov 2020 · Paper 12 · Q26Show mark scheme →
AIn the manufacture of sulfuric acid, sulfur reacts with oxygen to make sulfur trioxide. | The equation for this reaction is 2S(s) + 3O2(g) ⇌ 2SO3(g).
BNickel is used as the catalyst in the Contact process. | Catalysts speed up a reaction by lowering the activation energy, Ea.
CSulfuric acid is used in car batteries. | This increases the efficiency of the petrol engine.
DThe use of low sulfur petrol is beneficial because it minimises the formation of acid rain. | Sulfur dioxide is acidic because it is the oxide of a non-metal.
Mark scheme
23Oct / Nov 2020 · Paper 12 · Q32Show mark scheme →
Acarbon monoxide
Bmethane
Cnitrogen oxide
Dsulfur dioxide
Mark scheme
24May / June 2020 · Paper 12 · Q31Also set in May / June 2020 Paper 11, May / June 2017 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
Aboth contain carbon: ✓; both are described as a greenhouse gas: ✗; both lower the pH of water when they dissolve in it: ✓
Bboth contain carbon: ✓; both are described as a greenhouse gas: ✓; both lower the pH of water when they dissolve in it: ✗
Cboth contain carbon: ✗; both are described as a greenhouse gas: ✓; both lower the pH of water when they dissolve in it: ✓
Dboth contain carbon: ✗; both are described as a greenhouse gas: ✓; both lower the pH of water when they dissolve in it: ✗
Mark scheme
25Oct / Nov 2019 · Paper 11 · Q30Show mark scheme →
Adecaying plants; photochemical reactions
Bdecaying plants; volcanoes
Clightning activity; photochemical reactions
Dlightning activity; volcanoes
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26Oct / Nov 2019 · Paper 12 · Q15Show mark scheme →
AChlorophyll is a reactant.
BOxygen is a product.
CSunlight is a reactant.
DWater is a product.
Mark scheme
27Oct / Nov 2019 · Paper 12 · Q31Show mark scheme →
ACO
BN2
CH2O
DNO2
Mark scheme
28May / June 2019 · Paper 11 · Q31Show mark scheme →
A1 and 2
B1 and 3
C2 and 4
D3 and 4
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29May / June 2019 · Paper 12 · Q31Show mark scheme →
ADry air contains about 78% of oxygen.
BMethane is produced by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels.
CSulfur dioxide is released by volcanoes.
DThe noble gases make up about 5% of dry air.
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30Oct / Nov 2018 · Paper 12 · Q32Also set in Oct / Nov 2018 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
Acarbon monoxide
Bmethane
Cnitrogen dioxide
Dsulfur dioxide
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31May / June 2018 · Paper 12 · Q18Show mark scheme →
AIt has a negative enthalpy change.
BIt is catalysed by the presence of yeast.
CThe products of photosynthesis are oxygen and starch.
DIt occurs in green leaves.
Mark scheme
32Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 11 · Q32Show mark scheme →
AP combustion, Q photosynthesis, R respiration
BP photosynthesis, Q combustion, R respiration
CP respiration, Q combustion, R photosynthesis
DP respiration, Q photosynthesis, R combustion
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33Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 12 · Q33Also set in Oct / Nov 2017 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
Acarbon
Bchlorine
Cfluorine
Dhydrogen
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34Oct / Nov 2017 · Paper 12 · Q34Show mark scheme →
Aargon
Bhelium
Chydrogen
Dwater vapour
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35May / June 2017 · Paper 11 · Q33Show mark scheme →
A1, 2 and 3
B1 and 2 only
C1 and 3 only
D2 and 3 only
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36May / June 2017 · Paper 12 · Q31Show mark scheme →
Ato adjust the acidity of the fruit juice
Bto kill any bacteria present
Cto improve the flavour of the fruit juice
Dto neutralise any alkalis present
Mark scheme
37May / June 2017 · Paper 12 · Q33Show mark scheme →
Aoxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, argon, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide
Boxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, argon, neon
Coxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone
Doxygen, nitrogen, carbon monoxide, methane, sulfur dioxide
Mark scheme
38Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 11 · Q16Show mark scheme →
Acarbon dioxide and water
Bchlorophyll and oxygen
Cglucose and oxygen
Dglucose and water
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39Oct / Nov 2016 · Paper 12 · Q34Also set in Oct / Nov 2016 Paper 11Show mark scheme →
ACFCs — cause depletion of the ozone layer
BCO2 — forms photochemical smog
CCO — is poisonous to humans
DNO2 — forms acid rain
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