Lesson Plan

Lesson : Oxides of Nitrogen

Aim :

To study:
• the inertness of nitrogen
• oxides of nitrogen in terms of their formation, structure and contribution to air pollution.

Learning Outcomes :

At the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

• explain the stability and inertness of nitrogen

• explain the formation of oxides of nitrogen by the action of lightning and in the internal
combustion engine

• describe the function of a catalytic converter

• state how the oxides of nitrogen and sulphur contribute to air pollution

• describe the structure of oxides of nitrogen.

Assumed prior knowledge :

Students should already be familiar with :

1. the concept of covalent bonding

2. the concept of oxidation and reduction

Underlying Principles

1. Making the invisible, visible.

2. Enabling students to know what to look for.

Differentiation

Questions in the student notes are designed to enable all students to complete the activity.
The pop-up answers are provided for the students to view when they have considered their
responses. Worksheet questions include questions that require recall, understanding and
application of the new concepts learned.

© 2004 Ministry of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved. Page 1 of 4

Development of Lesson :

No. Steps Strategy Resources

1 Set Induction. • Teacher to get students to compare the
(Ascertaining prior strength of a multiple covalent bond with
knowledge and that of a single covalent bond. Teacher to
introducing lesson get students to give the definition of
topic for the day). oxidation and reduction.
• Teacher to point out lesson objectives of
the day.

2 Student Activity Teacher to go through Activities 1 - 4 with • Courseware

the students.

Activity 1 : Formation of NOx

Students get to find out why nitrogen is

stable and inert. They also get to view
how nitrogen reacts with oxygen during
lightning and in the internal combustion
engine.

Activity 2 : Air pollution

Students get to view how oxides of

nitrogen and sulphur result in acid rain.
They also get to view how NO2 results in
photochemical smog.

Activity 3 : Catalytic converter

Students get to view how unburned

hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and
nitrogen monoxide are oxidised or
reduced to harmless gases in the catalytic
converter.

Activity 4 : Structures of oxides of

nitrogen

Students get to view the structures of NO,

NO2 and N2O4, and to correlate their
structure with their magnetic properties.

3 Evaluation • Students to answer questions in the • Worksheet

worksheet on their own.

4 Extension activity • Students to read up reference materials • References

on their own.

© 2004 Ministry of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved. Page 2 of 4

Worksheet Answers

1. Formation of NOX

1.1 • Nitrogen is inert

• Strong triple bond
• Non-polar

1.2 a. Nitrogen monoxide and nitrogen dioxide

b. By the action of lightning

N2 + O2 2NO
2NO + O2 2NO2

c. N2 and O2 in the secondary air reacts to form NO due to the high temperature
in the engine.
NO reacts with O2 in the air to form NO2 on leaving the exhaust.

d. They result in the formation of acid rain and photochemical smog.

1.3 II and III.

2. Air pollution

2.1 a. Acid rain: Nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide

Photochemical smog: Nitrogen dioxide

b. 2SO2 + O2 2SO3
SO2 + H2O H2SO3
SO3 + H2O H2SO4
2NO2 + H2O HNO2 + HNO3

3. Catalytic converter

3.1 a. They convert pollutants into harmless gases.

b. Platinum and rhodium.

c. CO, NOX, CXHy

y y
d. CXHy + (x + )O xCO2 + HO
4 2 2 2
2NO + 2CO N2 + 2CO2

3.2 B

© 2004 Ministry of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved. Page 3 of 4

4. Structures of oxides of nitrogen

4.1 a. i. NO and NO2

ii. NO2 and N2O4

b. Colourless gas
•• ••
••O O ••
+ +
NN
−• • •• O ••−
•O •
•• ••

© 2004 Ministry of Education Malaysia. All Rights Reserved. Page 4 of 4