Chemistry Project

10. Atmosphere

Q1 (a) Describe the volume composition of gases present in dry air ?

Ans: Dry air is the air which doesn’t contain water paper and it consists of several gases. The elements and compounds
that it comprises are needed by living organisms for several other needs. As Air is a mixture the volume
composition of gases may vary according to the environment. Such as the air in the city also contains a certain
volume of toxic gases such as carbon monoxide,sulfur dioxide because of the pollution. Fresh air that doesn’t
contain any pollutants has a volume composition78 to 79% of nitrogen( used to make protein), 20%
oxygen(aerobic respiration), 0.03% carbon dioxide(used by plants to make glucose), noble gases consisting of 0.9%
of argon and 0.002% of neon and helium.

(b) Describe the separation of oxygen, nitrogen and the noble gases from liquid air by fractional
distillation

Ans: The air is first cooled and compressed, then the constituents of liquid air are separated by fractional distillation in
which liquid air is heated, the elements change from liquid to gas and separate from one another. Then pump air
through a filter to remove dust and other contaminants. The carbon dioxide is then removed by bubbling through
an alkali or it would solidify and block the pipes. The gas with the lowest boiling point is collected first which is
nitrogen. When all the nitrogen has been given off, the temperature rises to -186 degree celsius and all the argon is
collected as it boils off, oxygen comes next. The gases are boiled off separately and are collected and stored under
pressure in cylinders.
(c) State the uses of oxygen (e.g. in making steel; oxygen tents in hospitals; in welding).

Ans: Oxygen is gas which has several uses, it is essential for all living things on earth. The process by which living
organisms produce energy is respiration which requires oxygen. When we breathe, it takes in air into our lungs.
The oxygen from the air then dissolves into the blood in our lungs which is then transported to every cell in our
body.The oxygen then reacts with the sugars in our cells to produce energy which is typee of a slow combustion
reaction of these sugars which produce carbon dioxide which is later taken back to the lungs and breathed out. For
combustion or burning, three elements require heat, fuel.oxygen if one of them is not present a fire can never
start. The production of steel is reliant upon oxygen where it is used in a blast furnace to turn carbon into carbon
dioxide, which reduces the iron oxides to pure iron. Oxygen is also used in torches for cutting and welding. Oxygen
reacts with hydrogen in which it can heat to over 5,000 degrees. These torches can cut through or weld together
most metallic substances. Oxygen is also used at plants that treat sewage or purify water. Oxygen is pumped
through water to increase the production of
natural bacteria, which break down waste
products.