Gases Around Us Worksheet

There are lots of different types of gas. Gases have different properties, just as solids and liquids do, and we use them for different purposes.

Because many gases are colourless and odourless (they have no smell), we need to be careful when using them. Some useful gases are also poisonous.

The natural gas we use to heat our homes and cook with has an odour added to it before it is piped into our homes so that we can detect leaks. We use natural gas because it burns easily to provide us with energy, but it is also explosive.

Without oxygen life on earth would be very different! Organisms use oxygen to release energy from food in the process called respiration. Green plants make their own food using light to combine carbon dioxide with water to make sugars. This is called photosynthesis.

Which materials do plants use to make sugars?

oxygen and water

nitrogen and water

carbon dioxide and water

glucose and oxygen

Living organisms use which gas for respiration?

nitrogen

carbon dioxide

oxygen

natural gas

Which of these gases is used for heating and cooking?

natural gas

oxygen

unnatural gas

hydrogen

One of these gases makes the bubbles in fizzy drinks. Which one is it?

Soda bottles

oxygen

carbon dioxide

air

helium

Which gas are party balloons filled with to make them float?

Balloons

methane

hydrogen

helium

oxygen

Sophie says that helium-filled balloons float because helium is a light gas which is less dense than air.

Is she right, or wrong? What do you think?

right

wrong

What name do we give gases which are used during operations so that patients do not feel pain and 'go to sleep'?

laughing gas

anaesthetic gas

knock-out gas

poisonous gas

Natural gas has a property which makes it both useful and dangerous. What is it?

it has a smell

it dissolves in water

it is lighter than air

it burns easily

Seth is designing a safety poster about what to do if you think there is a natural gas leak in your home.

Which TWO of these dos and don'ts should he include?

Don't turn on or off any electrical switches

Don't open the doors and windows

Do collect your favourite DVDs

Do leave the house immediately

Do go looking for the source of the leak

ANSWERS

Question 1

The air around is mainly made up of which two gases?

CORRECT ANSWER

nitrogen
oxygen

EDDIE SAYS

The air contains mostly oxygen and nitrogen (four fifths (the biggest part) of air is the gas nitrogen). There is a very small amount of carbon dioxide and some other gases such as helium.

ANSWERS

Question 2

Which materials do plants use to make sugars?

CORRECT ANSWER

carbon dioxide and water

EDDIE SAYS

In the process of photosynthesis, plants take in two simple chemicals (CO₂ and water) and convert them into energy-filled sugars.

ANSWERS

Question 3

Living organisms use which gas for respiration?

CORRECT ANSWER

oxygen

EDDIE SAYS

Respiration is a chemical change where sugars react with oxygen to make carbon dioxide, water and energy is released.

ANSWERS

Question 4

Which of these gases is used for heating and cooking?

CORRECT ANSWER

natural gas

EDDIE SAYS

Natural gas is mainly methane with traces of other gases.

ANSWERS

Question 5

One of these gases makes the bubbles in fizzy drinks. Which one is it?

Soda bottles

CORRECT ANSWER

carbon dioxide

EDDIE SAYS

Carbon dioxide has so many uses from the bubbles in your fizzy drink to fire extinguishers and blocks of 'dry ice' for keeping things cold and stage effects.

ANSWERS

Question 6

Which gas are party balloons filled with to make them float?

Balloons

CORRECT ANSWER

helium

EDDIE SAYS

Helium is one of the lightest (least dense) of gases and ideal for filling party balloons so they float. It also has the brilliant property of making your voice go all squeaky if you breathe it in!

ANSWERS

Question 7

Sophie says that helium-filled balloons float because helium is a light gas which is less dense than air.

Is she right, or wrong? What do you think?

CORRECT ANSWER

right

EDDIE SAYS

Helium is a light gas which rises in air. This is because it is less dense than the air (this means that if you had the same volume of helium and also of air the helium would have the least mass). Some gases are more dense than air, for example carbon dioxide, so they sink!

ANSWERS

Question 8

What name do we give gases which are used during operations so that patients do not feel pain and 'go to sleep'?

CORRECT ANSWER

anaesthetic gas

EDDIE SAYS

Anaesthetic gases have an effect upon our nervous system so that we, in effect, go to sleep when we breathe it in.

ANSWERS

Question 9

Natural gas has a property which makes it both useful and dangerous. What is it?

CORRECT ANSWER

it burns easily

EDDIE SAYS

Natural gas burns with a hot flame, but is highly flammable (catches fire easily and burns rapidly).

ANSWERS

Question 10

Seth is designing a safety poster about what to do if you think there is a natural gas leak in your home.

Which TWO of these dos and don'ts should he include?

CORRECT ANSWER

Don't turn on or off any electrical switches
Do leave the house immediately

EDDIE SAYS

If you smell gas, leave the house straight away and leave the doors open to help the gas escape. Ring the emergency gas services when you are safe! One spark from an electrical switch can ignite the gas and cause an explosion.