Molecules are made from combinations of the basic elements. There are tens of thousands of different molecules on earth.
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Some common molecules on Earth include water (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), oxygen (O2), methane (CH4), and nitrogen (N2). These molecules are essential for various processes that sustain life on our planet.
Gas molecules in the atmosphere are pulled toward the Earth by gravity. This force keeps the gas molecules close to the Earth's surface and prevents them from floating off into space.
Gravity is the force that pulls gas molecules in the atmosphere towards the Earth. The Earth's mass creates a gravitational pull that acts on all objects, including gas molecules, causing them to be attracted towards the Earth's surface.
If Earth's atmosphere contained twice as many molecules as it does today, the atmospheric pressure would also double. This is because pressure is directly related to the number of gas molecules in the atmosphere.
Cold air chills water molecules happens first in Earth's polar regions.
Hydrogen molecules are very light and have high velocities, which allows them to reach escape velocity and escape Earth's gravitational pull. On the other hand, oxygen and nitrogen molecules are heavier and have lower velocities, so they are more likely to be retained by Earth's gravity and stay within the atmosphere. Additionally, the interactions and composition of Earth's atmosphere play a role in retaining oxygen and nitrogen compared to hydrogen.