The Earth is almost spherical and is surrounded by an atmosphere - AQA - GCSE Chemistry - Question 6 - 2014 - Paper 1
Question 6
The Earth is almost spherical and is surrounded by an atmosphere.
Figure 5 shows a section of the layered structure of the Earth.
Figure 5
In 1915 Alfred Wegener ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:The Earth is almost spherical and is surrounded by an atmosphere - AQA - GCSE Chemistry - Question 6 - 2014 - Paper 1
Step 1
Why did most scientists in 1915 not accept Wegener's idea of continental drift?
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Answer
Most scientists in 1915 did not accept Wegener's idea of continental drift because there was no clear evidence or mechanism to explain how continents could move. The theories available at the time did not support the notion that large landmasses could shift over time.
Step 2
Describe how and explain why continental drift takes place. Include the names of X and Y in your answer.
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Answer
Continental drift occurs due to the movement of tectonic plates, which make up the Earth's crust. The process is driven by convection currents in the mantle caused by the heat released from radioactive decay within the Earth. As these currents circulate, they cause the plates to move, leading to continental drift. In this context, X can refer to the Earth's crust, and Y can refer to the mantle.
Step 3
Suggest one reason why carbon dioxide is removed before the gases are cooled to -200 °C.
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Carbon dioxide is removed before cooling to -200 °C to prevent the formation of solid or liquid CO2, which could block pipes and disrupt the gas separation process.
Step 4
Draw a ring around one gas that does not condense when the remaining gases are cooled to -200 °C.
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Answer
The gas that does not condense when cooled to -200 °C is Neon.
Step 5
Name the gas and give a reason for your answer.
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The gas contained in the oxygen separated by this process is Argon. This is because the boiling points of Argon and Oxygen are relatively close, which suggests that Argon remains in the gaseous state during the separation process.
