1.

2 AIR

Air is a mixture of gases which are; nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, water vapour and rare
gases. Other gases and solid particles may be present, but are not considered the normal
components of air. The atmosphere that surrounds the earth’s crust is made up of air.

PERCENTAGE COMPOSITION OF AIR

 Clean air is composed of approximately

Nitrogen …………………………………. 78%
Oxygen……………………………………. 21%
Carbon dioxide………………………… 0.03%
Rare or noble gases……………………1%
Water vapour……………………………Variable

REASONS WHY AIR IS A MIXTURE AND NOT A COMPOUND

1. The constituents of air are not chemically combined together.

2. The constituents of air can be separated by a physical method.
3. The components of air maintain their individual properties.
4. The composition of air is variable i.e. is not the same everywhere.

ACTIVE AND INACTIVE AIR

Oxygen is the active part of air, because it supports combustion (burning) and takes part in
respiration and rusting.
The inactive part of air is mainly nitrogen, because it does not support combustion and is very
uncreative

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE GASES OF AIR

Oxygen
• It is used by living things during respiration.
• It is needed for burning of fuels.
• It is used in hospitals.
• It is used by deep-sea divers, astronauts and mountaineers.

Nitrogen
• It is essential for plant growth.
• It is used to manufacture fertilizers.

Noble gases
• Used to fill filament electric bulbs and air ships
• Used in electric advertisement signs

RUSTING AND ITS PREVENTION

Rusting is the corrosion of iron in the presence of oxygen and moisture. When rusting occurs, a
reddish brown substance, called rust is formed on the surface of iron.
Rusting is a destructive process and is prevented by the following methods.

1. Painting iron objects..

2. Oiling or greasing iron objects.
3. Coating the surface of iron with zinc (galvanization).
4. Coating the surface of iron with another metal that does not rust (electroplating).
5. Mixing iron with nickel and chromium to produce stainless steel which does not rust.

AIR POLLUTION
Air or atmospheric pollution is the release of harmful substances into the air, in quantities
dangerous to man, aquatic organisms and the environment

AIR POLLUTANTS
 Pollutants Sources Problem caused
Carbon Monoxide Incomplete combustion of Reacts with haemoglobin,
CO carbon-containing substances preventing it from carrying
oxygen; death due to oxygen
starvation
Sulphur Dioxide From combustion of Irritates eyes and
SO2 fossil fuels which throat, causes respiratory
contain sulfur problems and causes acid rain
Oxides of From car exhausts Causes respiratory
Nitrogen NOx problems and forms
acid rain
Lead From burning of Causes damage to
compounds petrol as lead is added to it for brain and nerve cells
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