Discover: Of what is air made? 

Air is a gas.  Its components are usually colourless and odourless. Sometimes there might be other particles mixed in with the air that allow us to see it (such as smoke), or smell it (such as perfume).

Determining what is in the air can be as simple as breathing in and breathing out. Take a moment to inhale deeply and then slowly exhale. What gas did you breathe in, that is essential for every living organism to survive? What gas did you expel when you exhaled?

In addition to the gases we breathe in and out for survival, other gases are found in our atmosphere.  Some of these gases may have names you recognize such as nitrogen, hydrogen, or methane. Our air is mostly made up of nitrogen (78.09%) and oxygen (20.95%). The remainder is made up of argon (0.93%), carbon dioxide (0.039%) and other gases (0.003%). Varying amounts of water vapor (water as a gas) are also present in the atmosphere.

Complete the activity below to study the composition of the air found in our atmosphere.