CHAPTER 5: THE AIR AROUND US

1) Air

(a) Composition of air:

- Air is matter because it has mass, volume and occupies space.

Percentage by volume Component of air

78.1% Nitrogen
20.9% Oxygen
0.97% Inert gases such as argon, helium, neon, xenon, krypton
0.03% Carbon dioxide
Variable amount Water vapour, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, oxides of
nitrogen, bacteria, dust, smoke, grit, chlorofluorocarbons
and compounds of lead

- Air is mixture because:

→ It can be obtained easily by mixing correct gases in right proportions.
→ The components of air can be separated by using physical methods such as fractional
distillation.

2) Properties of oxygen and carbon dioxide

Property Oxygen Carbon dioxide

Colour, smell Colourless and odourless Colourless and odourless
Density Slightly denser than air Denser than oxygen and air
Solubility in water Slightly soluble in water Slightly soluble in water to
form a weak acid
Burning ability Supports burning Does not support burning
Reaction with damp Neutral Changes the colour of damp
litmus paper litmus paper from blue to pink
Reaction with Does not react with limewater Turns limewater chalky
limewater
Reaction with sodium Slightly soluble in sodium Very soluble in sodium
hydroxide solution hydroxide solution hydroxide solution

(a) Identification tests:

i) Oxygen
- use a glowing splinter

* Procedure
- Light a wooden splinter and then blow off the flame to obtain a glowing splinter.
- Quickly lower the glowing splinter into the gas to be tested.

* Conclusion
- If the glowing splinter bursts into flames, then the gas is oxygen.

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ii) Carbon dioxide
- use clear limewater

* Procedure
- Pass gas to be tested through a delivery tube into a test tube of limewater.

* Conclusion
- If the limewater turns chalky and white solid particles are formed, then the gas is carbon
dioxide.

3) Oxygen and Respiration

- Oxygen needed for respiration.

- During respiration, a chemical reaction occurs between food and oxygen to produce carbon
dioxide, water and energy.

Glucose + Oxygen Carbon dioxide + Water + Energy

* Differences between inhaled air and exhaled air:

Inhaled air Exhaled air

Contains more oxygen Contains less oxygen
Contains less carbon dioxide Contains more carbon dioxide
Contains less water vapour Contains more water vapour
Is cooler Is warmer

4) Oxygen and Combustion

- Combustion is a chemical reaction between a substance and oxygen which produces an

oxide, light and heat.

Carbon + Oxygen Carbon dioxide + Energy (heat and light)

5) Air pollution

- Addition of unwanted and harmful substances into the air is known as air pollution.

(a) Gaseous air pollutants:

Gaseous air Carbon monoxide Sulphur dioxide Oxides of nitrogen

pollutant
Properties A very poisonous, A harmful, colourless Poisonous gaseous
colourless and and poisonous gas with compounds
odourless gas irritating odour
Sources The incomplete - The burning of fossil Burning of oil and coal
burning of carbon fuels that contain at very high
(charcoal, petrol and sulphur (coal and oil) temperatures in power
oil) - Active volcanoes stations, factories and
motor vehicles
Harmful - Leads to anoxia (lack - Forms acid rain - Forms acid rain
effects of oxygen in the body) - Destroys plants - Destroy plants
which causes damage - Causes respiratory - Damages our lungs
to the nervous system, problems such as
brain damage & death breathing difficulties,
- Kills unborn babies bronchitis & lung cancer

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(b) Solid air pollutants:

Solid air Chlorofluorocarbon Dust, smoke, grit or Compounds of lead

pollutant (CFC) asbestos
Properties - They are broken They can remain They are poisonous;
down into chlorine suspended in high fine particles
atoms when exposed altitudes for long suspended in the air.
to light. The chlorine periods of time.
atoms decompose
ozone into oxygen.
- They are greenhouse
gases.
Sources - They are released - Natural emissions The burning of leaded
into the air from come from volcanoes. petrol or substances
aerosols that contain - Man-made emissions containing lead
CFCs such as from cement produces lead
deodorants, pesticides, manufacturing factories, compounds.
cleaning solvents and paper making factories
foam. and construction sites
- They escape from add these pollutants to
leaked pipes in cooling the air.
systems that use CFCs
Harmful - CFCs cause the - They cause respiratory - They cause lead
effects thinning of the ozone problems and damage poisoning.
layer; Eventually the to the lungs. - They damage the
ozone layer may not - They cause haze that brain.
be able to protect us reduces the rate of
from the sun’s harmful photosynthesis as
ultraviolet rays. sunlight is blocked by
- Overexposure to the particles from
ultraviolet rays causes reaching the plants.
skin cancer and - They cause lung
cataracts. cancer.
- CFCs trap heat in the
atmosphere thereby
increasing the earth’s
temperature.