AIR AND COMBUSTION

Table of Contents
Organizer 📌
Composition of air........................................................................................... - 2 -
Is air a mixture or a compound?.......................................................................................- 2 -
Experiments to determine the
percentage of oxygen in air by volume...............................................................................- 2 -
(a) Burning of candle in air............................................................................................ - 2 -
(b) Heating copper in a fixed volume of
air.................................................................................................................................... - 4 -
(c) Rusting of iron fillings.............................................................................................. - 5 -
(d) Smouldering of phosphorous...................................................................................- 5 -
How to determine the presence of Carbon
(IV) oxide and water in air................................................................................................... - 6 -
Fractional Distillation of Liquefied Air...............................................................................- 7 -
Rusting........................................................................................................... - 8 -
Conditions necessary for rusting......................................................................................- 8 -
Methods of Preventing Rusting.........................................................................................- 9 -
Oxygen............................................................................................................ - 9 -
Laboratory preparation of oxygen....................................................................................- 9 -
Properties of oxygen....................................................................................................... - 10 -
Burning of Substances in Air.......................................................................................- 10 -
Competition for combined oxygen..............................................................................- 14 -
Atmospheric Pollution..................................................................................................... - 15 -
Uses of Oxygen............................................................................................................... - 15 -
Review Exercises............................................................................................................ - 16 -
In the papers…............................................................................................................... - 19 -

Objectives

By the end of this chapter, the

learner should be able to:
(a) State the composition of air.
(b) Determine experimentally the percentage of oxygen in air by volume.
(c) Describe fractional distillation of air.
(d) Define combustion.
(e) Investigate the conditions for rusting and state the composition of rust.
(f) State the methods of preventing rusting.
(g) Prepare and investigate the properties of oxygen.
(h) Experimentally compare the rates of combustion of elements in air and in oxygen.
(i) State the nature of the products of burning elements in air and in oxygen.
(j) State the pollution effects of combustion.
(k) State the applications of the reactivity series.
(24 Lessons)
 2 Inorganic Chemistry

AIR AND COMBUSTION

Air sustains life on earth. Living organisms need air for respiration. Plants need air for
photosynthesis. Air is required for combustion of fuels to give energy.

Composition of air

Is air a mixture or a compound?

Air is a mixture of gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, carbon (IV) oxide and water
vapour.
Air is considered a mixture and not a compound because the various components
of air can be separated by physical means (fractional distillation of liquefied
air).

Approximate percentage composition of air

Component Percentage
composition
Nitrogen 78.1
Oxygen 20.9
Carbon (IV) 0.03
oxide
Noble gases 0.97
Water vapour Variable
Dust Variable

Experiments to determine the percentage of oxygen in air by

volume.

The active part of air is oxygen. It occupies about 20% of air. Several experiments
such as burning of candle, heating of copper(II) oxide (combustion), smoldering of
phosphorus and rusting, all of which use oxygen, can be done to determine the active
part of air.

(a) Burning of candle in air

Combustion or burning is a process in which a substance combines with
oxygen with the production of heat.

The part of air that supports combustion is active air. The active part is oxygen,
which forms about 20% of dry air by volume.

Practically Speaking🔊
 AIR AND COMBUSTION 3

The active part of air can be determined experimentally using a burning candle as
follows:
Put dilute sodium hydroxide solution in a trough. Place a small candle on a cork and
float it on the solution. Cover it with a gas jar. Mark on the gas jar, the level of the
solution. Measure the height of the air column and record it.
Remove the jar and light the candle. Gently cover the burning candle with the gas jar.
After the candle has gone off leave the apparatus to cool to room temperature. Mark
on the gas jar the final level of the solution. Measure and record the height of the air
column once more.
Remove the gas jar and measure the change in height. Record all your observations.

Observations and Discussion

The candle burns for a while then it goes off.
As the candle burns, it uses up the active part of air in the fixed amount of air
enclosed.

The level of dilute sodium hydroxide solution in the gas jar rises after the
candle goes off.
As the candle burns, it uses up the active part of air in the fixed amount of air
enclosed in the gas jar. This leaves a partial vacuum in the jar. Greater atmospheric
pressure acting on the surface of the sodium hydroxide forces the solution up into the
jar.

The following are sample results for a similar experiment.

Height of air column before burning = 16.0cm
Height of air column after burning = 12.9cm
The percentage of air used up during the experiment can be determined as
follows:
Height of air used during burning = 3.1cm
height of air used
Percentage of air by volume used up = × 100
initial height of air
3.1
= × 100
16.0
= 19.375%
Side notes
• Dilute sodium hydroxide is preferably used instead of water to absorb
carbon (IV) oxide that was initially in the gas jar and that which is produced during
combustion.
 4 Inorganic Chemistry

• The experimental result is not the same as the theoretical value of the percentage
of oxygen in air by volume. This is due to experimental errors, which may result
from:
1. The sodium hydroxide solution may not absorb all the carbon (IV) oxide gas.
2. The candle may go off before all the oxygen is used up due to the build-up of
carbon (IV) oxide levels.
• Heating causes expansion of gases therefore the apparatus should be allowed
to cool before the final reading is taken.
Conclusion
The active part of air is oxygen, which forms about 20% of dry air by volume. The
part of air that remains in the gas jar does not support combustion. The component of
air that is inactive is mainly nitrogen.

(b) Heating copper in a fixed volume of air

When copper is heated in air, it reacts with oxygen in air to form black copper (II)
oxide.

Practically Speaking🔊
Pack copper turnings in a long hard glass tube about 6cm long. Connect the tube with
two glass syringes with one syringe containing a specific volume of air while the other
is empty.

Heat the copper turnings until they are red hot. Slowly pass the air from syringe A
through the hot turnings to syringe B and back. Repeat this process while heating the
copper turnings until the new volume of air in syringe A is constant. Allow the glass
tube to cool and record the volume of the gas in syringe A.

Observations and Discussion

In the combustion tube, at the end of the experiment, the red-brown copper
turnings turn black.
Copper is a red-brown metal. When it is heated in air, it turns black. This is
because it combines with oxygen to form black copper (II) oxide.
Below is a word equation for the reaction.
Copper + Oxygen →
copper ( II ) oxide
(red-brown solid ) (colourle ss gas) (black solid)
The sample readings below can be used to determine the percentage of air
used up in this experiment.
Volume of air in syringe A before heating = 7.5cm 3
Volume of air in syringe A after heating = 6.0cm3
Volume of air used up during heating = 1.5cm3
 AIR AND COMBUSTION 5

Percentage by volume of air used during the experiment. =

volume used during heating × 100
original volume of air
1.5 × 100
¿ = 20%
7.5
About 20% by volume of air is used during combustion and the 80% of air left does
not react with heated copper. The gas left in the syringe does not react with copper. It
is mainly nitrogen.

Side notes
• The glass wool plug is used to stop the copper turnings from being sucked into the
syringes.
• The air is passed slowly to allow enough time of contact between the reactants.
• The air is passed repeatedly over heated copper to ensure that all oxygen in the
syringes and tube is used up.
• The possible sources of error in this experiment include:
(a) The air initially present in the tube is not accounted for.
(b) There is possible leakage of air.
(c) Not all the oxygen may have been used up.

(c) Rusting of iron fillings

Practically Speaking🔊
Wet a measuring cylinder and sprinkle some iron filings on the wet surface. Remove
the excess iron filings. Invert the measuring cylinder in a trough of water. Read the
volume of air column in the measuring cylinder. Leave the set up for 48 hours. Read
and record the volume of the air column. Record all your observations.

Side notes
• The measuring cylinder is made wet to ensure that the iron filings stick onto the
wet surface.

Observation and Discussion

After 48 hours;
(i) A brown coating is formed on the filings.
The brown coating is rust. Rust is a compound of iron and oxygen.
(ii) The level of water in the measuring cylinder rises while that in the
trough drops.
During rusting, oxygen is used and therefore water rises up in the
measuring cylinder to replace the volume of air used during rusting.
About 20% of air by volume is used up during rusting.
 6 Inorganic Chemistry

(d) Smouldering of phosphorous

Practically Speaking🔊
Invert an empty measuring cylinder in a trough of water. Record the volume of the air
column. Cut a small piece of white phosphorous under water. Attach the piece of
white phosphorous to the end of a piece of copper wire.

Side notes
• Phosphorous is stored under water as it does not react with water.
• In order to obtain accurate results, the white phosphorous should not be
allowed to come in contact with the walls of the measuring cylinder because it
stops smouldering.

Observations and Discussion

When both yellow and white phosphorus are exposed to air, they smoulder (burn
slowly with smoke but no flame).
This is because phosphorus reacts spontaneously with oxygen to form a mixture of
oxides.
The reaction can be represented by the following word equations.
Phosphorous + oxygen phosphorous (III) oxide
Phosphorous + oxygen phosphorous (V) oxide
After 24 hours, the water level inside the measuring cylinder will have risen to occupy
the volume of oxygen used up.
The difference in volume can be used to calculate the percentage of oxygen by
volume in air.

How to determine the presence of Carbon (IV) oxide and water

in air
The presence of carbon(IV) oxide and water in air can be determined by using calcium
hydroxide which forms a white precipitate when carbon(IV) oxide gas is bubbled
through it and anhydrous copper (II) sulphate powder or anhydrous cobalt (II) chloride
paper which turn from white to blue and blue to pink respectively when in contact
with water.

Practically Speaking🔊
 AIR AND COMBUSTION 7

(a) Place 2cm3 of fresh calcium hydroxide solution (lime water) in a boiling tube. Pass
water slowly from a tap into an aspirator. Record your observations.

(b) Pack the bottom of a U-tube with anhydrous calcium chloride. Pass air through
the U-tube by means of an aspirator or a suction pump. Record your
observations.

Side notes
• Water is allowed to flow into aspirator A to drive out air and bubble it through the
calcium hydroxide solution.
• Water is allowed to flow out of aspirator B in order to create a suction force which
draws air through the U-tube.
Observations and Discussion
When the stream of air is passed through calcium hydroxide solution, a white
precipitate is formed. This indicates that carbon (IV) oxide gas is present in air.
When air is passed through the U-tube the white anhydrous calcium chloride
absorbs water vapour from the air and becomes wet. It may form a colourless
solution depending on the amount of moisture in the air.
Substances, which absorb moisture from the air to form a solution are called
deliquescent substances. Other deliquescent substances are anhydrous iron (III)
chloride, magnesium chloride and zinc chloride.

Fractional Distillation of Liquefied Air

Air is a mixture of many gases. It can be separated into its constituent gases by
fractional distillation of liquefied air.
The air is first purified by passing it through filters to remove dust.
The dust-free air is then passed through a solution of concentrated sodium
hydroxide to remove carbon (IV) oxide gas.
The remaining part of air is then cooled to -25°C to remove water vapour, which
solidifies out as ice.
 8 Inorganic Chemistry

The remaining part of air is then compressed to a pressure of 200 atmospheres

and allowed to expand. Repeated compression and expansion of the air cools it to
liquid at -200°C.

The liquid air consists of oxygen, nitrogen and noble gases. Since these gases
have different boiling points, they can be separated by fractional distillation.
Liquid oxygen boils at -183°C and nitrogen at -196°C.

Nitrogen distils out first because it has a lower boiling point.

The other gases, made of mainly argon, boil at -186°C. They form the second
fraction.
The argon can be separated from oxygen by further distillation.

Rusting
Rusting is the corrosion of iron due to its reaction with atmospheric oxygen and
moisture.
Rust is hydrated iron (III) oxide. The chemical formula for rust is Fe2O3.H2O
Rust forms a brown coating on the surface of iron material. Because rust is porous,
once an object starts to rust, the process continues until the object is completely
destroyed.

Conditions necessary for rusting.

For rusting to occur, moisture and air must be available.

Practically Speaking🔊

The following experiment can be used to identify the conditions necessary

for rusting to occur.
 AIR AND COMBUSTION 9

Label five boiling tubes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. Put two clean nails in each of the
boiling tubes. To the first tube add 10cm 3 of tap water. To the second tube, add 10cm 3
of boiling water followed by about 3cm 3 of oil. To the third tube, push a piece of cotton
wool half-way and place some anhydrous calcium chloride on it and cork the tube. To
the fourth tube, add salted water. The fifth boiling tube contains nails only. Observe
the nails after three days and record your observations.

Side notes
• Water in the second tube is boiled to expel all dissolved gases. The layer of oil
covering the boiled water prevents re-entry of air.
• Anhydrous calcium chloride absorbs moisture from the air, thus air in tube 3 is dry.
• It is necessary to cork tube 3 to prevent entry of water vapour from the
atmosphere

Observations and Discussion

After three days;
It is observed that the nails in boiling tube 1 would have rusted after three
days. The nails in tube 5 would have rusted to a smaller extent. The rusting in
tube 4 is more intense. No rust is observed in tubes 2 and 3.
Tap water contains dissolved oxygen. The iron nails combine with oxygen in the
presence of water to form hydrated iron oxide.
Iron + oxygen Iron (III) oxide
Iron (III) oxide + water hydrated iron (III) oxide (brown)
Rusting occurred in tube 1 because both water and oxygen were present. Some
rusting occurred in tube 5 since there was some moisture in the air. Rusting
was more intense in tube 4 due to presence of dissolved sodium chloride.
There was no oxygen in tube 2 and therefore the nails did not rust. The nails in
tube 3 do not rust because there was no water in it.

Learning outcome
The presence of water and oxygen are thus necessary for iron to rust.
The factors that accelerate rusting are salts and acids.
Rusting occurs faster in salty or acidic surroundings. For example, cars rust faster in
Mombasa than in Nairobi.
Rusting destroys machinery, equipment and roofs made of iron. Rusting can be very
expensive. Prevention of rusting is therefore of great importance.

Methods of Preventing Rusting

 10Inorganic Chemistry

The basis of rust prevention is to keep iron out of direct contact with water and
oxygen.
The following methods are widely used to prevent rusting of iron.
(i) Painting e.g. cars, roofs, marine vessels etc.
(ii) Coating with other metals. This can be done through galvanisation or
electroplating.
(iii) Alloying: This involves the mixing of iron with one or more metals to produce a
substance, which does not rust.
(iv) Oiling and greasing: This method is used in moving engine parts where other
methods cannot be used due to friction.
(v) Sacrificial protection: In this arrangement, a more reactive metal such as zinc
or magnesium is attached to the iron structure. The more reactive metal
corrodes instead of iron. The method is applied in ships, water and oil pipes

Oxygen
Oxygen exists freely in the atmosphere as a gas. Its chemical symbol is O. Two atoms
of oxygen combine to form a molecule with a chemical formula of O 2. Oxygen is also
found combined with other elements such as hydrogen in water and metals in metal
oxides. It is the most active component in air.

Practically Speaking🔊
Laboratory preparation of oxygen

In the laboratory, oxygen can

be prepared by the
decomposition of hydrogen
peroxide using manganese(IV)
oxide as a catalyst. Sodium
peroxide may also be reacted
with water to produce oxygen.
When potassium
permanganate (VII) is heated, oxygen is also produced.

Side notes
• The first few bubbles of oxygen are not collected because the gas is mixed with air
which was originally in the flask.
• Oxygen is slightly soluble in water and so it can be collected over water.
• Manganese (IV) oxide acts as a catalyst. A catalyst is a substance that alters the
rate of a reaction. In the absence of manganese (IV) oxide, the hydrogen peroxide
can be warmed to speed up the reaction.

Producing Oxygen: The Reactions

Hydrogen peroxide decomposes slowly to produce oxygen and water under normal
conditions. On adding manganese (IV) oxide the rate of decomposition is speeded up.
Manganese (IV) oxide is used as a catalyst in the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide.
 AIR AND COMBUSTION 11

Hydrogen peroxide Manganese ( IV ) oxid e Oxygen (gas) + Water

→
Adding water to Solid Sodium Peroxide
Sodium peroxide + water → Sodium hydroxide + Oxygen
Heating Potassium Manganate (VII) (Potassium Permanganate)
Potassium Manganate (VII) Heat
→
Potassium + Manganese (IV) oxide + Oxygen

Test for Oxygen

Oxygen relights a glowing splint. This is the test for oxygen

Properties of oxygen.
Oxygen is a colourless, odourless gas with a low boiling point of -183°C.

Burning of Substances in Air

The most familiar chemical reaction of air is burning. There are many substances,
which burn in air. It has been established that oxygen is the active part of air, which
supports burning.
Burning of metals in air
Many metals burn in air and in oxygen at different rates. They burn faster in oxygen
than in air. Nitrogen is the component of air which slows down the rate of burning.

Practically Speaking🔊
Warm a piece of sodium in a deflagrating spoon
until it begins to burn. Lower it into a gas jar of
air as shown below Record your observations.
Allow the gas jar to cool, add some water to the
product and shake the mixture. Test any gas
given out with moist red and blue litmus paper.
Test the solution in the gas jar using litmus
papers and record your observations. Repeat
the experiment using oxygen instead of air.
Repeat the whole procedure using calcium, magnesium, iron and copper in place of
sodium.

Discourse
Sodium reacts most vigorously with oxygen while copper is the least reactive.
Metal How it burns in Appearan Name of Solubility Nature
air ce of product of product in of
product water solutio
n
Sodium Burns with a yellow- White solid Sodium oxide Soluble, Alkaline
orange flame and sodium alkaline gas
nitride evolved
Calcium Burns with a red White solid Calcium oxide Soluble, Alkaline
 12Inorganic Chemistry

flame in air and calcium alkaline gas

enriched with nitride evolved
oxygen.
Magnesi Burns with a White Magnesium Soluble, Alkaline
um brilliant white powder oxide and alkaline gas
flame. magnesium evolved
nitride
Iron Glows red with Red-brown Iron (III) oxide Insoluble -
sparks solid
Copper Burns with a blue Black solid Copper (II) Insoluble -
flame in air oxide
enriched with
oxygen, surface
turns black

Products of Burning Metals in Oxygen

When metals burn in oxygen they form metal oxides.
Sodium + Oxygen sodium oxide
Calcium + Oxygen calcium oxide
Magnesium + Oxygen Magnesium oxide
Iron + Oxygen Iron (III)oxide
Reactive metals such as sodium, calcium and magnesium react with nitrogen in the
air to form nitrides.
Sodium + Nitrogen Sodium nitride
Calcium + Nitrogen Calcium nitride
Magnesium + Nitrogen Magnesium nitride
When the nitrides react with water, ammonia gas is given out.
Sodium nitride + Water Sodium hydroxide + Ammonia
Calcium nitride + Water Calcium hydroxide + Ammonia
Magnesium nitride + Water Magnesium hydroxide + Ammonia
The reactions in which elements combine with oxygen are referred to as oxidation.
The substance to which the oxygen is added is said to have been oxidised
The metals can be arranged in order of their rates of reaction with oxygen from the
most reactive to the least reactive. This arrangement is referred to as a reactivity
series of metals.
Mercury, silver and gold are less reactive than copper and are not easily oxidised.

The following is part of the Reactivity Series for some metals.

Potassium Most reactive

 AIR AND COMBUSTION 13

Sodium
Lithium
Calcium
Magnesium
Aluminium
Zinc
Iron
Lead
Copper
Mercury
Silver
Gold Least reactive

Burning of non-metallic elements burn in oxygen

Sulphur burns in oxygen to give a gaseous product which has a choking irritating
smell. The product is sulphur (IV) oxide.
Sulphur + Oxygen Sulphur (IV) oxide
A solution of sulphur (IV) oxide in water is acidic and turns blue litmus paper red. The
acid is called sulphuric (IV) acid (sulphurous acid).
Sulphur (IV) oxide + Water Sulphurous acid.
Oxides which dissolve in water to form acidic solutions are referred to as acidic
oxides.
Non - How it Name of product Appearanc Effect of
metal burns in e of solution on
oxygen product litmus
Sulphur Burns with a Sulphur (IV) oxide White fumes Turns red
blue flame
Carbon Burns with a Carbon (IV) oxide White fumes Turns red
yellow flame
Phospho Burns with a Phosphorus (V) oxide White fumes Turns red
rus white flame and Phosphorus (III)
oxide

Summary of effect of burning non-metals in oxygen

The following equations represent the reactions of the non-metals with oxygen.
Carbon + Oxygen Carbon (IV) oxide
(excess)
Carbon + Oxygen Carbon (II) oxide
(limited supply)
Phosphorus+ Oxygen Phosphorus (V) oxide
(excess)
Phosphorus + Oxygen Phosphorus (III) oxide
(limited supply)

Some non-metallic elements form oxides which are neither acidic nor basic. These
oxides are referred to as neutral oxides.
 14Inorganic Chemistry

Carbon (II) oxide and water (hydrogen oxide) are examples of neutral oxides.

Change in mass when substances burn in air.

When substances burn in air, they combine with oxygen to form oxides. If the
product is a solid there is increase in mass.
When the product is gaseous there is decrease in mass. The decrease in mass is
because the products, being gaseous escape into the air.

Practically Speaking🔊
Weigh about 1g clean magnesium ribbon in a
crucible. Heat the crucible, occasionally lifting the
lid to let air in. Do not allow any contents to
escape from the crucible. When all the
magnesium has burned, allow the crucible to cool.
Weigh the cool crucible and its contents again.
Record your observations as follows:
Mass of crucible + Magnesium before burning =
Xg
Mass of crucible + contents after burning = Yg
Change in Mass = (Y–X)g
Side note
When magnesium is burned in a closed crucible, most of the oxygen inside is
consumed. It is therefore necessary to allow air in so that burning can continue.
Discourse
The mass of the product is more than the original mass of magnesium. This shows
that as it burns, magnesium combines with air to form a new product.

Competition for combined oxygen

A more reactive metal removes combined oxygen from a metal oxide of a
less reactive metal. More reactive metals displace less reactive metals from their
oxides.
For example, Magnesium combines with oxygen more readily than copper. Therefore,
magnesium removes combined oxygen in copper (II) oxide to form magnesium oxide.
Copper is said to have been displaced by magnesium.
Copper on the other hand does not remove combined oxygen from the oxides of
magnesium, lead, zinc and iron. This is due to the fact that copper reacts with
oxygen less readily than these metals. It is the least reactive.
Removal of oxygen from a substance is called reduction. When a metal oxide loses
oxygen, it is said to have been reduced. The metal, which gains oxygen is said to
have been oxidised.
Zinc + Copper (II) oxide Zinc oxide + Copper
 AIR AND COMBUSTION 15

In the above equation, zinc is oxidised while copper oxide is reduced. Both
reduction and oxidation take place simultaneously.
A reaction in which both reduction and oxidation occur simultaneously is called a
REDOX reaction.

Summary of the competition for combined oxygen by elements

Magnesium Zinc Lead Iron Coppe
r
Magnesium No reaction No reaction No reaction No reaction No
oxide reactio
(white) n
Copper (II) Magnesium Zinc oxide Lead oxide Iron (II) No
oxide oxide and and copper and copper oxide and reactio
(black) copper formed formed formed copper n
formed
Lead (II) Magnesium Zinc oxide No reaction Iron (III) No
oxide oxide and lead and lead oxide and reactio
(yellow) formed formed lead formed n
Zinc oxide Magnesium No reaction No reaction No reaction No
(white) oxide and zinc reactio
formed n
Iron (III) Magnesium Zinc oxide No reaction No reaction No
oxide oxide and iron and iron reactio
formed formed n
From the table, magnesium displaces four metals from their oxides. Zinc displaces
three while lead and iron displaces two and one respectively. Copper displaces none.
Therefore, magnesium is the most reactive while copper is the least reactive.

By considering the number of metals displaced, a reactivity series can be obtained.

Highest ability
Magnesium
Zinc increasing ability to
Iron take away combined oxygen
Lead
Copper Least ability

Application
The extraction of metals from their ores uses the concept of reduction. The ores that
contain the metal oxides are reduced by more reactive metals. For example,
Aluminium is used to reduce iron (III) oxide by the thermite process.
Carbon, a non-metal can remove combined oxygen from some metal oxides such as
iron (III) oxide and copper (II) oxide.
Carbon + Copper (II) oxide Carbon (IV) oxide + Copper
 16Inorganic Chemistry

The ability of carbon to reduce some metal oxides is applied in the extraction of
metals such as copper and zinc from their ores.

Atmospheric Pollution
A pollutant is a substance (contaminant) or form of energy which has harmful effects
to the environment.
Human activities have changed the composition of air in some places. Gases such as
carbon (IV) oxide, carbon (II) oxide, sulphur (IV) oxide and phosphorous (V) oxide, are
examples of harmful substances emitted into the atmosphere mainly from the
combustion of fossil fuels. These gases cause pollution of the atmosphere. For
example, sulphur (IV) oxide dissolves in rain water and is converted to sulphurous
acid, which forms “acid rain”. Acid rain destroys plants and aquatic life. It also
corrodes iron sheets, zinc roofing and buildings.

Uses of Oxygen
1. Air enriched with oxygen is used in hospitals by patients with breathing
difficulties.
2. When mixed with helium it is used by mountain climbers and deep-sea divers.
3. Oxygen is used to burn fuels such as those used for propelling rockets.
4. A mixture of oxygen and acetylene burns to produce a very hot flame used in
welding and for cutting metals.
5. During steel making, oxygen is used to remove iron impurities.
6. Oxygen is used as one of the reactants in fuel cells.
 AIR AND COMBUSTION 17

Review Exercises
1. (a) Complete the following table to show the components of air and their
relative percentage abundance.

Components % Composition
Nitrogen
Oxygen
Carbon(IV)oxide
Noble gases
(b) Name two noble gases that are likely to be found in air.

2. (a) Name three substances, other than oxygen and nitrogen, that are always
present in the atmosphere.
(b) Outline an experiment that you could perform in the laboratory to
identify one of the substances you listed in part (a).
3. Air is a mixture of several different gases. Identity the gas in air which
(a) puts off a burning split. __
(b) supports combustion. __
(c) makes up almost 80% of fair _
(d) condenses to form a colourless, odourless liquid at room temperature.
4. State the main uses of
(a) oxygen. (b) nitrogen
5. A burning candle was placed in a bell jar containing sodium hydroxide solution
as follows.

(a) Draw another diagram to show what you would expect after 10 minutes.
(b) Explain the observations in 6 a) above.
6. (a) State two conditions necessary for rusting.
(b) How is the rusting process accelerated in our daily life?
(c) State four ways that can be used to prevent rusting.
7. Iron rubbish bins coated with a complete layer of zinc do not rust easily
(a) What name is given to the coating of iron with zinc?
(b) Explain how the method works.
 18Inorganic Chemistry

8. The set-up below was used In an experiment to determine the conditions

necessary for rusting.

In which set up will the iron nails rust? Explain.

9. A large piece of magnesium buried in the ground and connected to an
underground iron pipe prevents the corrosion of the iron pipes. Explain.
10. How does oiling of iron tools prevent rusting?
11. Common salt is often spread on roads cold countries.
(a) What is the purpose of adding common salt on roads in cold countries?
(b) In such countries, cars rust faster. Explain.
(c) Explain why iron objects are likely to rust slowly in a desert
12. When magnesium metal is burnt in air the product formed weighs more than
the original magnesium. Explain.
13. When a substance combines with oxygen, the process is called
(a)___________and the substance is said to be (b)__________
14. A mixture of copper(ii)oxide and zinc metal was heated strongly in a crucible.
(a) State and explain observations made at the end of the experiment.
(b) Write the equation for the reaction that takes place in the crucible.
(c) Suppose copper(ii)oxide was replaced with magnesium oxide, state and
explain the observation that would be made.
15. Sodium metal on a deflagrating spoon was burnt in air as shown below

(a) What is the colour of the flame produced when sodium is burnt?
(b) Write a word equation for the reaction that takes place.
(c) The product formed in this process is dissolved in water. Blue and red
litmus papers are dipped in the resultant solution. State the observations
16. The boiling points (at atmospheric pressure) of oxygen and nitrogen are -183°C
and - 196°C respectively. Which of these two gases would you expect to be
separated first?
17. (a) Given that oxygen gas is denser than air, draw a well labelled diagram to
show how dry oxygen can be prepared and collected in the laboratory
(b) When elements burn in oxygen, they combine with it to form _
(c) State two physical properties of oxygen gas.
(d) Outline two uses of oxygen gas.
18. The following set up was used to prepare and collect a sample of oxygen gas
 AIR AND COMBUSTION 19

(a) (i) Identify solid T.

(ii) State the role of solid T in this reaction.
(b) Write a word equation for the reaction that produces oxygen.
(c) What property of oxygen makes it possible for its collection as indicated
by thediagram?
(d) Explain why it is important not to collect any gas for the first few seconds
of the experiment.
19. The following table gives three elements that were burnt by students in dry
oxygen gas. Complete the table to show how the elements burnt and the name
of the product

Element How it burnt Name of product

Sulphur
Magnesium
Carbon
20. Oxygen can be prepared by dripping cold water on solid P.
(a) Name solid P.
(b) Write a word equation for the reaction that produces oxygen.
21. (a) Name two substances which when heated produce oxygen gas.
(b) Write the word equation for the reaction in (a) above.
22. Sodium metal was warmed until it began burning. The burning sodium was
lowered in a gas jar of oxygen as shown below.

(a) State the expected observations.

(b) Some water was added to the product of this reaction and the resulting
solution tested with blue and red litmus papers. State and explain the
observations made.
(c) Write a word equation for the reaction of
(i) sodium with oxygen. _
(ii) product with water.
(d) What type of reaction takes place when sodium burns in oxygen?
23. Burning sulphur on a deflagrating spoon was lowered into a gas jar of oxygen
gas.
(a) State the observations made.
(b) Write a word equation for the reaction that occurs. _
 20Inorganic Chemistry

(c) A little water was used to dissolve the product of this experiment. What
effect would the solution formed have on blue and red litmus papers? Explain
using a word equation.
24. (a) Name the process used to obtain oxygen on large scale.
(b) During the process in 26 (a), dust particles are first removed from air
How are the dust particles removed?
(c) Explain how the following substances are removed from air before
liquefaction.
(i) Carbon (IV) oxide.
(ii) Water vapour.
(d) Describe how air free of dust particles, carbon (IV)oxide and water
vapour is liquefied.
(e) Which component of liquid air is obtained first? Explain.
(f) Nitrogen, oxygen and argon are obtained from liquid air by fractional
distillation. State the physical property that makes it possible to separate
them.
(g) Arrange the gases in (f) in order of how they distil, starting with the first.
(h) State four uses of oxygen gas.

In the papers….
1. 2006 Q 2 P1
The diagram below represents a set-up that was used to show that part of air is
used during burning.

(a) Given that phosphorus used was in excess, draw a diagram of the set-up
at the end of the experiment (when there was no further observable change).
(b) Suggest one modification that should be made on the apparatus if the
percentage of the air used is to be determined.

2. 2007 Q 1a P1
State two factors that should be considered when choosing fuel for cooking.

3. 2009 Q 21 P1
Give the name of the product formed when magnesium reacts with phosphorus.
(1 mark)

4. 2010 Q26 P1
A water trough, aqueous sodium hydroxide, burning candle, watch class and a
graduated gas jar were used in an experimental set up to determine the
percentage of active part of air. Draw a labelled diagram of the set up at the
end of the experiment. (3 marks)

5. 2012 Q1 P1
 AIR AND COMBUSTION 21

Charcoal is a fuel that is commonly used for cooking. When it burns it forms two
oxides.
(a) Name the two oxides (2
marks)
(b) State one use of the two oxides (1 mark)

6. 2012 Q24 P1
The following set up of three-tubes was used to investigate rusting of iron.
Study it and answer the questions that follow.

(a) Give a reason why rusting did not occur in test-tube C. (1

mark)
(b) Aluminium is used to protect iron sheets from rusting. Explain two ways
in which aluminium protects iron from rusting. (2
marks)

7. 2013 Q1 P1
The set up below can be used to prepare oxygen gas. Study it and answer the
questions that follow.

(a) Identify X (1 mark)

(b) What property of oxygen makes it possible for it to be collected as shown
in the above set up? (1
mark)
(c) State two uses of oxygen. (1 mark)

8. 2014 Q16 P1
A measuring cylinder fitted with moist steel wool was inverted in a trough of
water as shown in the diagram below.
 22Inorganic Chemistry

(a) State and explain the observations made on the:

(i) Moist steel wool after four days; (1
mark)
(ii) Water level in the measuring cylinder after four days. (1
mark)
(b) What would be the effect of using steel wool moistened with salty water?
(1 mark)

9. 2016 Q18 P1
A water trough, aqueous sodium hydroxide, burning candle, watch glass and a
graduated jar were used in an experimental set up to determine the percentage
of active part of air. Draw a labelled diagram of the set up at the end of the
experiment. (3 marks)

10. 2018 Q10 P1

Using iron filings, describe an experiment that can be conducted to show that
oxygen is present in air.
(3 marks)

11. 2019 Q14 P1

During laboratory preparation of oxygen, manganese (IV) oxide is added to
reagent H.
(a) Name reagent H. (1 mark)
(b) State the role of manganese (IV) oxide in this experiment.
(1 mark)
(c) Write the equation for the reaction that takes place. (1
mark)