Resources of the Air
• Air is a mixture of gases. Can you suggest some?
• And depending upon locality it may also contain some pollutants such as: SO 2 and NO2
• Oxygen and Nitrogen may be commercially produced via fractional distillation of liquid air.
• The following schematic summaries how liquid air is purified:
NITROGEN
1 2 3
Air Purified Air Liquified Air Fractional Distillation ARGON
OXYGEN
1. Step 1 – removal of CO2 (by KOH) and water (drying agent) – CO2(g) + 2KOH(aq) K2CO3(aq) + H2O(l)
2. Step 2 – purified air is compressed, cooled and allowed to expand rapidly
3. Step 3 – liquified air is slightly warmed up
• Oxygen, Nitrogen, Carbon Dioxide and the Noble Gases have important industrial uses. Can you suggest
some of the uses of these gases?
Oxygen Nitrogen Carbon Dioxide Noble Gases
•Manufacture of steel •Handling explosive mixtures •In fire extinguishers •Helium is used in low-temperature
•Production of Methanol •Annealing metals at high temperatures •As a refrigerant studies and in deep-sea diving
•Welding and cutting of metals •To flush out boilers and pipes during •In beverages (eg. Carbonated soft •Neon is used in discharge tubes and
•Rocket fuels out-of-service periods which helps to drinks) advertising signs.
•In medicine, on aircrafts and (mixed reduce corrosion •In pressurizing oil wells •Argon is used in electrical bulbs and
with Helium) in deep sea diving •To protect some foods from spoilage •As an aerosol propellant in discharge tubes, ultra violet lamps
•In the form of liquid nitrogen as a •In treating alkaline waste water •Krypton is used to absorb gamma
coolant and to freeze-dry some food radiation and in ultra violet lamps
stuffs
• What are some properties of oxygen?
• In the laboratory oxygen may be prepared by decomposing hydrogen peroxide via the use of a catalyst.
What is a catalyst? Good! You’re awake. The reaction is as follows:
2H2O2(l) 2H2O(l) + O2(g)
• The above reaction uses the Manganese(IV) oxide as a catalyst.
• However, if hydrogen peroxide is left to stand on its own it will slowly decompose to produce water and
oxygen.
• Oxygen can be prepared by the thermal decomposition of oxygen-rich substances such as sodium nitrate, NaNO3
and potassium chlorate(V), KClO3. What does thermal decomposition mean? Can we complete and determine
what products would be formed from the equations below?
1. NaNO3(s)
2. KClO3(s) (This reaction uses MnO2 as a
catalyst)
• In the reactions above oxygen is collected over water because it is sparingly soluble within it.
• Oxygen is a highly reactive element and combines with metals to form basic (or amphoteric) oxides. Can you
complete the equations below?
1. Mg(s) + O2(g) (a basic oxide)
2. Zn(s) + O2(g) (an amphoteric oxide)
• Oxygen also reacts with non-metals to form mainly acidic oxides. Try completing the suggested equations
below.
1. C(s) + O2(g) (an acidic oxide)
2. H2(g) + O2(g) (a neutral oxide)
3. S(g) + O2(g) (an acidic oxide)
• Oxygen also reacts with organic compounds to yield carbon dioxide and water. Superheroes to work!
1. CH4(g) + O2(g)
2. C2H5OH(l) + 3O2(g)
• List some properties of Nitrogen.
• Nitrogen, though an inert gas is able to react with some elements under special conditions such as heat.
1. 6Lio(s) + N2(g) 2Li3N(s)
2. 3Mgo(s) + N2(g) ________(s)
3. N2(g) + O2(g) _________(g) (this reaction occurs in the engines of automobiles when gasoline/air mixtures
are exploded or ignited)
• What accounts for the nitrogen molecule’s lack of reactivity?
• Nitrogen dioxide is rapidly formed from nitrogen monoxide in the presence of oxygen.
2NO(g) + O2(g) 2NO2(g)
• It is a brown gas with a sharp smell that turns blue litmus red and can be obtained by heating a nitrate except
group I nitrates.
2Pb(NO3)2(s) 2PbO(s) + 4NO2(g) + O2(g)
• List some properties of Ammonia.
• Ammonia is a weak base which dissolve in water to produce a weakly alkaline solution.
• Can you tell me what aqueous ammonia may be used for?
• Ammonia is often used within the laboratory:
In qualitative analysis for identifying cations or for preparing insoluble hydroxides –
Pb2+(aq) + 2NH3(aq) + 2H2O(l) Pb(OH)2(s) + 2NH+4(aq)
Ammonia solution white ppt
Fe2+(aq) + 2NH3(aq) + 2H2O(l) Fe(OH)2(s) + 2NH4+(aq)
Ammonia solution geen ppt
In the detection of hydrogen halides. Hydrogen chloride fumes and forms ammonium chloride when it
comes into contact with ammonia:
NH3(g) + HCl(g) NH4Cl(s)
Both gaseous and aqueous ammonia react with acids to produce ammonium salts. This is because of the
(weakly) alkaline nature of ammonia:
2NH3(aq) + H2SO4(aq) (NH4)2SO4(aq)
• There are many uses for ammonia in:
1. nitric acid
2. paper and textiles
3. refrigerants
4. plastics
5. fertilizers
• Ammonium salts can be tested by heating it with a base such as calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH) 2 where ammonia
gas is produced and can be detected by its pungent smell.
2NH4Cl(s) + Ca(OH)2(s) 2NH3(g) + CaCl2(aq) + 2H2O(aq)
• Ammonia is a weak base therefore a stronger base can displace ammonia from ammonium salts. To make
ammonia in the laboratory a mixture of solid Ca(OH)2 and solid ammonium sulfate is heated. Any other
strong alkali and any other ammonium salt can be used.
(NH4)2SO4(s) + Ca(OH)2(s) CaSO4(s) + 2NH3(g) + 2H2O(l)
• Ammonia is very water soluble. Why? Hint – Try to draw the structure for NH 3.
• Ammonia is also less dense than air so it is collected by upward delivery. Can we draw out the preparation
apparatus for the manufacture of ammonia?
• Do you know the test for ammonia? Yes? Well tell me then.
• Ammonia can be produced commercially. Why and What is this process called?
• This process was developed in Germany in 1913. - WOW! That was surely a long time ago huh.
• The equation for the above process is: N 2(g) + 3H2(g) 2NH3(g)
• The schematic for this process is demonstrated below.
Recycled N2 and H2
Nitrogen from the air
Reaction Chamber COOLING UNIT
Compression Chamber
Temp 350-600oC &
Pressure 250-1000 atm
Fe/Al2O3 catalyst SEPARATOR
Hydrogen from reforming
of methane
Compressed Unreacted N2,
gas mixture H2 and NH3 Liquid ammonia
To storage
• Nitrogen is obtained from the air and hydrogen from natural gas.
• Ammonium fertilizers can be produced via:
Neutralization reactions between ammonia and an appropriate acid to yield an ammonium salt:
NH3(g) + HNO3(aq) NH4NO3(aq)
2NH3(g) + H2SO4(aq) (NH4)2SO4(aq)
Double decomposition of ammonium carbonate and calcium sulphate to produce ammonium sulphate :
(NH4)2CO3(aq) + CaSO4(aq) ___________________________________(can you finish this equation?)
The sequencial reaction that produces ammonium phosphate:
Ca3(PO4)2(s) + 3H2SO4(aq) 2H3PO4(aq) + 3CaSO4(s)
H3PO4(aq) + 3NH3(aq) (NH4)3PO4(aq)
• The ammonium salts demonstrated above may be sold as is or mixed with other ingredients such as calcium
phosphate which is a source of phosphorus and potassium chloride which is a source of potassium to
maximize on the proper amount of nutrients plants are expected to receive.
• Ammonia can be converted to carbamide. What is carbamide?
• Carbamide is a white crystalline compound containing 46% nitrogen. It is mainly used as fertilizer as
well as resins, varnishes, adhesive and cattle feed.
• It can be synthesized without a catalyst from ammonia and carbon dioxide under pressure at 200 atm and
190oC. The product is removed in its molten state.
2NH3 + CO2 NH4OCONH2
NH4OCONH2 CO(NH2)2 + H2O
• Nitric acid is made via a series of reactions. The figure below demonstrates its commercial manufacture:
Catalyst Chamber: platinum-rhodium
NH3 4NH3 + 5O2<->4NO + 6H2O HEAT EXCHANGER
Gases mixed, preheated & filtered
Temp: 850oC
O2 from air
Press: 8 atm
Further oxidation & absorption
2NO(g) + O2(g) 2NO2(g)
HNO3
4NO2(g) + O2(g) + 2H2O(l) 4HNO3(aq)
• Nitric acid is widely used in:
- the manufacture of explosives eg. Trinitrotoluene (TNT) and nitroglycerine which is a contituent of dynamite.
- The manufacture of fertilizers, particularly ammonium nitrate
- For the formation of a thin protective oxide layer on the surface of certain metals
• Nitric acid is a common laboratory reagent used as an acid or as an oxidizing agent when more concentrated.
• As an acid, nitric acid reacts with carbonates and hydrogencarbonates to liberate carbon dioxide and forms the
corresponding metal nitrate plus water. Can we finish the equations? YES WE CAN!
ZnCO3(s) + 2HNO3(aq)
NaHCO3(s) + HNO3(aq)
• Nitric acid also reacts with bases to form a salt and water. Let’s make those equations happy huh?!
Ca(OH)2 + 2HNO3(aq)
CuO(s) + 2HNO3(aq)
• Very dilute nitric acid reacts with magnesium metal to liberate hydrogen gas. Nitric acid does not normally
liberate hydrogen when they react with metals.
Mgo(s) + 2HNO3(aq) Mg(NO3)2(aq) + H2(g)
• Metals below magnesium in the periodic table react with dilute nitric acid to produce oxides of nitrogen.
• In redox reactions dilute nitric acid as an oxidizing agent is reduced to oxides of nitrogen:
2Fe2+ + 2HNO3 2Fe3+ + 2NO2 + H2O
H2S(g) + 2HNO3(aq) S(s) + 2NO2(g) + 2H2O(l)
• Or, as a more concentrated acid:
H2S(g) + 8HNO3(aq) H2SO4(aq) + 8NO2(g) + 4H2O(l)
• Nitrogen dioxide, NO2, is an acid anhydride that is very poisonous. It can be detected via its pungent smell,
reddish brown color and by the fact that it turns blue litmus red. What does this change in color of litmus paper
indicate here?
• Nitrates can be tested by heating it as it liberates nitrogen dioxide and oxygen. However, Group I nitrates liberate
only oxygen upon strong heating:
2Ca(NO3)2(s) 2CaO(s) + 4NO2(g) + O2(g)
2NaNO3(s) 2NaNO2(s) + O2(g)
• Nitrates that are mixed with concentrated sulfuric acid and finely divided copper produce brown fumes of nitrogen
dioxide when heated.
• How does O2, CO2 and N2 play an important role within the biochemical cycles such as the oxygen carbon
dioxide cycle and nitrogen cycle?
• The Oxygen Carbon Dioxide Cycle is summarized below using photosynthesis and respiration processes
The Atmosphere
Removal of O2 Release of CO2 and H2O Removal of CO2 O2 released
CO2 used by green plants
O2 used by living
(in the presence of solar
organisms for release
energy) to produce carbohydrates
of energy in respiration
in photosynthesis
• The actual process of photosynthesis is:
6CO2 + 6H2O C6H12O6 + 6O2
• The actual process for respiration is:
C6H12O6 + 6O2 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy
• The Nitrogen Cycle is summarized below:
N2 in the air
Nitrogen fixing bacteria
Loss during decay
Fertilizers via Haber process
Absorbed through
the roots
Nitrogen in decaying bacteria
Nitrates and ammonium salts in soil Nitrogen in plant proteins
remains (manure, compost, etc.)
death
Death or excretion eaten
Nitrogen in animal proteins
• Animals and most plants cannot utilize nitrogen directly so it must first be fixed by combining itself with oxygen
and hydrogen before it is taken up by plants that would later be consumed by humans.
• Nitrogen is converted via atmospheric fixation, industrial fixation and biological fixation so that it may be used
by plants and animals alike.
• Atmospheric fixation is achieved via lightning whose discharges are able to provide sufficient energy for
nitrogen and oxygen to be able to combine to form nitrogen monoxide:
N2(g) + O2(g) 2NO(g)
2NO(g) + O2(g) 2NO2(g)
2NO2(g) + H2O(l) HNO2(aq) + HNO3(aq)
• The HNO3 produced in the final equation forms nitrates on reacting with soil materials.
• Industrial fixation involves the direct synthesis of ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen into ammonium salts
and urea which are used as nitrogen sources for plants.
• Biological fixation involves specialized microorganisms that convert nitrogen into compounds which plants are
able to use. Examples include the root nodules of leguminous plants. Can you give me an example of such a
plant?
