TOPIC: OXYGEN

GENERAL PROPERTIES OF OXYGEN

Oxygen is the most abundant element on earth. Oxygen, being strongly electronegative, is
chemically very reactive. It reacts with most metals to form basic oxides which are ionic,
Oxygen also reacts with most non- metals to form acidic oxides which are covalent molecules
and it also reacts with hydrocarbons, fuels [to form CO 2 and H2O. It rekindles a glowing splint to
indicate its presence in any place.

LABORATORY AND INDUSTRIAL PREPARATION OF OXYGEN

LABORATORY PREPARATION

There are two general and common methods for the laboratory preparation of oxygen

1. Thermal decomposition of salts containing anions rich in oxygen, e.g. Potassium

trioxochlorate(v) KClO3(s).

The equation for the reaction is given as shown below.

 2KClO3(s) KCl(s) + 3O2(g)

2. Decomposition of hydrogen peroxide: In this case, no heat is applied to the decomposing

substance, H2O2, but immediately, the MnO2 touches H2O2, effervescence occurs releasing the
gas oxygen as seen in the equation below.

2H2O2(l) 2H2O(l) + O2(g)

Dry oxygen gas is obtained by passing it through a woulf [wash] bottle containing conc. H2SO4;
the gas is then collected by downward delivery (or upward displacement of air), since pure
oxygen is slightly denser than air.

INDUSTRIAL PREPARATION

Oxygen is produced, in large quantity from the following sources.

1. From liquefied air: Oxygen is obtained industrially from atmospheric air by liquefaction,
followed by fractional distillation of the liquefied air.

 Atmospheric air is purified by the removal of Carbon(IV) oxide, water vapour and dust.
 The purified air is compressed at a pressure of about 200 atmospheres, heated and then
cooled. It is then allowed to expand suddenly, for further cooling.
  By successive heating and cooling, the pure air becomes liquefied at about-200 [73k].

This process is called LIQUEFACTION.

 The liquefied air is then fractionated by boiling. Nitrogen, being more volatile, boils first

at - 196 [77k], leaving oxygen, which is about 99.5% pure. This separation technique is

called FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION.

Liquefied oxygen is usually stored in cylinders for medical and industrial use.

2. By electrolysis: Oxygen, like hydrogen is obtained during the electrolysis of dilute H 2SO4.

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

1. Pure oxygen is colourless, odourless and tasteless.

2. It is slightly denser than air.
3. It is slightly soluble in water.
4. It is a diatomic (O2) gas that is neutral to litmus paper.
5. It boils (turn to gas) at -1830C and solidifies at -2250C

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

(a) Reaction with metals: Metals such as Na, K, Ca, Mg, Al, Zn burn brightly in oxygen. Metals
such as silver, Gold and platinum do not react with oxygen. Oxides of metals are generally
basic. e.g.

4Na(s)+ O2(g) 2Na2O(g)nj

(b) Reaction with non-metals: Some burning non-metals when lowered into a jar of oxygen,
burn to form acidic oxides or acid anhydrides which when dissolved in water form acidic
solutions. E.g.

C(s) + O2(g) CO2(g)

 CO2(g) + H2O(l) H2CO3(aq)

Other reaction of oxygen:

Oxidation and combustion:

Many compounds are oxidized when heated in oxygen (combustion). E.g. all hydrocarbons burn
in oxygen to form carbon (iv) oxide and water, sulphides burn in oxygen to give sulphur (iv)
oxides.

1. With hydrocarbons e.g methane CH4 + 2 O2 CO2 + 2 H2O

2. With carbon

C(s) + O2(g) CO2(g)

3. With sulphur

S(s) + O2(g) SO2(g)

4. With phosphorus

4P(s) + 5O2(g) P4O10(s)

5. Formation of water: Hydrogen burns violently in oxygen with a pale –blue flame, to produce
water.

2H2(g) + O2(g) 2H2O(l)

6. Formation of Ozone: When a silent electric discharge is passed through oxygen, gaseous
ozone, O3, (trioxygen) is formed. The reaction is reversible:
3O2(g) ⇌ 2O3(g)
Ozone is an allotrope of oxygen. Allotropes are two or more different forms of the same
element, in the same physical state. The phenomenon is called allotropy. Other elements that
exhibits allotropy are sulphur, carbon and phosphorous

bgdTest for oxygen: Oxygen is identified by its ability to rekindle a glowing splint. Nitrogen
(I) oxide does this as well but is distinguished from oxygen by its pleasant sickly smell while
oxygen is odourless. Oxygen also reacts with nitrogen(II)0xide to give brown fumes of
nitrogen(IV)oxide which nitrogen(I)oxide does not do.

NO (g) + O2(g) NO2(g)

OXIDES

Acid oxides: These are oxides of non-metals which dissolve in water to form acidic solution and
also react with base to form salt and water. Examples of acid oxides are P 5O10, NO2, SO2, SiO2
etc. They are called acid anhydride. E.g.

SO2 + H 2O H2SO3

CO2 +NaOH Na2CO3 + H2O

SO3 + 2KOH K2SO4 + H2O

NOTE: SiO2 is insoluble in water

Basic oxides: These are metallic oxides that are basic in nature because they dissolve in water
to form alkaline solutions and react with acids to form salt and water only. Examples are K 2O,
MgO, CaO, Li2O etc. Soluble basic oxides are called alkalis. E.g.
Na2O(g) + H2O(l) 2NaOH(aq)

Na2O(s) + 2HCl(aq) 2NaCl(aq) + H2O(l)

Amphoteric oxides: These are oxides that behave both like acidic and basic oxides. They react
with both acid and base E.g. ZnO, Al2O3, PbO etc

ZnO(s) + H2SO4(aq) ZnSO4 + H2O(l)

ZnO + 2NaOH + H2O Na2Zn(OH)4

Neutral oxides: They are neither acidic nor basic in character. E.g. water, CO, N 2O

Peroxide oxides: These are higher oxides where O-O bond is present. They give hydrogen
peroxide when reacted with a dilute acid. E.g. Barium peroxide BaO2, Calcium peroxide CaO2,
Sodium peroxide Na2O2, Hydrogen peroxide H2O2 (most common).

USES OF OXYGEN

1. It is used in oxy-hydrogen flame for welding and cutting of metals. A mixture of hydrogen
and oxygen can burn to produce a temperature of 2,500

2. In oxy- ethyne [oxy-acetylene] flame for welding and cutting of steel. The reaction iavs
highly exothermic.

3. In respiration by plants and animals.

4. As breathing aids in hospitals, high altitude flying and sea- diving.

5. In steel production by Linz- Donawitz [L-D] process.

6. Liquefied oxygen is used in explosives, and as a rocket fuel

 ASSIGNMENT
1. With balanced chemical equations show the:
i. oxidizing property of hydrogen peroxide
ii. reducing property of hydrogen peroxide

The Ozone Layer and Green House Effect

The ozone layer or ozone shield is a region of Earth's stratosphere that absorbs most of
the Sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation. It contains high concentrations of ozone (O3) in relation to
other parts of the atmosphere, although still small in relation to other gases in the
stratosphere. The ozone layer contains less than 10 parts per million of ozone, while the
average ozone concentration in Earth's atmosphere as a whole is about 0.3 parts per million.
The ozone layer is mainly found in the lower portion of the stratosphere, from approximately
20 to 30 kilometres (12 to 19 mi) above Earth, although its thickness varies seasonally and
geographically. It has been ascertained through observation from satellites, that the ozone
layer has been depleted more over the Antartic and there is now the creation of ‘ozone hole’.
This depletion or reduction in the levels of ozone in the ozone layer has caused worldwide
changes in climate and sea levels caused by an increases warming of the atmosphere due to
release of gases, principally, carbon(IV) oxide, CO2, in what is termed ‘Green house effect’.
Green house gases e.g. CO2, water vapour, chlorofluorocarbons are transformed to short wave
radiation, but absorb radiation at certain long wavelengths. Thus, the gases form a blanket,
trapping out-going heat, much as the glass or plastic does in a green house, thereby leading to
rising sea levels and general atmospheric warming, as well as melting of ice and changes in
vegetation. This has led to the problems of desertification and flooding.

ASSIGNMENT
1. Explain the’’ term green house effect’’
2. Name three green house gases.
3. State three effects of green house gases.

1.
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