Unit 2 The atmosphere

2.1 Classification of matter

Matter is anything that has ＿＿＿＿ and occupies ＿＿＿＿.

Matter can be classified into pure substances and mixtures:

single substance that has nothing else mixed with it

consists of two or more pure substances that have not been chemically
joined together

Pure substances can be classified into elements and compounds :

pure substance that cannot be broken down into anything simpler by
chemical method
pure substance that consists of two or more elements chemically joined
together

Compound Elements in the compound

Water Hydrogen & oxygen
Carbon dioxide Carbon & oxygen
Sodium chloride Sodium and chlorine

Unit 2 The atmosphere P.1

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1. Classify the following substances into element, compound or mixture. Explain your answer to each substance.
(a) Distilled water

(b) Mineral water

(c) Brass

(d) Ethanol

2. Based on the properties of the substances shown below, classify them into element, compound and mixture.
Explain your answer briefly.

Substance Appearance Observations

A Colourless liquid After evaporation, some white crystals are left in the beaker.
B Colourless liquid It is decomposed into two gases by electricity.
C White solid It chars (carbon formed) on heating.

3. Pure white solid X is subjected to heating. A silvery solid is formed and a colourless gas is evolved.
(a) Decide whether the solid X is a compound or a mixture. Explain your answer.

(b) State whether the above change is a physical change or a chemical change. Explain your answer.

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Unit 2 The atmosphere P.2
2.2 Composition of air

Air is a ＿＿＿＿＿＿ of gases making up the atmosphere.

The approximate composition of air (by volume):

Composition Percentage by volume (%)
Nitrogen 78
Oxygen 21
Noble gases 0.9
Carbon dioxide 0.03-0.04
Water vapour Variable

2.3 Separation of oxygen and nitrogen

Fractional distillation of liquid air is used to obtain oxygen and nitrogen from the air. This method
makes use the ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿ between oxygen and nitrogen.

Steps of fractional distillation of liquid air:

1. ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿
Air is purified to remove dusts, carbon dioxide and water vapour.
2. ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿
Purified air is cooled to about -200℃. The air changes to liquid at this temperature.
3. ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿
The liquid air is warmed up slowly at the fractionating column.
＿＿＿＿＿＿ (b.p.=-196℃) boils and is separated from the mixture first.
＿＿＿＿＿＿ (b.p.=-183℃) boils and is separated from the mixture at a higher temperature.
Unit 2 The atmosphere P.3
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1. Fractional distillation of liquid air consists of three stages. The first stage is purification, the second stage is
liquefaction of air and the third stage is fractional distillation of liquid air. In the third stage, two products are
obtained, one is obtained at the bottom, the other one is obtained at the top.
(a) What is the equipment used in the third stage?

(b) Which product is obtained at the top? Which product is obtained at the bottom?

(c) Explain the principle of this stage.

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2.4 Test for oxygen

Oxygen relights a glowing splint.

Note: Oxygen is not tested by burning splint. Burning splint is used to test ＿＿＿＿.

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1. State three physical properties of oxygen gas.

2. State and explain briefly, what will happen when a glowing splint is put into a tube of oxygen.

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Unit 2 The atmosphere P.4