What element makes up approximately 95% of Mars' scant atmosphere?
Answer
Carbon dioxide
The atmosphere of Mars is predominantly composed of carbon dioxide, constituting about 95% of the thin air available on the planet. This high concentration of carbon dioxide is the primary reason the atmosphere lacks the necessary oxidizer required to sustain common combustion reactions on the surface. Terrestrial fires rely heavily on high oxygen content, which is severely lacking on Mars, making the dominance of $ ext{CO}_2$ the chief atmospheric barrier to open flames.
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