THE ATMOSPHERE

Ms Nicole V. Farrugia
COMPOSITION OF THE ATMOSPHERE

 Nitrogen [N2] = Main

Component followed
by Oxygen [O2]

 N2 is very stable due to

triple bond
 TESTING FOR GASES IN AIR
Carbon Dioxide

 Carbon dioxide turns colourless

limewater (calcium hydroxide(aq)),
milky white

Limewater turning
 White calcium carbonate forms milky in the presence of
CO2
(insoluble solid)
 TESTING FOR GASES IN AIR
Water Vapour

 Water vapour turns anhydrous* white

copper(II) sulfate powder, blue:

Anhydrous copper(II)
CuSO4(s) + H2O(l)  CuSO4.5H2O(s) sulfate turning blue
when in contact with
water

*Anhydrous Contains no water of crystallisation

 TESTING FOR GASES IN AIR
Water Vapour

 Water vapour also turns blue

cobalt(II) chloride paper, pink

Blue cobalt(II) chloride

paper turning pink due to
contact with water
 TESTING FOR GASES IN AIR
Oxygen

 Oxygen relights a glowing splint.

Oxygen relighting a
glowing splint
% COMPOSITION
OF OXYGEN IN AIR
 % COMPOSITION OF OXYGEN IN AIR

Why isn’t all the available air used up in this experiment?

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Why is it that only 21cm3 of air were used up?

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 % COMPOSITION OF OXYGEN IN AIR

Which gaseous component of air is being used up in this experiment?

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Write a balanced chemical equation for the reaction taking place:

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POLLUTANT GASES IN THE ATMOSPHERE
As a result of
Anthropogenic Actions

There are 2 kinds of pollutant gases:

 Those that are present in excessively high concentrations

(but are original components of air e.g. CO2);

 Those that are completely foreign and should not be present

(e.g. chlorofluorocarbons).
 POLLUTANT GASES IN THE ATMOSPHERE

Pollutant Source Effect Remedy

 Complete  Alternative
Excess Carbon combustion of  Greenhouse fuels e.g.
Dioxide fossil fuels; effect hydrogen
 Respiration (explosive)
 Incomplete
Carbon  Efficient
combustion of  Toxic
monoxide engines
fossil fuels
 POLLUTANT GASES IN THE ATMOSPHERE

Catalytic Converter
Pollutant Source Effect Remedy
Is a device that is fitted into cars
to prevent the release of toxic
 Combustion at  NO2 is toxic;  Catalytic
gases into the atmosphere.
Nitrogen converters*
Monoxide very high  Cause (convert
& temperatures respiratory nitrogen oxides
Nitrogen Dioxide (in vehicles; in problems; into harmless
power stations)  Cause acid rain nitrogen)
 Combustion of  Causes acid  Desulfarisation
fossil fuels rain;
Sulfur Dioxide (in power Causes lung (removal of
 sulfur) of fuels
stations) disease
 Photochemical Reaction
POLLUTANT GASES IN THE ATMOSPHERE
A chemical reaction that occurs
by virtue of the energy
Pollutant Source Effect Remedy
provided by UV rays.
 Animal  Photochemical*
material; reactions with
Hydrocarbons  Engines that
(e.g. soot in car  Vehicles; these use up less
exhaust)  Industry; hydrocarbons fuel
 Power produce toxic
stations compounds
 Replace
Deplete the ozone stable with
 Aerosol 
Chlorofluorocarbons sprays; layer and causes compounds
Refrigerants excess UV that work
 exposure identically
 WHAT IS THE MAIN SOURCE OF CO 2 ?

Complete Combustion of Fuels

 This occurs when there is plenty oxygen available when burning fuels
(containing carbon).

 Natural Gas (fuel) burns as follows:

CH4(g) + 2O2(g)  CO2(g) + 2H2O(l)

 WHAT IS THE MAIN SOURCE OF CO?

Incomplete Combustion of Fuels

 This occurs when there is very little oxygen available when burning fuels
(containing carbon).

 Natural Gas undergoes incomplete combustion as follows:

CH4(g) + 1.5O2(g)  CO(g) + 2H2O(l)

 THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT
Global
CAUSES
Warming
 Global warming is a result of gaseous
‘heat reflectors’ in the atmosphere.

 The heat reflectors (GG) reflect any

unabsorbed heat energy (infrared
radiation) back to Earth.

 Heat becomes trapped causing an

The Greenhouse Effect
increase in temperature.
 WHAT CAUSES ACID RAIN?

Gases like:
SO2; NO2; CO2

SO2(g) + H2O(l)  H2SO3(aq)

CO2(g) + H2O(l)  H2CO3(aq)

2NO2(g) + H2O(l)  HNO3(aq) + HNO2(aq)

 OZONE DEPLETION

 The ozone (O3) layer protects the Earth from harmful

UV radiation.

 chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) undergo a photochemical

reaction with the ozone layer and deplete it.

 Source of CFCs: Coolants in refrigerators or Air

conditioning systems, and Fire Extinguishers.
 PHOTOCHEMICAL SMOG
A dense cloud of toxic fumes
Photochemical smog
in Malta
Photochemical smog as
 It forms when UV rays break down: seen from aerial view
(Poor visibility)
nitrogen oxides (in the atmosphere) and
soot (in car exhaust)
Smog contains:

 These photochemical reactions form Toxic  NOxs

ozone at ground-level  SOxs

 O3
 Smoke particles
  All new cars contain a catalytic converter.
CATALYTIC
CONVERTER
 It reduces the number of toxic and
pollutant gases and particles released
into the atmosphere.

In fuel

CO(g) + O2(g)  CO2(g)

NO(g) + 2CO2(g)  N2(g) + CO2(g)

 OXYGEN

Properties
 Oxygen is colourless, odourless
and tasteless gas.
Uses
 It consists of diatomic a. For respiration in living things;

molecules: O2. b. To weld or cut steel and metals;

 Very Reactive (Causes c. As a rocket propellant;

Combustion & Rusting) d. In the production of steel.

LABORATORY PREPARATION OF OXYGEN

The rate of decomposition of H2O2

is increased via the addition of a
catalyst (MnO2)

FORMING OXIDES
METALS + O2
Combustion / Burning
2Mg(s) + O2(g)  2MgO(s) BASIC!
2Ca(s) + O2(g)  2CaO(s)
2Cu(s) + O2(g)  2CuO(s)
Oxidation = Gain of [O]
Reduction = Loss of [O]
 Group 1 metallic oxides are
very soluble in water.
 Group 2 metallic oxides are
only slightly soluble in

4Na(s) + O2(g)  2Na2O(s) water.

 Some metallic oxides are amphoteric e.g. Al2O3 and ZnO so they can
neutralise both acids and alkalis (Large/multiple valency metals).
 FORMING OXIDES
METALS + O2

 Group 1 metal oxides dissolve in water to form alkaline

solutions:

K2O(s) + H2O(l)  2KOH(aq)

Na2O(s) + H2O(l)  2NaOH(aq)

CaO(s) + H2O(l)  Ca(OH)2(aq)

 FORMING OXIDES
NON-METALS + O2

 Most non-metallic oxides dissolve in

Combustion / Burning
water to give acidic solutions:
C(s) + O2(g)  CO2(s)

S(s) + O2(g)  SO2(s) CO2(g) + H2O(l)  H2CO3(aq)

4P(s) + 5O2(g)  P4O10(s) SO2(g) + H2O(l)  H2SO3(aq)

SO3(g) + H2O(l)  H2SO4(aq)

P4O10(s) + 6H2O(l)  4H3PO4(aq)

 FORMING OXIDES
IRON + O2

Conditions for Rusting:

Rusty iron anchor
 Water chain inside a boat

 Oxygen Brown hydrated

iron(III) oxide
 (Salt ↑ Rate of rusting)

2Fe(s) + O2(g) + H2O(l)  Fe2O3.H2O(s)

 FORMING OXIDES
IRON + O2

Rusting can be prevented by:

o Galvanising (Coating with a metal e.g. zinc);
o Oiling/Greasing;
o Plastic coating
o Painting.
 EXERCISE PG 10-11
IRON + O2

The 3 test tubes are left to stand for 2 weeks:

1. The oil prevents air from entering the water;

2. Boiling water removes air from it;
3. Calcium chloride is a drying agent (absorbs moisture from air).
 EXERCISE PG 10-11
IRON + O2

a. What are the conditions needed for rusting?

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b. Which nail/s will rust? Give a reason for your answer.

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 EXERCISE PG 10-11
IRON + O2

c. A 4th test tube was set up containing boiled salty water only with a layer
of oil on top. What will happen to the nail in this test tube? Give a reason
for your answer.

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 EXERCISE PG 10-11
IRON + O2

d. Name two gases that although present in air, are not involved in rusting.

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e. Explain how the mixture in test tube B (oil, water and iron) can be
separated.

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 EXERCISE PG 10-11
IRON + O2

f. Is rust (hydrated iron(III) oxide) an acidic, basic, neutral or amphoteric

oxide? Explain.

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 INDUSTRIAL SEPARATION OF AIR
Fractional Distillation

 Air is the major source of gases like: oxygen, nitrogen

Large-scale
and noble gases. fractionating
column
 In order to separate these components, air needs to be
pressurised to form a liquid – liquid air.

 Fractional distillation is then carried out.

 INDUSTRIAL SEPARATION OF AIR
Fractional Distillation

The steps involved are the following:

 Air is filtered for the removal of dust;
 Air is cooled to -80 °C for the removal of carbon
dioxide and water, as solids;
 Air is liquified at a high pressure and low temperature;
 Liquid air is then fractionally distilled.
 NOBLE GASES
Uses

Noble gases are used:

 In advertising signs;
 In lasers; An electrically
powered neon
 As cooling agents; sign
 To provide an inert atmosphere at very high
temperatures;
 In balloons e.g. helium.
 OZONE

 Made up of O3 molecules.

 In our atmosphere, the ozone layer helps prevent harmful UV

rays from reaching the Earth.

 Ozone is an allotrope of oxygen.

A molecule of Ozone