Air and Water

1. The air consist of 78% of nitrogen; 21% of oxygen and the remaining 1% are
others gases ( CO2; water vapour and noble gases)
2. Oxygen is important to us as we need it for the process called respiration.
3. Glucose + oxygen carbon dioxide + water + energy
4. The energy from respiration keeps us warm and allow us to move as well as
contributing to different reaction in our bodies.
Measuring the percentage of oxygen in air

1. Heat the tube containing copper using Bunsen burner. Then push in plunge A
and force the air to plunge B and from B to A. Repeat few times. Oxygen will
react with copper, turning it black.
2. Stop heating after about 3 minutes, and allow it to cool. Then push the air
into one syringe and measure its volume.
3. Repeat step 1 and 2 until the volume of the gas remain steady.
Separation of air
1. Air can be separated using fractional distillation but first air is cooled to liquid
before proceeding.

1.
2.
3.
4.

Air is pumped into the plant, and filtered to remove the particles.
Next, water vapour, carbon dioxide and pollutant are removed.
Then the air is compressed and is cooled down again by recycling cold air.
The cold, compressed air is passed through a jet, into a larger space allowing
the air to expand rapidly which makes it very cold.
Note: Step 3 & 4 are repeated several times and each time the air get cooler.
5. The liquid air is pumped into the fractionating column. It is slowly warmed up
and the gases boil off one by one.

The main air pollutant

Pollutant
Carbon monoxide

Sources
When carbon compound
in fossil fuels burnt in
absent/too little of air.

Sulphur dioxide

When Sulphur compound

in fossil fuels burnt.
Power station are the
main source.

Nitrogen oxides

When nitrogen and

oxygen react together.
Combustion of tetra-etyl
lead will produce particles
of other lead compound

Lead compounds

Harm
Poisonous as it combined
with haemoglobin in
blood and prevents it
from carrying oxygen
around the body.
Irritates the eyes and
throat and causes
respiration problem.
Causes acid rain that
corrodes building walls,
sculpture.
Cause respiratory
problem and acid rain
Damage childrens brains
and it also damage
kidneys and nervous
system in adults

Ways to reduce air pollution

1. Through flue gas desulfurization
2. Banning of lead in petrol
3. Using catalytic converters in exhaust.

Catalytic converter
1. Harmful gases are produced when petrol is burned.
2. Catalytic converter absorbed these harmful gases and form other gases that
are not harmful.
3. The catalyst are usually made of transition element such as platimum,
palladium, and rhodiums which are coated onto a ceramic honeycomb
(increase surface area).
4. The converter usually have two compartment A and B:
A: harmful component are reduced. Nitrogen and oxygen is flowed to B.
2NO(g) N2(g) + O2(g)
B: harmful compounds are oxidized, using the oxygen from A.
2CO(g) + O2(g) 2CO2(g)
The harmless products then flow out the exhaust pipe.
Rusting
1. Rusting is the corrosion of iron and steel.
2. Testing of rusting:
a. Test tube with dry air (calcium carbonate to dry the air)
b. Test tube with boiled water

c. Test tube with air and water

d. As a result, the nail in C has rust on it. Rusting required water and air.
e. 4Fe(s) + 3O2(g) + 4H2O(l) 2Fe2O3.2H2O(s)
3. Way to prevent rusting:
a. Cover the iron:
- Paint
- Grease
- Galvanising
b. Sacrificial protection
Water
1. Uses of water:
Places
Uses
Home
Drinking, cooking, washing
Farms
Drinking and water crops
Industry
Solvent, Washing, Cooling
Power station
Make steam which drive the turbine
2. Underground water are known as groundwater and the rocks that trap or
hold the underground water is known as aquifer.
3. Water treatment:
i.
The water is pumped in and a screen is used to trap big particles.
ii.
A coagulant is added to make the suspended small particles stick
together. (iron(III) sulfate)
iii.
Air is blown through the water in floatation tanks to make the
coagulated particles to float and are skimmed off.
iv.
The water is then passed through a bed of fine sand to filter it.
v.
The water may go through further filter such as more sand or charcoal
to remove bad taste and odour.
vi.
Chlorine is added to kill bacteria and microbes
vii.
Fluoride is added to prevent tooth decay.
viii.
Lastly, water is pumped to the storage reservoir ready to pump to
homes.