Chemical and Physical Properties of

Atmospheric Air and Oxygen

Contents
• Introduction

• Nature and composition of air

• Composition of air

• Psychometric properties of air

• Oxygen: introduction

• Respiratory requirements
Introduction

• Air is a matter which is inevitable in our lives.

• The earth is covered with a blanket of air called the atmosphere.

• Among the few fundamental elements, it is the most important because no life
can exist for a pulse of time without it.

• It is needed by every single organism for their survival.

 Nature and Composition of Air

• Air is a mixture of gases which makes up the Earth’s atmosphere.

• These gases are colorless and odorless and hence, we can’t see them but only feel them.

• The moisture content varies from place to place

• With regard to chemical properties, air is colorless, odorless, and tasteless and supports
combustion and life.

• The fluid substance of chief concern in the mine environment is air.

Composition of Air

o The pie chart to the left

identifies the most common
gases in the atmosphere, which
can include 78% Nitrogen, 21%
Oxygen, Trace Gases 1%.

o Note that all other gases consist

of trace gases (water vapor is one
of these).
 The following table of general air constants
is useful in ventilation and air conditioning
work (Bolz and Tuve, 1973)
Molecular weight m
Specific gravity s
Gas constant R
Specific weight w at standard conditions (at sea
level, 29.92 in. Hg and 70°F)
Standard barometric pressure pb (at sea level)
Specific heat at constant pressure cp
Specific heat at constant volume cv
Ratio of specific heats at constant pressure and
volume -y (for any diatomic gas)
28.97
1
53.35 ftlb/lb mass°R (287.045 J/kgK)
0.0750 lb/ft3 (1.2014 kg/m3 )
29.92 in. Hg or 14.696 psi (760 mm Hg or 101.33
kPa)
0.2403 Btu/lb°F (1.006 kJ/kg°C)
0.1714 Btu/lb°F (0.717 kJ/kg°C)
1.402
 Psychrometric Properties
• The science of the evaluation of the psychrometric properties (heat and
humidity) of air under given conditions and during different temperature
humidity control processes is termed psychrometry.

• It concerns the thermodynamics of air-water-vapor mixtures. Because

normal air is a mixture of dry air and water vapor, both of which behave as
nearly perfect gases.
 Oxygen: Introduction

Of all the gases that are discussed here, oxygen is by far the most important.

The human respiratory system requires oxygen in varying amounts to maintain

life.

The quantity of oxygen required is a function of physical activity. That is, the
more active the individual, the higher the respiratory rate and the larger the
volume of oxygen consumed.
• This is shown in Table in next slide.

• As indicated, the oxygen inhaled (21% by volume of the air inhaled) is

much greater than the oxygen consumed.

• When one breathes normal air, the air that is exhaled contains
approximately 16% 02 , 79% N2, and 5% C02.

• Standard regulations require that all active workings in coal mines be

ventilated by a current of air containing not less than 19.5% oxygen
and not more than 0.5% carbon dioxide.
 Respiratory Requirements

Type of Respiratory rate Air Air Inhaled O2 Respiratory

Activity (Breaths/min) Inhaled/Respiration (inch3/min Consumed Quotient
inch3/min ) (cfm)
At Rest 12-18 23-43 300-800 0.01 0.75
Moderate 30 90-120 2800-3600 0.07 0.9
Very 40 150 6000 0.10 1
Vigorous
• Using the information presented in Table, the air quantity necessary
to maintain the quality of the air can be calculated.

• The last column in Table , the respiratory quotient, gives the ratio of
carbon dioxide expelled to the oxygen consumed.

• In other words, a miner working at a moderate rate (respiratory

quotient = 0.9) would consume 0.07 cfm (3.3 x 10~5 m3 /s) of oxygen
and expel 0.063 cfm (2.97 x 10~5 m3 /s) carbon dioxide.
• When determining the amount of air that must be supplied to satisfy
only the respiratory needs of the underground worker, it is necessary
to consider both the oxygen required and the carbon dioxide
produced, since carbon dioxide is a contaminant.