What makes up 20 of the air

What is the Earth's atmosphere made of? Answer 2: All atmospheres are made out of layers of gas -- they divide into layers that have different pressures and composition. Molecules in the air include primarily nitrogen and oxygen as well as water, carbon dioxide, ozone, and many other compounds in trace amounts, some created naturally, others the result of human activity.

That newly formed molecule of oxygen might be available to your great-great grandchild. Answer: Because as times goes on the atmosphere and plants produce more of the gases we need to stay alive.

It is because that new gas is produced as a part of cycle, because plants recycle our waste gasses and replace them with the oxygen we need. A pair of researchers have found evidence that Earth will lose its oxygen-rich atmosphere in approximately 1 billion years.

According to the panspermia hypothesis, microscopic life—distributed by meteoroids, asteroids and other small Solar System bodies—may exist throughout the Universe. Nonetheless, Earth is the only place in the Universe known to harbor life.

The surface layer of the ocean is teeming with photosynthetic plankton. Rise in oxygen levels links to ancient explosion of life, researchers find. Summary: Scientists have found that oxygen levels appear to increase by roughly 80 percent at about the same time as a three-fold increase in biodiversity during the Ordovician Period, between and million years ago. The Indian tree which is said to release Oxygen 24 is the Peepal Tree. Aloe Vera: Aloe Vera is best known to remove toxins from the air like aldehydes and benzene.

When a ray of sunlight. Whenever a list of plants with benefits is made, Aloe Vera tops the charts always. But at some point, Earth underwent what scientists call the Great Oxidation Event or GOE for short, as ocean microbes evolved to produce O2 via photosynthesis. The sun heats layers of the atmosphere causing it to convect driving air movement and weather patterns around the world. Teach your students about the Earth's atmosphere with the resources in this collection.

The movement of water throughout Earth can be understood as a cycle where H20 moves from one state of matter to another. Use these standards-aligned resources to teach middle schoolers more about condensation, precipitation, and weather patterns that are affected by, and a part of, the water cycle. An abiotic factor is a non-living part of an ecosystem that shapes its environment.

In a terrestrial ecosystem, examples might include temperature, light, and water. In a marine ecosystem, abiotic factors would include salinity and ocean currents.

Abiotic and biotic factors work together to create a unique ecosystem. Learn more about abiotic factors with this curated resource collection. An element is a substance that cannot be broken down into a simpler format. They are distinguished by a unique atomic number. The elements are organized by their atomic number in the periodic table, which highlights elements with similar properties.

Water is an example of a compound, a mixture of two or more elements, and is created when two hydrogen atoms bond to an oxygen atom. Use these resources to examine the properties and uses of elements and compounds. Air pollution consists of chemicals or particles in the air that can harm the health of humans, animals, and plants. It also damages buildings. Encyclopedic entry. An air mass is a large volume of air in the atmosphere that is mostly uniform in temperature and moisture.

Air masses can extend thousands of kilometers in any direction, and can reach from ground level to the stratosphere—16 kilometers 10 miles into the atmosphere. Join our community of educators and receive the latest information on National Geographic's resources for you and your students.

Skip to content. Twitter Facebook Pinterest Google Classroom. Encyclopedic Entry Vocabulary. A parachutist glides down safely. Standard Dry Air. Media Credits The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit.

Last Updated Jan. Media If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. Oxygen is the most unstable, and therefore the most chemically active, gas found in air. Although all animals need oxygen, it can be deadly in higher-than-normal concentrations: Breathing pure oxygen for extended periods leads to oxygen toxicity. In addition to its role in biology, oxygen is essential for combustion, the chemical process responsible for fire.

The third-most abundant gas in the air on Earth is argon, although it makes up less than 1 percent of air. Argon is classified as a noble gas in chemistry, meaning it is very stable and seldom reacts with other compounds. The bulk of argon used in science is acquired by fractional distillation of air in its liquid form.

There are several additional gases present in the atmosphere in minute amounts. These gases are referred to as trace gases and include:.