A laboratory is reviewing evidence about the composition of the Earth's atmosphere when the Earth formed.
| Information | Age | What the information shows |
|---|---|---|
| Formation of the Earth | 4.6 billion years ago | The time at which the earliest atmosphere began to form |
| Oldest mineral sample in the investigation | 3.8 billion years old | Indirect evidence about gases present when the mineral formed |
| Volcanic gas sample | Collected today | The gases released by a volcano today |
Calculate the time between the formation of the Earth and the formation of the oldest mineral sample in the investigation.
Explain why the information in the table cannot be used to determine the exact composition of the atmosphere when the Earth formed.
79 exam-style questions on AQA GCSE Chemistry 9.1 The composition and evolution of the Earth's atmosphere, covering 9.1.1 The proportions of different gases in the atmosphere, 9.1.2 The Earth's early atmosphere, 9.1.3 How oxygen increased, and 9.1.4 How carbon dioxide decreased. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.