Question

Carbon dioxide, argon, methane, ozone and water vapour are also present in air in:
A. very small quantities
B. very large quantities
C. equal quantities
D. None of these

Answer 1

Hint: Air is actually a natural virtue on earth that is meant to sustain life. It occurs in the atmosphere and comprises a mixture of numerous gases including carbon dioxide, argon, methane, ozone and water vapour.

Complete answer:
- The air in earth’s atmosphere comprises a mixture of several distinct gases in varying proportions. There are three permanent gases whose percentages or proportions do not vary from day to day which include nitrogen, oxygen and argon.
- The percentage of Nitrogen accounts for almost 78% of the atmosphere, argon 0.9% and oxygen accounts for 21% of the atmosphere. Air is also composed of a small amount of other gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxides, and ozone that account for only about a tenth of one percent of earth’s atmosphere.
- Water vapour is also present in the atmosphere and its concentration varies from 0 - 4% of the earth’s atmosphere which depends upon the location and time.
- Hence, Carbon dioxide, argon, methane, ozone and water vapour are also present in air in very small quantities.

Therefore, the correct answer is Option A.

Note:
The trace gases including carbon dioxide, water vapour, methane, ozone along with manmade chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's), are considered to be the greenhouse gases. Actually, each one of them possess the capability to affect the Earth's energy balance and alter the temperature at the surface as well as in the atmosphere. They absorb the incoming radiation from the sun and then reradiate it upwards or downwards as the long wave radiation in the form of either infrared or thermal energy, and we can feel this as sensible heat.