1.

OXYGEN
 Oxygen - Is a gas that forms about 21% by volume of the air we breathe. It is also present in
combination with other substances like water and certain chemicals. It is an essential element
for chemicals process like combustion, rusting and respiration.

LABORATORY PREPARATION OF OXYGEN

 The common methods of preparation of oxygen in the laboratory include the follows:
(i) Decomposition of hydrogen peroxide
(ii) Heating of potassium chlorate in the presence of a catalyst
(iii) Heating compounds rich in oxygen.

 The mostly frequently used method of preparation of oxygen in the laboratory is the
decomposition of hydrogen peroxide using manganese (IV) oxide as a catalyst.
NOTE:
 Decomposition is the breaking down of a chemical compound into element or smaller
compounds.
 Catalyst is a substance that speeds up the rate of chemical reaction but remains chemically
unchanged at the end of the reaction.

1. LABORATORY PREPARATION OF OXYGEN GAS BY DECOMPOSITION OF

HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
 Oxygen gas is prepared in the laboratory by using decomposition of hydrogen peroxide in the
laboratory.
Apparatus needed during preparation are follows:
 Flat-bottomed flask
 Delivery tube
 Beehive shelf
 Trough
 Thistle funnel with tap
 Gas jar

Chemicals needed are;

 Manganese (IV) oxide as a catalyst
 Hydrogen peroxide

 Hydrogen peroxide decompose to give oxygen gas and water in the presence of manganese
(IV) oxide as a catalyst.

Word equation:
Hydrogen peroxide MnO2 Water + Oxygen

Molecular equation:
H2O2(aq) MnO2 2H2O(l) + O2(g)

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  Consider the setup below which shows how oxygen can be prepared in the laboratory by
decomposition of hydrogen peroxide.

The Gas formed is collected over water because it is only slightly soluble in water.

2. PREPARATION OF OXYGEN BY DECOMPOSITION OF POTASSIUM

CHLORATE
 A mixture of potassium chlorate and manganese (IV) oxide is placed in a hard test tube and
then the mixture is heated to decompose.
 As the potassium chlorate decomposes, oxygen gas is formed

Consider the diagram below for the preparation of oxygen by decomposition of potassium
chlorate

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 PROPERTIES OF OXYGEN
 Physical properties of oxygen
(i) Oxygen is colourless, tasteless and odourless.
(ii) It is slightly soluble in water.
(iii) It is about 1.1 times denser than air.
(iv) It boils at -183
(v) It freezes at -218

 Chemical properties of oxygen

(i) It react with non- metal to form acidic oxides.
(ii) It support combustion.
(iii) It reacts with metals to form basic oxides
(iv) It is very strong oxidizing agent.

TEST OF OXYGEN GAS

 A glowing wooden splint lowered into a gas jar of oxygen lights up. This is the test for the
presence of oxygen gas.
 When a lit candle is lowered into a gas jar of oxygen it burns more brightly. This confirm
that oxygen support combustion.

 The tables below summarize the reaction and product formed when metals burn in oxygen.
(i) Reaction of some metals with oxygen

Metals How it burns Colour of product Name of product

Potassium (silvery- melts easily and burns White powder potassium oxide
white) with a lilac flame
Sodium Burns vigorously with Pale yellow solid Sodium oxide
(yellow) a yellow flame

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 Calcium Does not melt but White solid Calcium oxide
(silver) burns with a brick red
flame
Magnesium Melts before it burns White powder Magnesium oxide
(grey) with a bright white
flame
Zinc Burns slowly with a Yellow/green flakes Zinc oxide
(bluish white) dull red flame that are white when
cool
Iron Glows red hot Black solid Iron (III) oxide
(grayish silver)
Copper Turns orange then the Black solid Copper (II) oxide
(bronze) surface of the product
turns black
Note: Metals burns in oxygen to produce basic oxide. These oxides are said to be basic because
either they react with water to form basic solution or they react with acid to form a salt and water.
(ii) Reaction of non-metal in oxygen

Non-metals How it burns Colour of product Name of product

Carbon Burns slowly with a Colourless gas Carbon dioxide
(black solid) yellow-white flame
Phosphorous Burns brightly to White solid Phosphorous (V)
(yellow solid) produce clouds of oxide
white smoke
Sulphur Melts and burns with Misty Sulphur dioxide
(yellow solid) a blue flame. (white gas)

Note: Non metals burn in oxygen to produce acidic oxides. These oxides are said to be acidic
because they react with water to form acidic solutions.

INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURE OF OXYGEN

 Various methods have been used for the large scale production of oxygen but at present the
most commonly used methods is the methods is the fractional distillation of liquefied air.

Fractional distillation
Liquefaction of air
Air is liquefied by, first of all, being filtered to remove dust, then cooled to -2000C. At this
temperature it is a liquid.
As the air liquefies:
 The water vapour condenses and is removed using special filters.
 The carbon dioxide freezers at -79oC and is removed.
 The oxygen liquefies at -183oC
 The nitrogen liquefies at -196oC.

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 Distillation
 The liquid nitrogen and oxygen mixture is then separated into the two components by
fractional distillation.
 The liquid mixture is passed into a fractionating column from the bottom. Since the column
is warmer at the bottom than at the top, the liquid nitrogen boils at the bottom of the column.
The gaseous nitrogen rises to the top where it is piped off and stored.
 The liquid oxygen collects at the bottom of the column.

USES OF OXYGEN
 Oxygen has many uses. The main use is in the sustenance of
life. It is also used in various industry processes.

(i) Oxygen for living organisms

 All living things require oxygen to live. Every organism lives in land depend
oxygen surroundings air. Fish and aquatic plant obtain it from the water.

(ii) Industrial uses of oxygen.

Oxygen is also used on a large scale in industries. The areas where oxygen is used are summarized
below

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 2. HYDROGEN

 Hydrogen is the lightest and the most abundant element in the universe.

 It is in fact the main element from which the sun and the stars are made. Hydrogen gas is
lighter than air and therefore rises in the atmosphere. This is why hydrogen gas is not
found free on its own on the earth.
 However, hydrogen is a very reactive element. This is why it is found in combination
with many other elements. Hydrogen combines with carbon to form compounds such as
coal, petroleum and other organic compounds. It is also present in acids and bases.

LABORATORY PREPARATION OF HYDROGEN

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Hydrogen can be prepared in the laboratory by the following methods.
1. The reaction of dilute acids with some metals
2. The reaction of water with hot carbon
3. The reaction of water with certain metals
4. The electrolysis of water.
NOTE:
The most common method of preparation is by the reaction of dilute acids on metals. An
example is the action of dilute hydrochloric acid on zinc.

PREPARATION OF HYDROGEN BY THE REACTION OF DILUTE

HYDROCHLORIC ACID ON ZINC GRANULES
 The apparatus used to prepare oxygen in the laboratory by the reaction of dilute
hydrochloric acid on zinc granules are;
(i) Flat-bottomed flask
(ii) Thistle funnel
(iii) Gas jar
(iv) Trough
(v) Beehive shelf
 Other materials used are zinc granules, dilute hydrochloric acid and water.
Experimental set-up for the preparation of hydrogen in the laboratory

Word equation
Zinc + hydrochloric acid zinc chloride + hydrogen

Molecular equation
Zn(s) + Dil. HCl(aq) ZnCl2(aq) + H2(g)

NOTE: The method used to collect hydrogen gas is downward displacement of water because it
is only slightly soluble in water.

TEST FOR HYDROGEN GAS

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  Hydrogen gas is tasted when is burning splint is put in a test tube containing hydrogen, it
explodes with a pop sound.
 When a test tube containing air is inverted over another containing hydrogen gas rises up
into the inverted test tube since hydrogen gas is less dense than in air. A burning splint
produces a pop sound in the upper boiling tube but not the lower one.
Note
Hydrogen gas is neither acidic nor basic and has no effect on moist litmus papers. It is also
odourless.
PROPERTIES OF HYDROGEN GAS
Physical properties
(i) It is tasteless, colourless and odourless.
(ii) It is lighter than air.
(iii) It is only slightly soluble in water.
(iv) It does not support combustion

Chemical properties
(i) It combines easily with other chemical substance at high temperatures.
(ii) It does not usually react with other elements a room temperature.
(iii) It is highly flammable and burns with a blue flame.
(iv) It is neither acidic nor basic.
(v) It reacts slowly with oxygen to produce water. The reaction can be speeded up by
a catalyst.
(vi) It reacts with the oxides and chlorides of many metals to produce free metals.
(vii) A mixture of hydrogen and oxygen explodes when lit.

NOTE:
 Hydrogen is a good reducing agent. This means it removes oxygen from
substance like metal oxides. Reduction is the removal of oxygen from a
substance or the addition of hydrogen to a substance.
Example,
The copper (II) oxide is reduced to copper metal and the lead (II) oxide to lead metal:

Copper (II) oxide + hydrogen Copper + Water

Lead (II) oxide + hydrogen Lead + Water

When the reaction is complete hydrogen is allowed to flow until the newly formed metals cool.
This is to prevent them from being oxidized in the air.
Note
Oxidation: Is the addition of oxygen to a substance or the removal of hydrogen from a
substance.
INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURE OF HYDROGEN
 Pure hydrogen is manufactured industrially by the electrolysis of water or by the steam
reforming of natural gas.

1. Electrolysis of water

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  Is a process which decomposes water into oxygen and hydrogen gas by means
of an electric current.
The current is passed through the water. The electrical power source is connected to two plates,
(called electrodes) which are placed in the water. Hydrogen will collect at one plate (cathode)
while oxygen will collect at the other (anode)

Figure: Electrolysis of water using a Hoffman voltameter

2. Steam reforming
 The most common method of producing commercial bulk hydrogen is called steam
reforming of natural gas also referred to as steam methane reforming (SMR)
It is a method of producing hydrogen from organic compound like methane. At high
temperatures (700 to 1100oC), steam reacts with methane to yield carbon monoxide and
hydrogen.

Steam + Methane carbon monoxide + hydrogen

This reaction takes place in the presence of a metal-based catalyst

USES OF HYDROGEN
 The following are some of the uses of hydrogen gas
(i) Manufacture of ammonia
(ii) Used in the manufacture of margarine.
(iii) Used to produce the oxy-hydrogen flame.
(iv) Used to manufacture of hydrochloric acid.
(v) Used to prepare water gas which is used as fuel.
(vi) Hydrogen is a light gas and is therefore used by meteorologists to fill weather
balloons.
NOTE: The main uses of hydrogen gas can be linked to its properties.

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The table below shows the relationship between some uses of hydrogen and its properties

USE PROPERTY
Manufacture of ammonia Readily combines with elements, e.g. nitrogen.
Production of oxy-hydrogen flame Its highly flammable
Manufacture of hydrochloric acid Readily reacts with other chemical substances.
Preparation of water gas It is highly flammable.
In weather balloons It is lighter than air
Manufacture of margarine It is a reducing agent.

MOCK, PRE-NECTA AND NECTA QUESTIONS ON OXYGEN AND HYDROGEN

 USESFAB PRE NECTA 2019 (TABORAM, MWANZA, MANYARA & KIGOMA

1. Gas X can be prepared by heating potassium chlorate in the Laboratory.
(a) Identify gas x
(b) State the three (3) physical properties of gas x
(i) ………………………………………………………….
(ii) ………………………………………………………………
(iii) …………………………………………………………..
(c) Mention three (3) chemical properties of gas x
(i) …………………………………
(ii) ………………………………….
(iii) ………………………………….
(d) State four (4) uses of gas x
(i) ……………………………….
(ii) ……………………………….
(iii) …………………………………
(iv) …………………………………

2. (a) When dilute hydrochloric acid is reacted with zinc metal hydrogen gas is formed.
(i) Draw a well labeled diagram for preparing hydrogen gas from this reaction.
(ii) How can you test the gas liberated in (a) above?
……………………………………………………………………………………

 ROMAN BOY’S SECONDARY SCHOOL, SPECIAL PROGRAMME

EXAMINATION 2021
5(a) Outline six(6) common apparatus used in the laboratory preparation of oxygen gas using
Hydrogen peroxide,
i. _____________________________________________________________________

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 ii. _____________________________________________________________________
iii. _____________________________________________________________________
iv. _____________________________________________________________________
v. _____________________________________________________________________
vi. _____________________________________________________________________

(b) From which compound between hydrogen peroxide and Manganese IV oxide oxygen gas
Is produced ? ____________________________________________________________

(c) Give three (3) Industrial uses of oxygen gas.

i. ____________________________________________________________________
ii. ____________________________________________________________________
iii. _____________________________________________________________________

 MOSHI MUNICIPAL COUNCIL, PRE-NECTA EXAMINATION 2021

3. (a) By giving reasons, explain the following facts
(i) During laboratory preparation of oxygen, little manganese dioxide is added to hydrogen
peroxide
(ii) oxygen gas can be used for welding activities although it doesn’t burn

(b) Which property enables the use of hydrogen gas in

(i) Filling weather balloons?
(ii) Production of oxy-hydrogen flame

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS ACADEMIC UNION (CASAU), PRE-NECTA 2021

1. The diagram below represents the laboratory preparation of oxygen, study the diagram
and answer the questions which follows:

KUPATA NOTES COMPLETE MADA ZOTE

NICHEKI KWA NAMBA 0769889586.
UTAZIPATA KWA TSH 3000 TU

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