The early atmosphere of the Earth was formed by gases released from intense volcanic activity.
Table 1 shows the relative abundances of some gases in Earth's early atmosphere.
| Gas | Relative abundance in early atmosphere |
|---|---|
| Water vapour | Large |
| Carbon dioxide | Large |
| Nitrogen | Small |
| Ammonia | Trace |
Explain why the amount of water vapour in the atmosphere decreased significantly over geological time.
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.