| Gas | Concentration in the atmosphere / ppm | Warming effect of one molecule (carbon dioxide = 1) |
|---|---|---|
| carbon dioxide | 420 | 1 |
| methane | 1.9 | 30 |
Assume that the total warming effect of a gas is proportional to its concentration multiplied by the warming effect of one molecule.
Which conclusion is supported by the data?
Methane has the greater total effect, because each of its molecules has a greater effect
Carbon dioxide has the greater total effect, because its concentration is over 200 times larger
Cutting methane emissions would have no effect, because its concentration is so low
Carbon dioxide has the greater total effect, because each of its molecules absorbs more heat energy
97 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Chemistry 9.2 Earth and atmospheric science, covering 9.2.1 The Earth's early atmosphere, 9.2.2 How the atmosphere evolved, 9.2.3 Chemical test for oxygen, and 9.2.4 The greenhouse effect and climate change. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.