C13.2

Question 1

How does carbon become trapped in rock?

Answer 1

Dead organisms from millions of years ago are covered with layers of rock and sediment. Over time the pressure causes the organisms to form carbonate rocks.

Question 2

How are natural fossil fuels formed?

Answer 2

Ancient organisms are crushed by movements of the Earth’s tectonic plates and are heated by the mantle over millions of years to create fossil fuels.

Question 3

How did carbon dioxide get removed from the atmosphere?

Answer 3

Carbon dioxide was dissolved in the oceans by reacting with metal oxides in the water. Carbon dioxide was also absorbed by organisms to create energy.

Question 4

Where did the nitrogen in the atmosphere come from?

Answer 4

Nitrogen was mostly released by volcanoes

Question 5

What happened to the ammonia and methane in the atmosphere?

Answer 5

Oxygen produced by organisms reacted with any methane and ammonia to make water, carbon dioxide and nitrogen.

Question 6

What is the most abundant noble gas in the atmosphere today?

Answer 6

Argon is the most abundant noble gas in the atmosphere at 0.9%