AIR

Volume Composition of gases

present in dry air.
Nitrogen : 79%
Oxygen : 20%
Noble gases : 1% (mainly argon)
Carbon dioxide : 0.03%
 Expt. to determine the % by volume
of oxygen in air
(1) Set up the apparatus as shown.
(2)    Record the total volume of air in both
syringes.
(3)     Heat the copper powder (must be in
excess, why? To use up oxygen in air)
strongly with a Bunsen burner. Pass the air
back and forth over the hot copper until
there is no further change in volume.
 Expt. to determine the % by volume
of oxygen in air
Eqn: 2Cu(s) + O2 (g)  2CuO(s)

 (4) Allow the apparatus to cool to room

temperature. Why?
To measure the final volume of air at the
same temperature as the initial
volume.
(5) Record the total vol. of gas left in the
syringe.
 Combustion
 a reaction in which a substance reacts
with oxygen with the production of
heat. If flame is produced during
combustion, the process is called
burning.
 Combustion of elements
Many elements burn in oxygen to produce
oxides.
For examples: Carbon
 burns with bright red glow

 produces a colourless & odourless gas

 Product is carbon dioxide, CO

2
 Combustion of elements
Sulfur
 burns with a blue flame

 produces colourless & pungent gas

 Product is sulfur dioxide, SO

2

Magnesium
 burns with a very bright white flame

 produces white solid

 Product is magnesium oxide, MgO

 Combustion of elements
Copper
 Powder burns with a dull red glow

 produces black solid

 Product is copper(II) oxide, CuO

Combustion of Hydrocarbons
 Hydrocarbons are compounds that
contain carbon and hydrogen only.
Many of them are fuels and are burnt to
provide heat.
Combustion of Hydrocarbons
Complete combustion
If there is plenty of oxygen,
hydrocarbons burn to produce carbon
dioxide and water and the
combustion is complete.
For example:
CH4 (g)+2O2 (g)CO2 (g) + 2H2O (g)
Combustion of Hydrocarbons
Incomplete combustion
If there is limited oxygen, the combustion is
incomplete, carbon monoxide and carbon
particles (soot) are produced.
Equations:
2CH4 (g) + 3O2 (g)  2CO (g) + 4H2O (g)
CH4 (g) + O2 (g)  C(s) + 2H2O (g)
 CARBON CYCLE
The removal of carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere
Photosynthesis is the principal means by which
carbon dioxide is removed from the
atmosphere. The green leaves from the plants
use energy from the sun to convert the carbon
dioxide in the air and the water from the soil
into glucose and oxygen.
 Eqn: 6CO2 + 6H2O  C6H12O6 + 6O2
 The return of carbon dioxide to
the atmosphere
Respiration by plants and animals
Respiration is an energy releasing reaction
which involves the breaking down of glucose
to form carbon dioxide and water. This
reaction provides energy for both plants and
animals and returns carbon dioxide to the
atmosphere.
 Equation :
C6H12O6 + 6O2  6CO2 + 6H2O
 The return of carbon dioxide to
the atmosphere
Combustion
Combustion of carbon-containing substances such as
wood, natural gas and coal produce carbon dioxide.
 
Eg: C(s) + O2(g)  CO2(g)

Links:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/biology/livin
gthingsenvironment/2energyandnutrienttransferrev4.sht
ml
http://epa.gov/climatechange/kids/carbon_cycle_versio
n2.html
 THE OZONE HOLE
Ozone gas
 surrounds the Earth about 40 km above

the ground
 absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation
(which may cause skin cancer) from the
sun.
 THE OZONE HOLE
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
 were used as aerosol propellants and coolant

fluids for refrigerators and air conditioners.

 are long-lived because they are unreactive in

the lower atmosphere.

 were decomposed by sunlight when high up

in the atmosphere to produce chlorine

atoms. The chlorine atoms destroy the
ozone molecules and deplete the ozone layer.
 GLOBAL WARMING
 Carbon dioxide, methane and other
greenhouse gases in the air trap heat
radiation from sun and prevent much of it
escaping into space.
 An increase in amount of greenhouse gases
will trap more heat and hence the earth
becomes hotter. This temperature rise is
called global warming or the greenhouse
effect.
 GLOBAL WARMING
Consequence
1)Expansion of water and melting of
polar ice  rise in sea level  flood
2) Big climatic changes  poor harvest
of crops  serious food shortages.
 AIR POLLUTANTS
(Sulfur Dioxide)
(i)       Source
Volcanoes and combustion of fossil fuels
which contain small amount of sulfur. For
example, burning of coal in power stations.

 (ii)     Harmful effect

sulfur dioxide in air reacts with oxygen and
water to form sulfuric acid.
 Eqn: 2SO2 + 2H2O + O2  2H2SO4
 AIR POLLUTANTS
(sulfur Dioxide)
sulfuric acid dissolves in rain water, causing
acid rain which corrodes buildings, attacks
metals and kills aquatic plants and animals.

(iii)  Treatment/Prevention
sulfur dioxide from chimney gases is
absorbed by calcium carbonate before the
gases are released into the air.
 Equation : SO2 + CaCO3  CaSO3 + CO2
 AIR POLLUTANTS
(Carbon Monoxide)
(i)    Source
Incomplete combustion of carbon containing
substances. For example, incomplete
combustion of petrol in car engine.
 
 (ii)   Harmful effect
Carbon monoxide combines readily with
haemoglobins in the blood and prevents the
blood from absorbing oxygen. This will lead to
tiredness, headaches and even death. 
 AIR POLLUTANTS
(Carbon Monoxide)
Carbon monoxide is dangerous as it is
colourless and odourless, thereby
giving no warning of its presence.

(iii)       Treatment/Prevention
Carbon monoxide produced in car engine
can be oxidized to carbon dioxide by
catalytic converters.
 AIR POLLUTANTS
(Oxides of Nitrogen)
 (i)        Source
Produced by reaction between oxygen and
nitrogen in air at high temperature (during
lightning and in car engine)
  Eqns: N2 (g) + O2 (g)  2NO (g)
2NO (g) + O2 (g)  2NO2(g)
 (ii)      Harmful effect
Nitrogen dioxide in air reacts with oxygen and
water to form nitric acid.
Eqn: 4NO2 + O2 + 2H2O  4HNO3
 AIR POLLUTANTS
(Oxides of Nitrogen)
Nitrc acid dissolves in rain water, causing acid
rain which corrodes buildings, attacks metals
and kills aquatic plants and animals.

 Nitrogen dioxide also produces ozone, another

pollutant which irritates eyes and lungs.

 
 AIR POLLUTANTS
(Oxides of Nitrogen)
  (iii)            Treament/Prevention
Oxides of nitrogen produced in car
engine can be reduced by fitting cars with
catalytic converters.
The oxides of nitrogen are reduced to
harmless nitrogen gas.
Equation: 2CO + 2 NO  N2 + 2CO2 
 AIR POLLUTANTS
(Unburnt hydrocarbons)
  
 (i)         Harmful effect
Produces ozone which irritates eyes and
lungs.
 
(ii)        Treatment/Prevention
Can be oxidized to carbon dioxide and
water by catalytic converters.
 AIR POLLUTANTS
(Ozone)
    (i) Harmful effect
Irritates eyes and lungs.
 
(ii)   Treatment/Prevention
Reduce vehicle emissions of pollutants by
the
use of catalytic converters.
 AIR POLLUTANTS
(Methane)
    (i) Harmful effect
Contributes to greenhouse effect.
 
(ii) Treatment/Prevention
No easy solution.
Additional Readings
 Ozone depletion
http://www.atm.ch.cam.ac.uk/tour/
http://www.beyonddiscovery.org/content/view.article.asp?a=73

 Global warming
http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/kids/gw.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming

 Air pollution
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/envirom/princairpol.htm
http://www.lenntech.com/FAQ-air-pollution.htm