The atmosphere is a layer of gas that surrounds a planet. It may contain small amounts of solid and liquid particles.

Composition is the substances and their proportions that make something up.

Water in a liquid or solid state that falls towards Earth is called precipitation.

The distance above sea level is known as altitude.

Particulates are very small particles of solids and liquids that are suspended in air.

Earth's atmosphere (approximate values)

Combined science

Evolution of Earth's atmosphere

Burning hydrocarbons

Atmospheric pollutants

Acid rain and chemical weathering

Greenhouse gases

Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

Global climate change and the effects

Human activity and climate change

Ozone layer: a story of global success

In the Industrial chemistry unit, pupils will learn about chemical, industrial, environmental and economic factors of some large-scale chemical processes.

In the Carbon Cycle and Climate Change unit, pupils learned about the carbon cycle, the formation of sedimentary rocks, and the impact of burning fossil fuels.

This unit explores the composition and evolution of Earth’s atmosphere, evidence of climate change, and effects of pollutants like sulphur dioxide. It highlights scientific explanations, ethical considerations, risk evaluation, and the role of peer review in communication.

Atmosphere and changing climate

A diverse range of unicellular or multicellular organisms that can photosynthesise.

A group of microscopic algae, usually found floating in the upper part of the ocean.

A process in which energy from sunlight converts carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.

A process or system that takes more carbon from the atmosphere than it releases.

Rock formed when particles settle on Earth’s surface and then become cemented together.

Combustion is an exothermic reaction where a substance reacts with oxygen.

The complete combustion of fuels, such as hydrocarbons, occurs when enough oxygen is present to convert all the fuel into carbon dioxide and water.

Hydrocarbons are compounds containing only hydrogen and carbon atoms.

Incomplete combustion is when a substance reacts only partially with oxygen, such as when carbon burns in air, producing carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and soot (unburnt carbon).

a substance that causes damage to air, water or land

a gas that contributes to global warming by reducing the amount of radiation leaving Earth’s atmosphere

tiny solid particles such as soot (C) that can be found in air pollution

a reduction in the amount of radiation reaching Earth’s surface caused by particulates in the atmosphere

a device, containing catalysts, that helps reduce the amount of pollutants emitted from car exhausts

pH is a measure of the hydrogen ion (H⁺) concentration in a solution.

The pH scale measures acidity and alkalinity and is often shown with values ranging from 1 to 14. A pH below 7 indicates an acid, a pH above 7 indicates an alkali, and a pH of 7 is neutral.

Acid rain is rainwater which has been made more acidic by pollutant gases such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.

Chemical weathering is when rocks are broken down by a chemical change, for example reactions with acid rain.

a type of electromagnetic radiation that we can feel as warmth on our skin

a process or system that takes more carbon from the atmosphere than it releases

increase in Earth’s global temperature, likely caused by more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

a layer of gases that surrounds a planet, which may also contain particles of solids and liquids

an exothermic chemical reaction in which a substance reacts with oxygen

the breaking down of dead organic matter by microorganisms

a large, slow-moving mass of ice that forms on land

the average weather conditions for a particular location over a long period of time

large-scale changes to Earth’s environment that are made to counteract climate change

the average of all the temperatures across the world over a year

the biggest possible difference between a measured value and the true value of the quantity being measured

the certainty with which a measurement or conclusion will remain the same when it is checked

Ozone is made up of oxygen atoms. It has the molecular       formula O₃.

The ozone layer refers to an area in the stratosphere where there is a high concentration of ozone.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a type of electromagnetic radiation which is emitted from the Sun.

Chlorofluorocarbons are compounds consisting of chlorine, fluorine and carbon atoms only.

Analytical scientists use a range of scientific techniques to study the chemical composition of substances.

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Atmosphere and changing climate

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