Gases Flashcards
What percentage by volume is the air nitrogen?
78%
What percentage by volume is the air oxygen?
21%
What percentage by volume is the air Argon?
0.93%
What percentage by volume is the air carbon dioxide?
0.04%
What percentage by volume is the air inert gases, water vapour and pollutants?
0.03%
Describe the method which you could use to measure the percentage of oxygen in the air with copper
- assemble the equipment so that two gas syringes, one containing 100ml of air, the other none, facing one another are both connected to a tube containing copper powder by capillary tubes.
- make sure the area is sealed so that no air escapes and the test is accurate
- heat the tube containing the copper powder with a blue/ roaring flame, from different angles to ensure all copper is heated (uniform heating)
- push a syringe on one side so that the air is pushed through the tube, into the opposite syringe. Repeat this step to ensure all the oxygen can react
- remove the Bunsen burner and leave the apparatus to cool. You will start to see the copper change in colour
- you started with 100ml of air in one of the syringes, but the volume of air will have decreased during the reaction
- you can calculate the volume of oxygen in the air by subtracting the remaining mass of air from 100ml
- the answer should be around 20 or 20% of the air (by volume)
MY CALCULATION:
100-79=21
What is the equation for copper reacting with oxygen?
Copper + oxygen ➡️ copper oxide
Why should the Bunsen burner be moved along the tube containing the copper?
To ensure that all copper particles are heated so that the test is more fair and accurate
Why should the copper be in excess?
So that there is enough copper for all of the oxygen to react with and ensure that all the oxygen is able to react
Why does the plunger go outwards initially when heating started?
- because as the gas is heated, its volume increases so the plunger is pushed outwards
- any excess water, air etc is evaporated off the copper and will join the air
Why should the apparatus be allowed to cool fully before the final reading on the gas syringe is taken?
The gaps between particles expand when heated, so the results would be falsely high. When the apparatus is cooled, the volume decreases and is more accurate.
What happens in an oxidisation reaction?
Oxidation is the loss of electrons from a substance. It is also the gain of oxygen by a substance. For example, magnesium is oxidised when it reacts with oxygen to form magnesium oxide:
magnesium + oxygen → magnesium oxide
2Mg + O2 → 2MgO
What happens in a reduction reaction?
Reduction is the gain of electrons by a substance. It is also the loss of oxygen from a substance. For example, copper(II) oxide can be reduced to form copper when it reacts with hydrogen:
copper(II) oxide + hydrogen → copper + water
CuO + H2 → Cu + H2O
What is a redox reaction?
A reaction where oxidation and reduction take place at the same time.
What are the oxidising agent and the reducing agent?
- the oxidising agent is the chemical that causes oxidation
- the reducing agent causes the other chemical to be reduced
What substance is formed when metals react with oxygen?
A metal oxide
What is the observation of sulphur burning in air?
Starts to turn red and melts
What is the observation of carbon burning in air?
Red/yellow flame is emitted
What is the observation of magnesium burning in air?
Bright white flame is emitted
What is the observation of sulphur burning in oxygen?
Blue flame is emitted
What is the observation of carbon burning in oxygen?
Bright red/yellow flame is emitted
What is the observation of magnesium burning in oxygen?
Extremely bright white flame is emitted
What is the appearance of the product of burning sulphur?
red liquid
Colourless gas
What is the appearance of the product of burning carbon (e.g metal carbonates)?
Colourless gas (carbon dioxide)
What is the appearance of the product of burning magnesium?
White, powdery ash
What does the colour of universal indicator go after adding water to the product of sulphur and shaking?
Red (acidic)
What does the colour of universal indicator go after adding water to the product of carbon and shaking?
Yellow/green (neutral)
What does the colour of universal indicator go after adding water to the product of magnesium and shaking?
Greeny blue
What is the equation for the combustion of sulphur in oxygen?
Sulphur + oxygen ➡️ sulphur dioxide
What is the equation for the combustion of carbon in oxygen?
Carbon + oxygen ➡️ carbon dioxide
What is the equation for the combustion of magnesium in oxygen?
Magnesium + oxygen ➡️ magnesium oxide
Are non metal oxides acidic or alkali?
Acid
Are metal oxides acidic or alkali?
Alkali
Describe how to test the volume of oxygen in the air using iron wool.
- First soak some iron wool in acetic acid (The acid will catalyse the reaction). Then push the wall into a measuring cylinder and insert the measuring cylinder into a beaker of water.
- Record of the starting position of the water using the scale on the measuring cylinder - this is the starting volume of air.
- Over time the level of the water in the measuring cylinder will rise.
- This is because the iron reacts with oxygen in the air to make iron oxide. The water rises to fill the space the oxygen took up.
- Leave the measuring cylinder for around a week or until the water level stops changing.
- Record the finishing position of the water - this is the final volume of air.
You can then calculate the percentage (by volume) of oxygen in the air using this formula.
Start volume - final volume
———————————— X 100
Start volume
The answer should be around 20%
How does Carbon Dioxide get into the environment?
By burning fossil fuels
What is the problem of Carbon Dioxide to the environment?
Acts as an insulating layer, causing global warming
What is a possible solution to the problems of Carbon Dioxide into the environment?
Reduce burning fossil fuels and plant more trees
How do nitrogen oxides get into the environment?
Are created when the temperature is high enough for nitrogen and oxygen in the air to react.
This often happens in car engines and power plants
What is the problem of oxides of nitrogen to the environment
When they mix with sulphur dioxide and water vapour in clouds, acid rain happens.
Acid rain causes lakes to become acidic, causing plants and animals to die
What is a possible solution to reduce the problems of the oxides of nitrogen affecting the environment?
Use less crude oil for fuel and reduce car usage
How does sulphur oxide get into the environment?
It is formed mainly when crude oil is burnt for fuel
What is the problem of sulphur dioxide for the environment?
Causes acid rain
What is a possible solution to reduce the impacts of the problems for the environment by sulphur dioxide?
Use less crude oil for fuel
What is thermal decomposition?
It is a type of reaction in which a compound breaks down to form two or more substances when it is heated.
Describe the method to test for carbon dioxide in metal carbonates
- place a small amount of one of the solid carbonates in a dry test tube
- place about 2cm3 of lime water in another test tube. Heat the solid, gently at first, then more strongly
- test any gas with the limewater, the limewater will go cloudy when in contact with carbon dioxide
What is the appearance of calcium carbonate?
White
What is the appearance of copper carbonate?
Green
What is the appearance of magnesium carbonate?
White
What is the appearance of zinc carbonate?
White
What is the appearance of the residue of calcium carbonate?
White solid
What is the appearance of the residue of copper carbonate?
Black solid
What is the appearance of the residue of magnesium carbonate?
White solid
What is the appearance of the residue of zinc carbonate?
Yellow solid
What is the equation for the thermal decomposition of metal carbonates?
Metal carbonate ➡️ metal oxide + carbon dioxide
What is combustion?
Burning an element in oxygen
Are elements created in thermal decomposition?
In decomposition reactions, elements are not created or taken away, just rearranged
What is the equation for when a metal and acid react?
Metal ➕acid ➡️metal salt ➕hydrogen
What is the equation for the reaction of magnesium and hydrochloride acid?
Magnesium ➕hydrochloride acid ➡️magnesium chloride ➕hydrogen
What is the equation for the combustion of hydrogen?
Hydrogen ➕oxygen ➡️ water
What is the physical test for water?
Measure the freezing and boiling point of the liquid, if it is pure water, it’s boiling point will be 100degreesC and the freezing point will be 0degreeesC
What are the two chemical tests for pure water?
- Add a few drops of the liquid to cobalt chloride paper, which will turn blue to pink if water is present
- add the liquid to anhydrous copper sulphate which will turn from white to blue when in contact with water
What is the equation for ahydrous copper sulphate with water?
Ahydrous copper sulphate ➕ water ➡️ hydrated copper sulphate
What is an easy test for oxygen?
If oxygen is present, it will relight a glowing splint
How many neutrons does a hydrogen atom have?
0
What percentage by volume is the air other gases
0.07%
What is the observation of hydrogen burning in oxygen?
Explosive reaction