SCIENCE Form 1

UNIT 5 :
The Air Around Us
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 5.1 The Composition of Air

• The Earth’s surface is surrounded by a larger of air

known as atmosphere

• Air is a mixture of various substances which is tasteless,

colourless and odourless but we can feel it through
wind when it moves
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• Nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide and inert
gases have a fixed percentage of component
in the mixture of air

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• Other substances such as dust,
microorganisms and water vapour can also be
found in the air but their contents vary
depends on the quality of air of that
environment

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 Inert gas / noble gas

Krypton
for fluorescent bulbs.
Helium Xenon For sun lamps

yschow@smkbpj(a) Neon for light 5

For earthquake prediction
 To determine the percentage of oxygen in air

• As the candle continue to burn the flame get

smaller and finally it goes off.
• The water lever increases and occupied the space
of oxygen in the gas jar.

Conclusion:
Oxygen makes up of approximately 21% of the
volume of air.
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 Air contains water vapour

• Water droplets that formed on the outer wall of the test

tube can be clearly seen.

• Collect the liquid droplets and test with a blue cobalt

chloride paper. The paper then turns to pink in colour, this
proofs that the liquid is water.

Conclusion
• Air contains water vapour.
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 Air contains microorganisms

Coloured spots of microorganisms (fungi) are

found on the surface of the nutrient agar

Conclusion:
Air contains microorganisms.
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 Air contains dust

Dust can be seen on the sticky surface of glass

slide.

Conclusion :
Air contains dust.
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Exercise 5.1

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 21 %

78 %

0.03 %

0.97 %

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 5.2 The Properties of Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide

• Oxygen and carbon dioxide are the two main

gases that made up the air for sustaining life

• The properties of gases can be studied and

observed by carrying out the following tests

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 Test 1: Solubility in water

Oxygen Carbon dioxide

• The water level in the test • The water level in the test
tube rises slightly tube rises a lot.

• Oxygen only dissolve a little • Carbon dioxide is soluble in

in water water

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 Test 2: Reaction with sodium hydroxide

Oxygen Carbon dioxide

• The level of sodium • The level of sodium
hydroxide solution in the hydroxide solution in the
test tube does not change test tube rises a lot

• Oxygen is not soluble in • Carbon dioxide is very

sodium hydroxide soluble in sodium hydroxide

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 Test 3: Glowing wooden splinter

Oxygen Carbon dioxide

• The glowing wooden • The glowing wooden
splinter bursts into flame splinter extinguished

• Oxygen helps in combustion • Carbon dioxide does not

help in combustion

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 Test 4 : Burning wooden splinter

Oxygen Carbon dioxide

• The burning wooden • The burning wooden
splinter burns brightly splinter extinguished

• Oxygen supports • Carbon dioxide does not

combustion supports combustion

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 Test 5: Tested with moist litmus paper

Oxygen Carbon dioxide

• The colour of both litmus • The colour of blue litmus
paper does not change paper turns red

• Oxygen is neutral • Carbon dioxide is acidic

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 Test 6: Lime water test

Oxygen Carbon dioxide

• No change • The lime water turns chalky

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 Test 6: Bicarbonate indicator test

Oxygen Carbon dioxide

• The red colour of indicator • The red colour of indicator
does not change turns yellow

• Oxygen in neutral • Carbon dioxide is acidic

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