: CONSTITUENTS OF AIR

Air is a mixture of gases, composed mainly of nitrogen and oxygen with small amounts of
Carbon (iv) oxide, noble gases and water vapour. The constituents of air can be separated
easily by physical methods. Nitrogen accounts for about 4/5 of the atmosphere by volume,
while oxygen occupies the remaining 1/5

Percentage composition

The chief natural constituents of air and their percentage composition by volume are as
follow:

CONSTITUENT % BY VOLUME Importance and uses

Nitrogen 78.09 Acts as important diluent of air to slow down

combustion and corrosion

Oxygen 20.95 For cellular respiration and burning

Noble (or rare gas) 0.93 Argon is used to in gas-filled electric lamps because
it helps to prevent oxidation in lamp filament.

A mixture Krypton and xenon is used in

photographer’s flash tube to take high speed
pictures

Helium is used to fill balloons

Radon is used for treating cancer

Mixture of helium, neon and argon is used in

advertisement signs.

Carbon (iv) oxide 0.03 For photosynthesis

 Water vapour Variable(0-1.2)

Other gases 0.003

PERIOD 3: PROPERTIES OF AIR

1. Water vapour in air: The presence of water vapour or moisture in the atmosphere is due
to the evaporation of water from the oceans, rivers, lakes, sea and water reservoirs. The
amount present in air varies with temperature, the prevailing weather and the position of
the place.

2. Noble gases in air: Argon is the most abundant of the bobble gases in the air, then neon.
Noble gases are generally in reactive. They are used to produce colourful light for
advertisement.

3. Carbon (iv) oxide air: The presence of carbon (iv) oxide in air can be proved by the
passage of air through aqueous solution of calcium hydroxide (lime water) or KOH. The
percentage of carbon (iv) oxide in air is balanced and maintained by the process of
respiration and photosynthesis

4. Oxygen in air: oxygen is the most active component of air. It supports life. The process of
burning a substance in air is called combustion. Its major reactions include corrosion
(rusting), respiration and combustion.

Corrosion: This is the change on metallic surface that is observed after being exposed to air
for few days. The corrosion of iron is commonly known as rusting. This can be prevented by
(a) Applying grease (b) painting exposed surface (c) coating with metal e.g. chromium

EVALUATION

1. Mention two substances that can be used to remove carbon (iv) oxide from air.

2. List 5 properties of air.

3. What is corrosion? How can it be prevented?

4. State the percentage by volume of CO2 in the atmosphere.

PERIOD 3: AIR POLLUTION

Air pollution is the released of substances into the atmosphere in quantities that are
harmful to lives.

Causes of air pollution

1. COMBUSTION OF FOSSIL FUEL SUCH AS COAL, GASOLINE AND PETROLEUM GASES.

2. RELEASE OF FREONS FROM AEROSOL CANS.

3. RELEASE OF POISONOUS GASES FROM CHEMICAL WARFARE

Air pollutants:

1. Particulate matter: these are materials which exist as micro-sized solids in the air. They
include dust, smoke, soot, asbestos, heavy metals particles etc. some of these heavy metals
are lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury. Lead particles are released to the atmosphere
from the combustion of petrol in the form of lead (ii) bromide. Exposure to lead pollution
over a long period of time is dangerous. This can cause brain damage among children. It also
cause irritability, aggressive tendencies and gastric disorder. Mercury causes poison while
cadmium causes severe gastric disorder.

2. Oxides of carbon: carbon (ii) oxide is released into the atmosphere through incomplete
combustion of fossil fuel. It causes brain damage when inhaled even in low concentration. In
high concentration, it results to death because it combines with the haemoglobin thereby
depriving the body of oxygen. Increased amount of carbon (iv) oxide in the atmosphere
leads to increased retention of infra-red rays and hence further warming of the earth-a
phenomenon known as greenhouse effect. Therefore carbon (IV) oxide is called greenhouse
gas.

3. Oxides of Sulphur and nitrogen: Sulphur (IV) oxide is derived from burning of coal, the
combustion and refining of petroleum and the smelting of mineral ores for extraction. Once
Sulphur (IV) oxide is present in air, it is oxidized by atmospheric oxygen to Sulphur (VI) oxide.
The Sulphur (VI) is washed out by rain which converts it to tetraoxosulphate (VI) acid. This is
called acid rain. The effect of inhaling the Sulphur (IV) oxide and acid rain are as follow:

(a) Sulphur (IV) oxide causes respiratory disorder.

(b). Acid rain causes death of plants.

(c). Acid rain leads to corrosion of metals, aging of fabrics, stiffening and crack in of leather,
and destruction of buildings made of limestone

Nitrogen (ii) oxide causes depletion of ozone layer, and nitrogen (iv) oxide results to acid
rain

4. Gaseous hydrocarbons and chlorofluorocarbons: some hydrocarbons in the air are the
volatile ones such methane. They have carcinogenic effect in man and animal. Methane is
also a greenhouse gas. Chlorofluorocarbons deplete the ozone layer. This exposes the earth
to ultra-violet rays which causes skin cancer, sunburns and their ailments.

EVALUATION:

1. What is air pollution?

2. State four air pollutants

3. What is global warming? Name two greenhouse gases.

PERIOD 4: FLAMES

Flames are produced when substances burn. A flame is a region where gases combine
chemically, with the production of heat and light. The type of flame produced depends on
the nature of the substance that is burning. A flame may be luminous (brightly seen and
yellow) or non – luminous (barely seen). Types of flame can be explained further using
hydrogen, candle and Bunsen flames as examples.

- Hydrogen flame: Hydrogen burns with a very faint, non- luminous flame. The
structure is simple, consisting of only regions: the unburnt gas zone and the
zone of complete combustion.
 - Candle flame: A candle burns with luminous flame four zones can be
identified in the flame.
(a) The zone of unburnt gas around the wick
(ii) The bright yellow luminous zone where there is incomplete burning of the
hydrocarbon due to insufficient air supply
(iii) The barely visible, non- luminous zone on the outside where complete of carbon
particles take place due to sufficient air supply
(iv) The blue zone at the base of the flame which also a region of complete
combustion.

- Bunsen flame: A Bunsen burner is built with an air inlet of the base of the
burner tube so that a stream of air can be supplied to the flame together
with the fuel gas.
It is important equipment in a school laboratory used for heating. The fuel
for the burner is a mixture of hydrocarbon gas (methane and butane) and
some hydrogen and carbon (II) oxide
Luminous Bunsen flame: to produce luminous Bunsen flame, the air hole at
the base of the burner tube should be closed. The flame produced is high,
bright, wavy and yellow but not hot.
Non- luminous Bunsen flame: To produce non- luminous Bunsen flame, the
air hole should be kept open. The flame is much hotter, cleaner and more
compact than the luminous Bunsen flame.
EVALUATION:

1. Define flame

2. Compare the luminous and non- luminous flame Bunsen flames.

3. Describe the structure of a candle flame and explain the formation the products obtained
during the burning.

GENERAL EVALUATION:

OBJECTIVE TEST:

1. These gases burn with blue flames except.

(a) C2H2 (b) H2 (c) CH4 (d) CO (e) SO2

1. All these are the causes of luminosity in flames except.

(a) Solid particles (b) size of material (c) solid particles and increased pressure (d) pressure
(e) solid particles and increased temperature

3. Which of these is not necessary for metallic corrosion?

(a) SO2 (b) water (c) heat (d) oxygen (e) CO2

4. The most abundant noble gas in nature is

(a) Neon (b) Argon (c) Helium (d) Krypton (e) Radon

5. When air is passed through a tube containing finely divided copper, the component of air
absorbed is (a) Nitrogen (b) Water vapour (c) noble gas (d) carbon (IV) oxide (e) oxygen

ESSAY TEST:

1. (a) List four examples of noble gases. (b) Compare the structure of luminous and the non-
luminous.
2. Give the constituents of atmospheric air, and indicate its approximate percentage
composition.

3. Define combustion. Combustion in air would be impossible in the absence of which gas?

4. Draw and label the structures of (a) hydrogen flame (b) candle flame

5. What is rusting and how can it be prevented. (b) Explain any two properties of air.

10. Revision.
11. Examination.