NITROGEN AND ITS COMPOUNDS

Nitrogen

Nitrogen has atomic number 7, atomic mass 14 with the

electronic configuration of 2:5 hence belongs to group V and
period 2 of the periodic table.

Occurrence of nitrogen

Nitrogen is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere,

occupying about 78% by volume. It occurs in nature in a
combined state in mineral salts such as nitrates and
ammonium salts. It is found in living things in form of
proteins and vitamins. It is one of the main elements needed
for plant growth.

Laboratory preparation of nitrogen

The methods include:

a. Preparation of nitrogen from ammonium chloride and sodium nitrite

Sodium nitrite and ammonium chloride are heated to form

ammonium nitrite

( ) ( ) → ( ) ( )
Then ammonium nitrite decomposes to give nitrogen.
( ) → ( ) ()
The gas can be collected over water since it is less soluble in
water. If the gas is needed dry, it is passed through a U-tube
containing glass beads wetted with concentrated sulphuric acid

1
to dry it and then collected in a syringe.
Note. Nitrogen cannot be collected by upward delivery/downward
displacement of air because it is slightly less dense than air.

b. Laboratory preparation of nitrogen from air

The raw material is air. It is done by systematically removing
carbon dioxide and oxygen leaving nitrogen.

The air is pumped into the set up. It is then passed through a
wash bottle containing concentrated sodium hydroxide solution which
removes all the carbon dioxide. Sodium hydroxide absorbs and
removes carbon dioxide from the air mixture and forms sodium
carbonate
( ) ( ) → ( ) ()
It is then passed over heated copper in the combustion tube to
remove oxygen. Oxygen is removed by reacting it with the hot
copper leading to formation of copper(II) oxide. Hence in the combustion
tube a brown solid turns black
( ) ( ) → ( )
The remaining air is mainly composed of nitrogen which is
collected over water since it is only slightly soluble in water.

2
Diagram

Note:

1. The gas can be dried by passing it through a U-tube

containing glass beads wetted with concentrated
sulphuric acid to and then collected in a syringe.
2. Nitrogen formed by this method is not pure. It contains
several impurities, mainly the noble gases as well as
unreacted oxygen.
3. Commercially nitrogen is manufactured through fractional
distillation of liquid air.

Industrial manufacture of nitrogen

Nitrogen is manufactured by fractional distillation of liquid air.

Atmospheric air is collected, carbon dioxide and water vapour are

removed from air because at low temperature they would solidify
and block the pipes. Air is passed through sodium hydroxide
solution to remove carbon dioxide.

( ) ( ) → ( ) ()

The remaining part of air is then passed through silica gel for
drying. The resulting dry air is compressed at a pressure of
about 200 atmospheres, cooled and then liquefied by passing it
through a water-cooled coil to cool it to its original temperature.
3
On heating to distill, liquid nitrogen with a lower boiling point of
( ) boils off first leaving the liquid oxygen behind.

Test for Nitrogen

Nitrogen is almost inactive (inert) at ordinary temperatures.

Because of being inert, it has no simple positive test. It can only be
identified by its negative response to the following tests for other
common gases.

1. Nitrogen extinguishes a burning splint and the gas does not burn. This
distinguishes it from other gases that support burning like
oxygen and dinitrogen oxide or any combustible gas such as
hydrogen, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulphide.
2. Nitrogen has no smell. This distinguishes it from gases such
as sulphur dioxide ammonia, hydrogen sulphide.
3. Nitrogen has no action on lime-water. This distinguishes it
from carbon dioxide.

Properties of nitrogen

Physical properties
1. Nitrogen is a colourless and tasteless gas.
2. It is slightly soluble in water under ordinary conditions.
3. It is slightly less dense than air.
4. It has no effect on litmus

Chemical properties
Nitrogen is generally unreactive because nitrogen atoms in
nitrogen molecules are strongly bonded by a triple bond (
) which is very difficult to break. It however, under goes a few
reactions, which include the following.

1. Reaction with hydrogen

Nitrogen and hydrogen combine at high temperatures and
pressure in the presence of finely divided iron catalyst to
form ammonia.
( ) ( ) ( )

2. Reaction with metals

Nitrogen reacts only with the reactive metals (magnesium and

calcium). When these metals are heated strongly, they burn in
4
 nitrogen forming their corresponding nitrides, which are white
in colour.

( ) ( ) → ( )

( ) ( ) → ( )

Explanation

The heat produced by the burning magnesium ribbon or calcium

is strong enough to break the triple bond in the nitrogen
molecule forming free nitrogen atoms. The free atoms are very
reactive and combine with these metals to form a nitride.

If a burning splint is placed in a jar of nitrogen, it gets

extinguished. This is because the heat it produces is not
sufficient to break the triple bonds between the nitrogen
atoms

The nitrides dissolve in water to form the corresponding

hydroxide and ammonia.

( ) () → ( ) ( ) ( )

( ) () → ( ) ( ) ( )

3. Reaction with oxygen

In thunderstorms, a small amount of nitrogen reacts with the
oxygen in the air to form nitrogen monoxide which reacts in
excess oxygen to form nitrogen dioxide.
( ) ( ) → ( )

( ) ( ) → ( )

Note: The electrical discharge in a thunderstorm provides

sufficient energy for this reaction to occur.

Uses of nitrogen
1. Used in the Haber process for the manufacture of
ammonia.
( ) ( ) ( )

2. It is used in food packaging, for example in crisp packets,

5
 to keep the food fresh and in this case to prevent the
crisps being compressed.
3. Liquid nitrogen is used as a refrigerant.
4. Because of its unreactive nature, nitrogen is used as an
inert atmosphere for some processes and chemical
reactions. For example, empty oil tankers are filled with
nitrogen to prevent fires.
5. It is used for storage of semen since it is non reactive
6. It is used to test bodies of air craft for very cold conditions in
higher cold space.

Compounds of nitrogen
Nitrogen monoxide (nitrogen oxide)
Laboratory preparation
It is prepared by reacting fairly concentrated sulphuric acid with copper
turnings.
Copper turnings are added to the flat bottomed flask because are solids. Using a
thistle funnel, 50% concentrated sulphuric acid is added. Effervescence occurs
giving off a colourless gas of nitrogen monoxide and a green solution of copper(II)
nitrate is left in the flask.
( ) ( )→ ( ) ( ) ( ) ()
Physical properties of nitrogen monoxide
- It is a colourless gas
- It is almost insoluble in water
- It is neutral to litmus paper
- It is slightly denser than air
- It extinguishes a burning splint, charcoal, sulphur and candle
Chemical properties
1. It supports burning of only those materials whose flames are hot enough to
decompose it. Eg
( ) ( )→ ( ) ( )
( ) ( )→ ( ) ( )
2. Exposure to air
If the cover is removed from the gas jar of nitrogen monoxide gas, brown
6
 fumes are at once produced due to oxidation of the gas.
( ) ( )→ ( )
3. Action on Iron(II) sulphate solution
When cold iron(II) sulphate solution is poured in a gas jar containing nitrogen
monoxide, a dark brown or black colouration is observed due to formation of
nitro iron(II) sulphate complex.
( ) ( )→ ( )

Nitrogen dioxide (nitrogen(IV) oxide)

It is prepared by the action of concentrated nitric acid on copper turnings. The
gas is collected by downward delivery method. It is not passed over water
because it is very soluble in water.
( ) ( )→ ( ) ( ) ( ) ()
Diagram
(Leave 10 lines)
Physical properties of nitrogen monoxide
- It is a brown gas
- It has a pungent irritating smell
- It is a poisonous gas
- It is denser than air
- It is very soluble in water forming a mixture of nitric acid and nitrous acid
- The gas is acidic thus turns a blue litmus to red.

Ammonia

Laboratory preparation of ammonia

The apparatus is set up as shown in figure below. It is prepared
by heating a mixture of an ammonium salt and a hydroxide.

A mixture of solid calcium hydroxide and solid ammonium chloride is

first ground thoroughly to increase the surface area for the reaction. Then
7
it is placed in the flask and heated, producing ammonia which is
dried by passing it through calcium oxide (quicklime). It is then
collected by upward delivery method/downward displacement of air
since it is less dense than air.

Equation

( ) ( ) ( ) → ( ) ( ) ()

The flask has to be slanted to prevent water produced by the

reaction from running into the hot flask since it causes the glass
to crack.

Note:
1. Instead of calcium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide or
potassium hydroxide solution may be used, in which case
the flask would be placed in the vertical position and
heated but are very reactive thus not commonly used.
2. Ammonium sulphate may be used instead of ammonium

chloride.

( ) ( ) ( )→ ( ) ( ) ()

3. The usual drying agents such as concentrated sulphuric

acid and anhydrous calcium chloride are not used because
ammonia reacts with them to form ammonium sulphate
and tetraamine calcium chloride respectively.
8
 ( ) () → ( ) ( )
( ) ( ) → ( )
Question: Explain why anhydrous calcium chloride is not used to dry ammonia gas.

Industrial preparation of ammonia (Haber process)

Dry nitrogen and hydrogen in the ratio of are passed over a
catalyst of finely divided iron with some traces of aluminium
oxide. The reaction occurs at the surface of the catalyst; therefore,
the catalyst should be finely divided to increase the surface area
over which the reaction occurs.
The reaction occurs at a temperature between – and
a pressure of atmospheres. Ammonia is produced.
( ) ( ) ( )
Summary of the process

Conditions for the reaction

(i) The two gases must be dry because the ammonia gas being formed is very
soluble in water
(ii) High pressure must be used ( )
(iii) Low temperatures of about – .
(iv) Catalyst must be used which is finely divided iron.

Test for ammonia

The gas has a characteristic chocking smell. It turns damp red
litmus paper blue and forms dense white fumes with
concentrated hydrochloric acid

Properties of ammonia
Physical properties

1. It is a colourless gas with a choking smell.

9
2. It is less dense than air and thus collected by upward delivery
method.
3. It is a poisonous gas
4. It is an alkaline gas and therefore turns red litmus paper blue. It
is the only common alkaline gas.

Chemical properties

1. Solubility of ammonia gas in water

It is very soluble in water to give an alkaline solution. The great
solubility of ammonia is due to the reaction of the gas with
water. Ammonia is a base and removes protons from water to
produce ammonium ions and hydroxide ions.
( ) () ( ) ( )
The solution is only weakly alkaline because of the reversible
nature of this reaction, which results in a relatively low
concentration of hydroxide ions. Ammonia gas dissolved in
water is usually known as aqueous ammonia.

The Fountain experiment to demonstrate the high solubility of ammonia

gas in water

A large thick walled round bottomed flask is filled with ammonia gas.

It is then fitted with two glass tubes C and D with clips at one end.

The flask is inverted over a trough of water and the clip on tube

10
D opened to allow in a few drops of water and then closed. These
are shaken with ammonia to dissolve it. If the red litmus
solution is added to water in the trough, water in the flask will
turn to blue indicating that it is an alkaline gas which dissolved
in water.

The clip on the tube C is opened. Water runs up the tube and
spreads at the end of the tube forming a fountain.

Explanation

The few drops of water, which entered through tube D,

dissolved all the ammonia gas in the flask so that a partial
vacuum was created in the flask. When the clip on tube C was
opened, atmospheric pressure pushed the water up the tube
forming a fountain.

2. Action of ammonia on metal oxides

Here ammonia behaves as a reducing agent.

It reduces the metal oxides to their respective metals and itself

being oxidized to water and nitrogen gas.
For example
When a stream of dry ammonia is passed over very strongly heated
copper(II) oxide as shown in the figure below, a colourless liquid
(water) forms in the U-tube. The black copper(II) oxide turns brown
and a colourless gas collects in the jar over water. Ammonia
reduces the copper(II) oxide to copper and itself oxidized to
nitrogen.
( ) ( ) → ( ) () ( )

11
A similar reaction takes place with the oxides of lead and iron.
( ) ( ) → ( ) () ( )
Grey
Fe_2O_3s + 2NH_3g 2Fes + 3H_2Ol + N_2g

3. Combustion of ammonia
Ammonia is a good reducing agent, which means that it can be
easily oxidized. Ammonia burns with a green flame, in an
atmosphere of air slightly enriched by oxygen in absence of a
catalyst forming nitrogen and water.
( ) ( ) → ( ) ()

The figure below shows how ammonia is burnt. The role of the
glass wool is to distribute oxygen evenly throughout the gas
vessel.

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In presence of catalyst (platinum or copper), ammonia is oxidised to
nitrogen monoxide.

A hot platinum or copper wire which acts as a catalyst is

suspended in a beaker of concentrated ammonia and oxygen is
bubbled through the solution. The metal catalyst remains red-hot
because the reaction is exothermic. Brown fumes of nitrogen
dioxide, which are formed due to oxidation of nitrogen monoxide,
are observed.

( ) ( ) → ( ) ()

( ) ( ) → ( )

The fumes later turn white due to formation of ammonium nitrate.

( ) ( ) ( ) → ( )

( ) ( ) → ( )

4. Reaction with hydrogen chloride

Ammonia reacts with hydrogen chloride to form white fumes,
which turn to a white solid of ammonium chloride on standing.
( ) ( ) → ( )

5. Reaction with chlorine

Ammonia burns spontaneously in chlorine forming a mist of
hydrogen chloride.
( ) ( ) → ( ) ( )

In excess ammonia, dense white fumes of ammonium chloride

are formed. Hydrogen chloride formed reacts with excess
ammonia to form the white fumes, which later settle to a white
13
solid.

( ) ( ) → ( ) ( )

Uses of ammonia
1. Ammonia solution is used in laundry work to
remove temporary hardness.
2. Ammonia is used to manufacture of fertilizers eg ammonium
sulphate and ammonium nitrate.
3. It is used in manufacture of nitric acid.
4. It is used in production of nylon.
5. It can be used as a refrigerant because it evaporates readily,
removing heat from the surrounding as it does so. It can be
easily liquefied by compression.

Ammonia solution

Preparation of ammonia solution

It can be prepared by dissolving ammonia gas in water using the
setup shown in figure below. The filter funnel is used in passing
ammonia into water in order to prevent the ‘sucking back’ of
water from the beaker into the reaction flask.

Ammonia is so soluble in water that, in the process of dissolving,

too much of it could dissolve at one time creating a low gaseous
pressure in the reaction flask as well as in the delivery tube by
the atmospheric pressure outside.

The funnel is arranged with its rim only just immersed in order to
ensure t h a t when water is sucked into the funnel, contact with
the water is broken and the water falls back into the beaker rather
than being sucked back along the delivery tube.

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Reactions of ammonia solution
1. Ammonia solution neutralizes acids forming a salt and water
only.
( ) ( ) → ( ) ( ) ()

2. Ammonia solution precipitates metal hydroxides from

solutions containing the metal ions.

(i) Solution of copper(II) ions ( ); When a few drops of

ammonia solution are added to a solution of copper(II)
ions, a blue precipitate is formed.

( ) ( ) → ( ) ( )

When excess aqueous ammonia is added to the blue

precipitate, the precipitate dissolves to form a deep blue
solution containing complex tetraamine copper(II) ions.

( ) ( ) ( )→ [ ( ) ] ( ) ( )

(ii) A solution of zinc ions ( ); forms a white

precipitate with a few drops of aqueous ammonia. The
precipitate dissolves in excess ammonia solution to form a
colourless solution containing complex tetraamine zinc
ions.

( ) ( ) → ( ) ( )

( ) ( ) ( )→ [ ( ) ] ( ) ( )

(iii) A solution of Iron(II) ions ( ); there is formation of a

dirty green precipitate insoluble in excess

( ) ( ) → ( ) ( )

(iv) A solution of iron(III) ions ( ); there is formation of a

brown precipitate insoluble in excess.

( ) ( ) → ( ) ( )

(v) A solution of lead(II) ions ( ); there is formation of a

15
 white precipitate insoluble in excess

( ) ( ) → ( ) ( )

(vi) A solution of aluminum ions ( ); there is formation

of white precipitate which are insoluble in excess
ammonia solution.

( ) ( ) → ( ) ( )

Ammonium salts
Effect of heat on ammonium salts
1. Ammonium chloride sublimes when heated. The cause of this
sublimation is that ammonium chloride dissociates on
heating to ammonia and hydrogen chloride, which recombine
on cooling.
( ) ( ) ( )
Also ammonium carbonate sublimes.
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
2. Ammonium sulphate decomposes on heating into ammonia
and sulphuric acid. Although the reaction is similar to that of
ammonium chloride no sublimation occurs because
sulphuric acid is less volatile than ammonia thus the two
cannot recombine.
( ) ( ) → ( ) ( )

3. Ammonium nitrate is decomposed to nitrogen(I) oxide

(dinitrogen oxide) and water.

( ) → ( ) ( )

Dinitrogen oxide is a colourless gas. It is fairly soluble in water

and neutral to litmus. It is denser than air and a glowing splint
is relit when lowered into a gas-jar containing dinitrogen oxide.
The heat decomposes dinitrogen oxide into oxygen and
nitrogen. It is oxygen that relights the glowing splint.

( ) → ( ) ( )

Caution: Ammonium nitrate should not be heated in the

laboratory because it explodes on strong heating.
16
4. Ammonium nitrate decomposes to nitrogen and water.

( ) → ( ) ( )

Test for ammonium salts

When ammonium salts are heated with an alkali, a colourless
gas (ammonia) which has a pungent choking smell and turns
wet red litmus paper blue is given off.
( ) ( )→ ( ) ()

Nitric acid

Laboratory preparation of nitric acid

When a mixture of potassium nitrate and concentrated sulphuric
acid is heated gently, potassium nitrate gradually dissolves and
effervescence occurs giving off nitric acid which is condensed in
another flask placed in a sink and cooled by tap water as shown
in figure above
( ) ( )→ ( ) ( )
Brown fumes of nitrogen dioxide are produced during heating
because of thermal decomposition of nitric acid.
( ) → ( ) ( ) ( )

Note: The experiment must be carried out in all-glass apparatus

because nitric vapour attacks rubber and cork.

Set up

17
Industrial preparation of nitric acid
Nitric acid is manufactured by the catalytic oxidation of ammonia.

Ammonia and excess air are passed over a heated platinum

catalyst at about 800oC, forming nitrogen monoxide. The
reaction is exothermic.

( ) ( ) → ( ) ()

Nitrogen monoxide is cooled and reacts with oxygen from excess air
to produce brown fumes of nitrogen dioxide.

( ) ( ) → ( )

Nitrogen dioxide together with excess air is dissolved in hot water to

form nitric acid.

() ( ) ( ) → ( )

Properties of nitric acid

It behaves chemically in two ways.

- It is a strong acid.
- It is a powerful oxidizing agent.

1. Nitric acid acting as a strong acid

Nitric acid is a very strong acid, being almost completely ionized
in dilute solution with the production of the hydrogen ion and
the nitrate ion.

( ) → ( ) ( )

This ionization leads the acid to have the following acidic

properties:

(a) Reaction with carbonates and hydrogen carbonates

It liberates carbon dioxide from carbonate and hydrogen
carbonate.
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 For example
Dilute nitric acid reacts with copper(II) carbonate and
copper(II) hydrogen carbonate forming copper(II) nitrate,
carbon dioxide and water.
( ) ( ) → ( ) ( ) ( ) ()

( ) ( ) ( ) → ( ) ( ) ( ) ()

(b) Reaction with bases

It reacts with oxides and alkalis to form salt and water
only. This is known as a neutralization reaction.
( ) ( ) → ( ) ( ) ()
( ) ( ) → ( ) ()

(c) Reaction with metals

Hydrogen is liberated when very dilute acid is added to

magnesium. Magnesium is the only metal that liberates
hydrogen with nitric acid and only when the acid is very dilute.
Other metals are oxidised by the acid to the corresponding
nitrates.

( ) ( ) → ( ) ( ) ( )

2. Nitric acid as an oxidizing agent

(a) Reaction with Iron(II) sulphate solution
When concentrated nitric acid is added to a green solution of
iron(II) sulphate and warmed, it oxidizes it to a yellow or
brown solution of iron(III) sulphate.
( ) ( ) ( ) → ( ) ( ) () ( )
( ) → ( )

(b) Reaction with copper metal

Concentrated nitric acid reacts with copper giving off nitrogen

dioxide.

( ) () → ( ) ( ) ( ) ()

If the acid is 50% concentrated (equal volume of water as the

volume of acid), nitrogen monoxide is formed.

( ) ( ) → ( ) ( ) ( ) ()
19
 Lead reacts with nitric acid in a similar way. Aluminium and
iron are made passive because of the formation of the oxide
layer, which forms a protective layer over the metal and stops
further reaction.

(c) Reaction with non-metals

(i) Concentrated nitric acid reacts with sulphur to give
brown fumes of nitrogen dioxide.
( ) () → ( ) ( ) ()

(ii) When a piece of red-hot charcoal is put into

concentrated nitric acid, it continues to burn and
brown fumes are formed.

( ) () → ( ) ( ) ()
(iii) When red phosphorus is gently heated with moderately
dilute nitric acid, brown fumes are formed.
( ) () → ( ) ( ) ()

(d) Reaction with hydrogen sulphide

When hydrogen sulphide is passed through moderately dilute

nitric acid, a pale yellow precipitate of sulphur and nitric acid
is reduced to nitrogen monoxide. With concentrated nitric,
nitrogen dioxide is formed. The nitrogen monoxide is oxidized
to nitrogen dioxide.

( ) ( ) → ( ) ( ) ()

Uses of nitric acid

1. In the manufacture of fertilizers such as ammonium nitrate

2. Used for the manufacture of dyes.

3. Used in manufacture of drugs.
4. Used in manufacture of explosives.

Nitrates
Solubility in water
All nitrates are soluble in water and most of them are deliquescent.

Action of heat on nitrates

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a) Nitrates of potassium and sodium when heated melt to a
colourless liquid and then slowly decompose to give a pale yellow
nitrite and oxygen gas
( ) → ( ) ( )
( ) → ( ) ( )

b) Most metallic nitrates decompose to a metal oxide, nitrogen dioxide

(brown fumes) and oxygen gas which relights a glowing splint like

nitrates of magnesium, calcium, zinc, lead(II), copper(II) etc.

For example

Lead(II) nitrate makes a cracking sound when heated. The

sound is because the air inside the crystals splits them when

it expands due to heating. A brown mixture of nitrogen

dioxide and oxygen is given off. Lead(II) oxide (residue) is brown

when hot and yellow when cold.

( ) ( ) → ⏟ ( ) ( ) ( )

( ) ( ) → ⏟ ( ) ( ) ( )

( ) ( ) → ⏟ ( ) ( ) ( )

Note: Zinc nitrate and copper(II) nitrate are hydrated and when
heated do not produce a cracking sound. They melt first and
dissolve in their water of crystallization forming a solution. The
solution then evaporates and when most of the water has
evaporated, decomposition starts.
c) Mercury(II) nitrate and silver nitrate decompose to the metal,
nitrogen dioxide and oxygen.

( ) ( ) → () ( ) ( )

( ) → ( ) ( ) ( )
21
 Summary

}
}

Exercise

1. When a green compound W was heated strongly, a brown gas

was given off and a black residue remained.

(a) Name the

(i) brown gas
(ii) black residue
(b) Write the equation for the reaction.
(c) Dilute nitric acid was added to the black residue and
warmed.
(i) State what was observed.
(ii) Write the equation for the reaction.
(d) To the products in (c) was added aqueous ammonia drop
wise until in excess.
(i) State what was observed.
(ii) Write the equation(s) for the reaction(s) that took place.

Test for nitrates

1. Brown ring test:
To a solution of a nitrate in a test-tube, an equal volume
of freshly prepared iron(II) sulphate solution is added.
Then concentrated sulphuric acid is poured down the
sides of the test-tube.
Observation

A brown ring forms where the two layers meet as shown in

figure below.

22
 The formula of the brown ring is . Concentrated
sulphuric acid reacts with nitrate ions to give nitric acid.

2. Using hot concentrated sulphuric acid

A solid nitrate is gently heated with concentrated sulphuric
acid in a test-tube forming nitric acid. The top part of the
tube is heated to decompose nitric acid forming brown fumes
of nitrogen dioxide.
() → ( ) () ( )

3. Copper and concentrated sulphuric acid

Mix a solid nitrate with copper and heat gently with

concentrated sulphuric acid. Nitric acid formed reacts
with copper forming brown fumes of nitrogen dioxide.
( ) () → ( ) ( ) ( ) ()

Questions

1. Nitric acid is manufactured by catalytic oxidation of

ammonia.
(a) Name
(i) two raw materials, other than ammonia that are used
in the manufacture of nitric acid.
(ii) the catalyst used.
(b) Write equation for the reaction between nitric acid and
ammonia.
(c) State one use of the product in (b).
2. (a) Describe the industrial preparation of nitric acid from
ammonia. Your description should include equations for the
reactions that occur.

(b) Explain what happens when concentrated nitric acid is

added to copper.

(c) Describe one chemical test that can be used to confirm

the presence of a nitrate.

(d) State what would be observed if concentrated nitric acid

23
 was heated with iron(II) sulphate solution.

3. (a) Draw a labeled diagram of the apparatus that can be used

to prepare dry sample of ammonia in the laboratory.
(b) Describe an experiment that can be carried out to show
that ammonia is a soluble alkaline gas.

(c) A copper coil was heated strongly and held over a

concentrated solution of ammonia in a beaker. Oxygen was
then bubbled into ammonia solution.

(i) State what was observed.

(ii) Explain the observation in (i).

4. (a) A piece of burning magnesium was introduced into a jar of

nitrogen.
(i) State what was observed.
(ii) Write an equation for the reaction that took place.
(b) Water was added to the product of the reaction in (a)
and the resultant mixture tested with litmus.

(i) State what was observed.

(ii) Write an equation for the reaction.

(c) Name one other metal that reacts with nitrogen in a

similar way to magnesium.

5. When compound X is heated with concentrated sulphuric

acid, a gas which forms dense white fumes with ammonia
is liberated.
(a) Identify the anion in X.
(b) Write an ionic equation for the reaction between a solution
of X and silver nitrate.
(c) State what would be observed if lead(II) nitrate solution
was added to solution of x and the mixture heated.
6. In the industrial preparation of ammonia, nitrogen is reacted
with hydrogen.
(i) Write the equation for the reaction.
(ii) Give the conditions under which the reaction takes place.
(iii) State what is observed when aqueous ammonia is
added drop wise to copper(II) sulphate solution until in

24
 excess.
(iv) Write an equation for the reaction between ammonia
and hydrogen chloride gas.
(v) State what was observed in (iv) above.
7. Dilute nitric acid reacts with copper to form a colourless gas,
which on exposure to air gives brown fumes soluble in
water.
(a) Write the equation for the reaction between copper and
nitric acid.
(b) Name the colourless gas.
(c) Explain how the brown fumes are formed.
(d) Write the equation to show the reaction between water
and the brown fumes.
8. Excess lead(II) oxide was added to warm dilute nitric acid
and the mixture was stirred. After cooling, the mixture was
filtered and a solution of ammonium hydroxide was added to
the filtrate.
(a) Write an equation for the reaction between lead(II) oxide
and nitric acid.
(b) State what was observed when ammonium hydroxide
solution was added to the filtrate drop wise until in
excess.

25
 (c) Write an equation for the reaction in (b) above.
9. What would be observed if dilute sodium hydroxide solution
was added drop wise until in excess to a solution of
(i) Fe2+ salt.
(ii) Fe3+ salt.
10. (a) Describe how zinc sulphate crystals can be prepared from
zinc in the laboratory.
(b) A small amount of zinc sulphate was dissolved in dilute
nitric acid and the resultant solution divided into two
portions.

(i) State what would be observed when sodium hydroxide

solution is added to the first portion drop wise until in
excess.

(ii) Write the equation(s) of the reaction(s) that took place.

(c) (i) State what would be observed when aqueous ammonia

is added to the second portion drop wise until in excess.

(ii) Write the equation(s) for the reaction(s)

26