COMPOSITION OF AIR

Gas Amount in Amount in

air (%) air
(fraction)
Nitrogen 78.1 4/5

Oxygen 21.0 1/5

Argon 0.9

Carbon dioxide 0.03

The most abundant gas in the air is nitrogen.
The most active part of air is oxygen.
When substances burn in air, they react with
oxygen to form oxides and also react with
nitrogen to form nitrides.
Argon is the most abundant gas among the
noble gases.
Water vapour is also found in air but its
composition is very small (trace)
PERCENTAGE BY VOLUME OF OXYGEN IN AIR
Observations:
Copper changes from brown to black as
copper(II) oxide is formed.

Copper +Oxygen Copper Oxide

2Cu(s) + O2(g) ⟶ 2CuO(s)

The volume of gas reduces as the oxygen is
used up.
As the copper reacts, the Bunsen is moved along
the tube so that it is always heating fresh copper.
Eventually all the oxygen in the air is used up.
The volume stops reducing.
Measurement is done when the apparatus are
cool. This is because air expands when heated.
Calculations
Initial volume of air = 100 〖𝑐𝑚〗^3
Final volume of air = 79 〖𝑐𝑚〗^3
CALCULATIONS

1. Explain why the volume of air in the tube

decreases as heating continues.
2. Calculate the volume of oxygen used up
3. Determine the % by volume of oxygen used up.
4. The apparatus are allowed to cool before
measuring the final volume of air. Explain.
QUESTIONS
What is the colour of copper?
Explain why the plungers are pushed in a
sequence repeatedly in and out.
Explain why the Bunsen burner is moved along
the tube as the reaction continues.
Write a word equation for the reaction
Write a balanced chemical equation for the
reaction.
What is the final colour of product formed in
the tube?
Using Rusting of Iron
Iron needs oxygen and water to rust.
The percentage of oxygen in the air
required for iron to rust is determined by
the following set up:
The total volume of air in the apparatus is
measured.
Wet iron fillings is put into the conical flask.
The initial reading of the gas syringe is taken.
The set up is left for about a week.
The final reading of the gas syringe is done.
Observations
A brown solid forms on Iron.
The plunger pushes inwards.

Explanations:
Iron uses oxygen and water to form rust. Rusting will continue until there is no dampness.
All the oxygen is used up. The plunger pushes inwards to take up the space left by oxygen.
The results obtained can be as follows:
Calculations
Find the initial total volume of air inside the
flask.
Determine the total volume of air in the
apparatus at the end.
Calculate the volume of oxygen used up
Find the percentage by volume of oxygen in the
air used.
 The percentage of oxygen in the air may be less than
21%.
Reasons:
The experiment may not be left for long enough. The
iron has not had enough chance to react with all the
oxygen in the apparatus.
Not enough iron was added at the beginning. The iron
must be excess to react with all the oxygen in the air.