1. Nitrogen (N2): About 78% of the atmosphere is nitrogen. It's essential for life but is relatively inert in its atmospheric form.
2. Oxygen (O2): About 21% of the atmosphere is oxygen. It's vital for respiration and the combustion of fuels.
3. Argon (Ar): About 0.93% of the atmosphere is argon. It's a noble gas, meaning it doesn't readily react with other elements.
These three gases make up the vast majority of Earth's atmosphere. The remaining portion includes trace amounts of other gases like:
* Carbon dioxide (CO2)
* Neon (Ne)
* Helium (He)
* Methane (CH4)
* Krypton (Kr)
* Hydrogen (H2)
* Ozone (O3)
* Water vapor (H2O)
The abundance of these trace gases can vary depending on location and time of year.
