Fun fact: Many people are aware that the most common gas in the atmosphere is nitrogen (N2 = 78%), and that the 2nd most common is oxygen (O2 = 21%), their combined total of 99% thus accounting for almost everything. But ask anyone what the 3rd most common is. Most would probably guess the much-trumpeted greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2), but they’d be wrong. It accounts for only 0.04% of the atmosphere. In 3rd place is the noble gas Argon (Ar = 0.93%).
Fun fact: Many people are aware that the most common gas in the atmosphere is nitrogen (N2 = 78%), and that the 2nd most common is oxygen (O2 = 21%), their combined total of 99% thus accounting for almost everything. But ask anyone what the 3rd most common is. Most would probably guess the much-trumpeted greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2), but they’d be wrong. It accounts for only 0.04% of the atmosphere. In 3rd place is the noble gas Argon (Ar = 0.93%).