Topic 3 Oxygen

Occurrence and percentage of oxygen in air

Oxygen has two allotropes: oxygen, O2 and ozone, O3
Oxygen constitutes 21 % of air by volume and 23 % by mass

Physical properties of oxygen

1. Colorless odorless gas
2. Has almost the same density as air
3. Slightly soluble in water

Collection of oxygen
1. Over water (Oxygen, 1.429 g/L, has almost the same density as air , 1.28 g/L, and it is only
slightly soluble in water)
2. In a gas syringe.

Test for oxygen

Oxygen gas relights a glowing splint.

Laboratory preparation of oxygen

Oxygen is prepared in the laboratory by the catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide using
manganese (IV) oxide, MnO2, as a catalyst.
manganese (IV)oxide

Hydrogen peroxide

MnO2

2 H2O2 (aq)

water + oxygen

2 H2O (l) + O2 (g)

Industrial preparation of oxygen

Oxygen is obtained industrially by the fractional distillation of liquid air.
Air from the atmosphere is compressed until it liquefies. The liquid air is then passed through a
fractionating tower where it evaporates and is distilled.
Nitrogen, with a lower boiling point, is first evolved, leaving liquid oxygen as a residue at the
bottom of the tower.

Uses of oxygen
1. As an aid in breathing
2. In the oxyacetylene flame which can be used for welding and for cutting thick steel plates.
3. In the L-D process for making steel

Reaction of oxygen with different elements

1. Reaction with magnesium
Magnesium burns in an atmosphere of oxygen.
A bright white flame is observed and a white powder of magnesium oxide, MgO, is formed
Magnesium + Oxygen magnesium oxide
2 Mg (s) + O2 (g) 2 MgO(s)
2. Reaction with carbon
Carbon burns in oxygen forming carbon dioxide gas (colorless odorless gas)
Carbon + Oxygen
carbon dioxide
C (s) + O2 (g) CO2 (s)
If the gas is dissolved in water, blue litmus paper turns red due to the formation of carbonic
acid, H2CO3
carbon dioxide + water carbonic acid
CO2 (g) + H2O (l) H2CO3 (aq)
2

3. Reaction with sulfur

Sulfur burns in oxygen with a blue flame producing sulfur dioxide gas (colorless gas with a
choking smell).
Sulfur + Oxygen
sulfur dioxide
S (s) + O2 (g) SO2 (g)
If the gas is dissolved in water, blue litmus paper turns red due to the formation of sulfurous
acid, H2SO3
sulfur dioxide + water sulfurous acid
SO2 (g) + H2O (l) H2SO3 (aq)

Classification of oxides
1. Acidic oxides
They are non-metal oxides, which when dissolved in water produce an acidic solution.
The acidic solution turns blue litmus paper red.
They react with bases but not with acids
Examples:
Carbon dioxide
Sulfur dioxide
Sulfur trioxide

CO2 (g) + H2O (l) H2CO3 (aq)

SO2 (g) + H2O (l) H2SO3 (aq)
SO3 (g) + H2O (l) H2SO4 (aq)

carbonic acid
sulfurous acid
sulfuric acid

2. Neutral oxides
They are non metal oxides that dissolve in water to form a neutral solution
The resulting solution does not affect litmus paper.
They do not react with acids or bases.
Examples:
Carbon monoxide,
CO
Nitrogen monoxide, NO

Water,
H2O
Nitrous oxide, N2O

3. Basic oxides
They are metal oxides, which when dissolved in water produce a basic solution.
The basic solution turns red litmus blue.
They react with acids but not with bases.
Examples:
Sodium oxide
Magnesium oxide,
Calcium oxide,

Na2O (s) + H2O (l) NaOH (aq)

MgO
CaO

4. Amphoteric oxides
They are metal oxides that dissolve in water to form a solution that has both acidic and basic
properties.
They can react with both acids and bases.
Examples
Aluminium oxide, Al2O3

Zinc oxide, ZnO

Lead (II) oxide, PbO