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
78.1%
20.9%
0.97%
0.03%
Variable amount

Component of air
Nitrogen
Oxygen
Inert gases such as argon, helium, neon, xenon, krypton
Carbon dioxide
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
Colour, smell
Density
Solubility in water

Oxygen
Colourless and odourless
Slightly denser than air
Slightly soluble in water

Does not react with limewater

Carbon dioxide
Colourless and odourless
Denser than oxygen and air
Slightly soluble in water to
form a weak acid
Does not support burning
Changes the colour of damp
litmus paper from blue to pink
Turns limewater chalky

Burning ability
Reaction with damp
litmus paper
Reaction with
limewater
Reaction with sodium
hydroxide solution

Supports burning
Neutral

Slightly soluble in sodium

hydroxide solution

Very soluble in sodium

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.

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
Contains
Contains
Contains
Is cooler

air
more oxygen
less carbon dioxide
less water vapour

Exhaled air
Contains less oxygen
Contains more carbon dioxide
Contains more water vapour
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
pollutant
Properties
Sources

Harmful
effects

Carbon monoxide

Sulphur dioxide

A very poisonous,
colourless and
odourless gas
The incomplete
burning of carbon
(charcoal, petrol and
oil)

A harmful, colourless
and poisonous gas with
irritating odour
- The burning of fossil
fuels that contain
sulphur (coal and oil)
- Active volcanoes

- Leads to anoxia (lack

of oxygen in the body)
which causes damage
to the nervous system,
brain damage & death
- Kills unborn babies

- Forms acid rain

- Destroys plants
- Causes respiratory
problems such as
breathing difficulties,
bronchitis & lung cancer

Oxides of nitrogen
Poisonous gaseous
compounds
Burning of oil and coal
at very high
temperatures in power
stations, factories and
motor vehicles
- Forms acid rain
- Destroy plants
- Damages our lungs

(b) Solid air pollutants:

Solid air
pollutant
Properties

Sources

Harmful
effects

Chlorofluorocarbon
(CFC)
- They are broken
down into chlorine
atoms when exposed
to light. The chlorine
atoms decompose
ozone into oxygen.
- They are greenhouse
gases.
- They are released
into the air from
aerosols that contain
CFCs such as
deodorants, pesticides,
cleaning solvents and
foam.
- They escape from
leaked pipes in cooling
systems that use CFCs
- CFCs cause the
thinning of the ozone
layer; Eventually the
ozone layer may not
be able to protect us
from the suns harmful
ultraviolet rays.
- Overexposure to
ultraviolet rays causes
skin cancer and
cataracts.
- CFCs trap heat in the
atmosphere thereby
increasing the earths
temperature.

Dust, smoke, grit or

asbestos
They can remain
suspended in high
altitudes for long
periods of time.

Compounds of lead
They are poisonous;
fine particles
suspended in the air.

- Natural emissions
come from volcanoes.
- Man-made emissions
from cement
manufacturing factories,
paper making factories
and construction sites
add these pollutants to
the air.

The burning of leaded

petrol or substances
containing lead
produces lead
compounds.

- They cause respiratory

problems and damage
to the lungs.
- They cause haze that
reduces the rate of
photosynthesis as
sunlight is blocked by
the particles from
reaching the plants.
- They cause lung
cancer.

- They cause lead

poisoning.
- They damage the
brain.