OXYGEN

Oxygen was discovered in Scheele in 1772 and was given the name OXYGEN
by Antoine Lavoisier in 1775, meaning“acid former, because he wrongly thought
that oxygen is present in all acid. Oxygen belongs to group VI of the periodic table.
It has electronic configuration 1S2 2S2 2P4.
Oxygen is the most abundant element in the earth crust being present in the
combined state in rocks, sands and trioxosilicate(iv). It is the second most abundant
element in the atmosphere where it makes up approximately 21% by volume of air.
About 89% by mass of water is composed of oxygen.
ALLOTROPES OF OXYGEN
Allotropes are the different forms of an element, in the same physical state.
There are two allotropes of oxygen.
(1) Molecular Oxygen
(2) Ozone
This phenomenon is called allotropy. Other elements that exhibits allotropy
are sulphur, carbon and phosphorous.

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF OXYGEN

(1) Oxygen gas is a colourless, Odourless and Tasteless gas
(2) It has a boiling point of -1830c or 90K and solidifies at -2250c
(3) It is slightly denser than air
(4) It is sparingly soluble in water. The little dissolved form of oxygen is very
important to aquatic life.
(5) It is diatomic at room temperature
(6) It is neutral to litmus
TEST FOR OXYGEN
Insert a glowing splinter into the gas jar containing the unknown gas. If
the splinter is rekindled, the gas is oxygen.
N2O also show the same test but while
a) Oxygen is odourless, N2O has a pleasant smell (physical property)
b) Oxygen is only slightly soluble in water, N 2O is fairly soluble in water (Physical
Property)
c) Oxygen produce reddish brown fumes with NO, N 2O does not react with NO.
(Chemical Property)
d) Oxygen does not produce any residual gas with heated Copper, N 2O produces a
residual nitrogen gas. (Chemical Property)

LABORATORY PREPARATION OF OXYGEN

There are two general and common methods for the laboratory preparation
of oxygen
1. Thermal decomposition of potassium trioxochlorate(v)
2. The Catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide

1. Thermal decomposition Potassium trioxochlorate(v) KClO3(s).

The equation for the reaction is given as shown below.
2KClO MnO2 (s)KCl + 3O
3(s) (s) 2(g)
→

2. Decomposition of hydrogen peroxide: In this case, no heat is applied

to the decomposing substance, H2O2, but immediately, the MnO2 touches
H2O2, effervescence occurs releasing oxygen gas as seen in the equation
below.
2H O MnO2 (s)2H O + O
2 (l) 2 (l) 2(g)
→
Therefore, hydrogen peroxide is usually stored in brown amber bottle to
prevent its decomposition by light.

If oxygen gas is required dried, it is passed through drying agents like Conc.
H2SO4, or anhydrous Calciucm chloride and the collected over mercury.
Note: Oxygen gas cannot be collected by the displacement of air
because its density is nearly the same as that of air.
INDUSTRIAL PREPARATION
Oxygen is produced commercially;

1. From liquefied air: Oxygen is obtained industrially from atmospheric air

by liquefaction, followed by fractional distillation of the liquefied air.
 Atmospheric air is purified by the removal of carbon(IV) oxide, water
vapour and dust.
 The purified air is compressed at a pressure of about 200 atmospheres,
heated and then cooled. It is then allowed to expand suddenly, for
further cooling.
 By successive heating and cooling, the pure air becomes liquefied at
about -200℃ [73k]. This process is called LIQUEFACTION.
 The liquefied air is then fractionated by boiling. Nitrogen, being more

volatile, boils first at - 196℃ [77k], leaving oxygen, which is about
99.5% pure. This separation technique is called FRACTIONAL
DISTILLATION.
Therefore, two major process involved in the preparation of oxygen from air
are;
a) Liquefaction of air and;
b) Fractional Distillation of liquefied air

2. By electrolysis: Oxygen is commercially produced by the electrolysis of

acidified water

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF OXYGEN

Oxygen, being strongly electronegative, is chemically very reactive. Oxygen

has six valence electrons. Therefore, it forms a complete octet by either
accepting two electrons from a donor to form (O 2-) an ionic compound, or by
sharing two electrons with other atoms to form a covalent substance.
Oxygen combines readily with all elements (except noble gases, some
halogens and inert metals) to form their corresponding oxides.

(1) WITH METALS: It reacts with most metals to form basic oxides which are
ionic in nature
e.g. 4Na(s) + O2(g)2Na2O(s)
4K(s) + O2(g)2K2O(s)
Alkali metals burns in excess oxygen to form their respective peroxides
2Na(s) + O2(g) Na2O2(s)
(Excess)

Inert metals such as silver, Gold and Platinum do not react with oxygen.

(2) WITH NON-METALS: Oxygen reacts with most non-metals to form

acidic oxides which are covalent in nature. E.g.
S(s) + O2(g) SO2(g)
C + O2(g)  CO2(g)
N2(g) + O2(g) NO2(g)
These oxides of non-metal readily dissolve in water to form acids. Thus they
are referred to as acid anhydrides. e.g.
SO2(g) + H2O(g) H2SO3(aq)
CO2(g) + H2O(g) H2CO3(aq)
2NO2(g) + H2O(l) HNO2(aq) + HNO3(aq)

(3) WITH HYDROCARBONS: Oxygen reacts with hydrocarbons fuels to form

CO2 and H2O.
e.g. CH4(g) + 2O2(g) CO2(g) + 2H2O(g)
C4H8(g)+ 6O2(g)4CO2(g) + 4H2O(g)
(4) WITH COMPOUNDS: Oxygen reacts with some compounds to form two oxides

2H2S(g) + 3O2(g)⟶ 2H2O(l) + 2SO2(g)

CS2(g) + 2O2(g) SO2(g) + 2CO(g)

(5) WITH AMMONIA: Oxygen reacts with ammonia to form water and nitrogen.
4NH3(g) + O2(g)2N2(g) + 6H2O(g)
It forms oxides of nitrogen only in the presence of a catalyst.
(6) Rusting and corrosion: Oxygen combines with iron in the presence of
water to form hydrated iron(iii)oxide called rust.
4Fe(S) + 3O2(g) + 2xH2O(l) 2Fe2O3. xH2O
(7) Formation of Ozone: When a silent electric discharge is passed through
oxygen, gaseous ozone, O3, (trioxygen) is formed. The reaction is

⇌
reversible:
3O2(g) 2O3(g)

USES OF OXYGEN
1. It is used in oxy-hydrogen flame for welding and cutting of metals. A mixture of
hydrogen and oxygen can burn to produce a temperature of 2,500 ℃
2. In oxy-ethyne [oxy-acetylene] flame for the welding, cutting and fabrication of
metals and steel.
3. In respiration by plants and animals.
4. As breathing aids in hospitals, high altitude flying and sea- diving.
5. In steel production by Linz-Donawitz [L-D] process for oxidizing impurities such
as carbon, sulphur and phosphorus.
6. Liquefied oxygen is as a rocket fuel

OXIDES
Oxides are binary compounds of oxygen. There are five major types of oxides
(1) Basic Oxides
(2) Acidic Oxides
(3) Neutral Oxides
(4) Amphoteric Oxides
(Helpful Mnemonics: B.A.N.A)

(1)Basic oxides: These are oxides of metals that react with acids to form salts.
Examples are K2O, MgO, CaO, Li2O, CaO, CuO, Na2O etc. Basic oxides which are
soluble in water are called alkalis.
Na2O(g) + H2O(l)❑→
2NaOH(aq)
Na2O(s) + 2HCl(aq)❑
→
2NaCl(aq) + H2O(l)
(2)Acidic oxides: These are oxides of non-metals which dissolve in water to form
acidic solution and react with base to form salt and water only. Examples of
acidic oxides are P4O10, NO2, SO2, SO3, SiO2 etc. They are called acid anhydride.
E.g.
CO2(g) + H2O(l)❑
→
H2CO3(aq)

CO2 +NaOH❑
→
Na2CO3 + H2O

SO3 + 2KOH ❑
→
K2SO4+ H2O

SiO2 is insoluble in water but react with bases to form salt. Hence, it is regarded as
acidic oxides. NO2 is called a mixed anhydride because it forms two types of acid in
aqueous solution and reacts with bases to form two different types of salt.
2NO2(g) + H2O(l) HNO2(aq) + HNO3(aq)
2NO2(g) + K2O(l) KNO2(aq) + KNO3(aq)
(3)Neutral oxides: These are oxides which are neither acidic nor basic in
character but are neutral to litmus. Examples of neutral oxides are H 2O, CO, N2O,
NO.
(4)Amphoteric oxides: These are oxides that exhibit both acidic and basic
properties. They react with both acid and base to form salt. Examples of
amphoteric oxides areZnO, Al2O3, PbO, SnO. Etc
With acids, they behave as bases and form normal salts.
ZnO(s) + H2SO4(aq)❑→
ZnSO4 + H2O(l)
 With bases, they behave as acids and form complex salts.
ZnO + 2NaOH + H2O❑ →
Na2Zn(OH)4

Peroxides: These are higher oxides in which oxygen exhibit an oxidation state of -1
due the presence of O-O single bond. Peroxides produce hydrogen peroxide on
reaction with a dilute acid. Example of peroxides are, Barium peroxide BaO 2,
Calcium peroxide CaO2, Sodium peroxide Na2O2, Hydrogen peroxide H2O2 which is
the most common.

HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

Hydrogen peroxide was discovered by J.L. Thenard in 1818. It is an important

compound used in pollution control in treatment of domestic and industrial
effluents. It is also referred to as oxygenated water.

Preparation

Hydrogen peroxide is prepared using the following method by the action of dilute
acids on barium peroxide

BaO2. 8H2O(s) + H2SO4(aq)  BaSO4(s) + H2O2(aq) + 8H2O(l)

Storage of Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is stored in the presence of traces of alcohol, acetanilide or

sodium pyrophosphate which slows down its rate of decomposition and in the dark
brown or amber bottle to prevent its decomposition by light.

Properties of H2O2

1. Hydrogen peroxide is weakly acidic in nature. Pure H 2O2 turns blue litmus red
2. It is a very strong oxidizing agent both in basic and acidic medium
3. It exhibit a permanent bleaching action on fabrics and dyes due to oxidation
by atomic oxygen.

OZONE

Ozone is an allotrope of oxygen with three atoms

Physical Properties of Ozone

1. Ozone has a sharp or shocking smell

2. It is a pale blue gas
3. It is poisonous in high concentration

Chemical Properties of Ozone

1. It decomposes to oxygen on heating
3O2(g)heat 2O3(g)
2. It is a very strong oxidizing agent. It is a stronger than oxygen and hydrogen
peroxide in oxidizing ability.
PbS(s) + 4O3(g) PbSO4(s) + 4O2(g)

Preparation of Ozone
Ozone is formed when dry oxygen is passed through a silent electric discharge. The
formation of ozone from oxygen is an endothermic reaction, in which energy is
supplied in form of an electrical discharge, heat, or ultraviolet light:
3O2(g)electric discharge 2O3(g) ΔH° = +287 kJ
The sharp odor associated with sparking electrical equipment is due, in part, to
ozone.
The Ozone Layer
Ozone forms naturally in the upper atmosphere by the action of ultraviolet light
from the sun on the oxygen there.Most atmospheric ozone occurs in the
stratosphere, a layer of the atmosphere extending from about 10 to 50kilometers
above the earth’s surface. The ozone layer is mainly found in the lower portion of
the stratosphere, from approximately 20 to 30 kilometres (12 to 19 miles) above
Earth, although its thickness varies seasonally and geographically. This ozone acts
as a barrier to harmful ultraviolet light from the sun by absorbingit via a chemical
decomposition reaction:
O3(g) ultraviolet lightO(g) + O2(g)
The reactive oxygen atoms recombine with molecular oxygen to complete the
ozone cycle. The presence ofstratospheric ozone decreases the frequency of skin
cancer and other damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation.

Ozone Layer Depletion andTheGreenhouse Effect

It has been ascertained through observation from satellites, that the ozone layer
has been depleted more over the Antartic and there is now the creation of ‘ozone
hole’.It hasbeen clearly demonstrated that chlorofluorocarbons, CFCs (Freons),
which were present asaerosol propellants in spray cans and as refrigerants, caused
depletion of ozone in the stratosphere. This occurredbecause ultraviolet light also
causes CFCs to decompose, producing atomic chlorine.
CF2Cl2 CF2Cl + Cl
Then, the chlorine atoms formed react with ozone to form chlorine oxide resulting in
a net removal of ozone molecules and hence, it depletion.
Cl + O3ClO + O2

This reduction in the level of ozone in the ozone layer has caused worldwide
changes in climate and sea levels resulting from an increase in the warming of the
atmosphere due to the release of greenhouse gases. Green house gases e.g. CO 2,
water vapour, chlorofluorocarbons, methane e.t.c aretransaparent to short wave
radiation, but absorb radiation at certain long wavelengths.

Thus, the gases form a blanket, trapping out-going heat, much as the glass or
plastic does in a green house. This phenomenon is known as the “greenhouse
effect”.This greenhouse leads to a general increase in the temperature of the
earth’s atmosphere. This general increase in the temperature of the earth
atmosphere due the action of greenhouse gases is reffered to as “global
warming”.Global Warming causesthe melting of polar ice, rising of sea levels and
changes in vegetation. This has led to the problems of desertification and flooding
in many places.
There is a worldwide effort to reduce the amount of CFCs used commercially,
andthe ozone hole is already beginning to decrease in size as atmospheric
concentrations of atomic chlorine decrease. While ozone in the stratosphere helps
to protect us, ozone in the troposphere is a problem. This ozone is a toxic
component of photochemical smog.

USES OF OZONE
1. It is used as a bleaching agent for oils, waxes, fabrics, and starch
2. It is used as a disinfectant in water purification and sewage purification
plants.
3. It is used for purification of air and ventilation of room.
4. It is used as oxidizing agent in chemical reactions.