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Year 11
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Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

I can explain how changing factors in the carbon cycle affects the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere over time.

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New
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Year 11
Edexcel
Higher

Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

I can explain how changing factors in the carbon cycle affects the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere over time.

Download all resources
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Share activities with pupils
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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Burning fossil fuels adds more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
  2. Carbon dioxide produced from a combustion reaction may eventually spread throughout Earth’s atmosphere.
  3. Increased ocean temperatures reduce the quantity of carbon dioxide that is dissolved in them.
  4. The difference between the rates of addition and removal of carbon dioxide changes its overall levels in the atmosphere.

Keywords

  • Carbon cycle - The carbon cycle shows how carbon moves between different carbon reservoirs including the atmosphere, oceans and land on Earth.

  • Atmosphere - The atmosphere is a layer of gases that surrounds a planet. It may contain small amounts of solid and liquid particles.

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

  • Decomposers - Decomposers are organisms which break down dead and decaying matter.

Common misconception

Plants can absorb all excess carbon dioxide.

There are limits of carbon dioxide absorption by plants.

Using numerical values may help some students understand that the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will continue to increase if the rate of release into the atmosphere is greater than the rate of removal.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following are greenhouse gases?
Correct answer: methane
Correct answer: water vapour
Correct answer: carbon dioxide
nitrogen
sulfur dioxide
Q2.
What key term do we use to describe the layer of gas that surrounds a planet?
Correct Answer: atmosphere, the atmosphere
Q3.
Which of the following is a correct equation for complete combustion?
Correct answer: fuel + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water
carbon dioxide + water → glucose + oxygen
fuel + oxygen → carbon + water
fuel + oxygen → carbon monoxide + water
Q4.
Which of the following is the correct equation for respiration?
carbon dioxide + water → glucose + oxygen
fuel + oxygen → carbon monoxide + water
Correct answer: glucose + oxygen → carbon dioxide + water
Q5.
Which of the following lead to increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
photosynthesis
Correct answer: deforestation
Correct answer: complete combustion of fossil fuels
carbon dioxide dissolving in the oceans
Q6.
Order the statements to describe how carbon dioxide becomes 'locked up' in sedimentary rocks.
1 - carbon dioxide in the atmosphere dissolves in the oceans
2 - carbon dioxide in the oceans reacts to form carbonate compounds
3 - carbonate compounds are used in animal shells and bones
4 - when the animals die the shells and bones settle at the bottom of the ocean
5 - over millions of years sedimentary rocks form from these sediments

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
The complete combustion of fossil fuels produces water and which other product?
Correct Answer: carbon dioxide, CO₂
Q2.
Match the scientific key term with the correct definition
Correct Answer:Decomposers,Organisms that break down dead and decaying matter

Organisms that break down dead and decaying matter

Correct Answer:Carbon cycle,This shows how carbon moves between different carbon reservoirs

This shows how carbon moves between different carbon reservoirs

Correct Answer:Combustion,An exothermic reaction where a substance reacts with oxygen.

An exothermic reaction where a substance reacts with oxygen.

Correct Answer:Atmosphere,A layer of gas that surrounds a planet.

A layer of gas that surrounds a planet.

Q3.
Which of the following processes does not occur in the carbon cycle?
photosynthesis
respiration
combustion
Correct answer: neutralisation
decomposition
Q4.
What effect does increased ocean temperatures have on the amount of CO₂ dissolved in the oceans?
Correct answer: At higher ocean temperatures less CO₂ is dissolved in them
At higher ocean temperatures more CO₂ is dissolved in them
Ocean temperature does not have an effect on the amount of CO₂ dissolved in them
Q5.
Which option best describes how far molecules of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere in London will spread?
the carbon dioxide molecules will not travel far and will remain in London
the carbon dioxide molecules may travel to the countryside surrounding London
the carbon dioxide molecules travel longer distances such as to mainland Europe.
Correct answer: the carbon dioxide molecules may eventually spread around the world.
Q6.
If CO₂ levels in the atmosphere are increasing, what does this tell us about the rate of addition and removal?
Correct answer: The rate of addition of CO₂ is greater than the rate of removal
The rate of addition of CO₂ is the same as the rate of removal
The rate of addition of CO₂ is less than than the rate of removal