Air

Chapter 14
 Learning Outcomes
• describe the volume composition of gases present in
dry air;
• name some common atmospheric pollutants, e.g.
carbon monoxide; methane; nitrogen oxides, ozone,
sulphur dioxide, and unburnt hydrocarbons;
• state the sources of these pollutants: carbon
monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and sulphur dioxide;
• discuss some of the effects of these pollutants on
health and on the environment:
– the poisonous nature of carbon monoxide;
– the role of nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide in the
formation of ‘acid rain;’ and
– its effects on respiration and buildings.
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Air Quality
 clean air

polluted
air

Polluted air is
caused by
Pollutants.
 Air Quality
• Polluted air is air that looks bad or smells bad.
• In Singapore, the quality of the air is measured by
the Pollutant Standard Index (PSI).
index PSI
effects
value descriptor
0-50 good none
51-100 moderate none
101-200 unhealthy reduce vigorous outdoor activity
201-300 v. unhealthy avoid vigorous outdoor activity
301-400 hazardous avoid unnecessary outdoor activity
>400 hazardous avoid all outdoor activity
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 The Atmosphere
• The layer of air around the earth is called its
atmosphere.
• It is about 8km thick.
• Without air, there will be no life.
• The atmosphere contains a mixture of gases and
water vapour.

humidity N2
O2
CO2
Noble gases
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Gases in the Atmosphere
Percentage
Gas
composition
Nitrogen (N2) 79%

Oxygen (O2) 20%

Carbon dioxide (CO2) 0.03%

Noble gases (argon, helium, neon) 1%

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 Test for Oxygen
• Oxygen is a very important gas in combustion.
• Oxygen gas can be made by decomposing
hydrogen peroxide.
– The process can be sped up by using manganese
(IV) oxide.

hydrogen peroxide → water + oxygen

2H2O2(aq) → 2H2O(l) + O2(g)

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 Test for Oxygen
• How to test for oxygen gas?
– Procedure: Use a glowing splint and place the it in
the gas.
– Observation: The splint will relight and burn
brightly in oxygen gas.

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 Combustion
• Many substances react with oxygen, known as
combustion.
• The reaction is exothermic –
– Gives out heat energy
• If flames are given out during combustion, it is
called burning.
• The products of combustion are oxides.

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 E.g. Combustion of Carbon
• Carbon burns in air to form carbon dioxide.

carbon + oxygen → carbon dioxide

C(s) + O2(g) → CO2(g)
• How to test for carbon dioxide?
– Procedure: pass the gas through limewater.
– Observation: a white precipitate is formed.

White powder

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 Combustion of Elements
appearance of name and formula
element observation
oxide product of oxide
solid burns with colourless gas, carbon dioxide,
carbon
bright red glow no smell CO2
explosion and
hydrogen colourless liquid water, H2O
flash of light
burns with bright
iron black solid iron oxide, Fe3O4
flame
burns with very magnesium oxide,
magnesium white solid
bright white light MgO
burns with blue colourless gas, sulphur dioxide,
sulphur
flame strong smell SO2
 Combustion of
Hydrocarbons
• Fuels burn in oxygen.
– E.g.: petrol and diesel
• They contain hydrocarbons.

Compounds consisting of
elements carbon and
hydrogen
• Two types of combustion, depending on the
amount of oxygen available:
– Complete combustion
– Incomplete combustion

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 Complete Combustion
• Occurs when there is plenty of air (oxygen)
present.
• The carbon in hydrocarbons forms carbon dioxide,
while the hydrogen forms water.

• E.g.: methane, CH4

methane + oxygen (excess) → carbon dioxide + water

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 Incomplete Combustion
• Occurs when there is insufficient oxygen present.
• The carbon is only able to produce carbon
monoxide, or is left unburnt.
• E.g.: methane with insufficient oxygen

methane + insufficient oxygen  carbon monoxide + water

• E.g.: methane with very little oxygen – soot is

produced.

methane + very little oxygen  soot + water

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 Combustion in a Bunsen
Burner
• Both incomplete and complete combustion can
occur in a Bunsen burner.
• The Bunsen burner can control the amount of air
that is supplied.

Air hole
(can be opened
or closed)

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 Combustion in a Bunsen
Burner
Closed – Open –
Air hole
insufficient air plenty of air

Type of combustion Incomplete Complete

Products of Carbon monoxide, Carbon dioxide,

combustion soot (carbon) water
Yellow (due to hot,
Colour of flame Pale blue
glowing soot)

Heat of flame Not so hot Very hot

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Combustion in Gas Cookers
• What is the colour of the flame coming from gas
cookers? blue
• The flame must be clean to prevent the food and
pots from being covered with soot.
• The gas must burn completely.
• During cooking, the cooker is supplied with air.

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 Combustion in the Air
• When carbon compounds burn in air, combustion
is usually incomplete.
• E.g.: A candle
– As the candle burns, it uses oxygen.
– The oxygen in the area around the candle is used
up, and thus there is insufficient oxygen.
Incomplete combustion occurs.
– Soot is produced.

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 What is Air Pollution?
• The presence of substances in the atmosphere
that are harmful to living things and to the
environment.
• Substances that pollute the air are air pollutants.
• Sources of air pollutants:
– Volcanoes
– Forest fires
– Biological processes (e.g. digestion in animals,
decay of dead matter)
– Human activities (e.g. burning of fuels in motor
vehicles and factories)

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 Main Air Pollutants
6 main air pollutants:
• Sulphur dioxide
• Nitrogen oxides
– Nitrogen monoxide
– Nitrogen dioxide
• Carbon monoxide
• Methane
• Unburnt hydrocarbons
• Ozone

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 Sulphur Dioxide
• Coal and petroleum are burnt in large amounts in
power stations to generate electricity.
• Both fuels contain sulphur as an impurity, which
when burnt will form sulphur dioxide.
• Diesel fuel used in vehicles also contains a little
sulphur.

When these fuels are burnt…

sulphur + oxygen → sulphur dioxide

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 Sulphur Dioxide
Harmful effects…
• Irritation of the eyes
• Causes breathing problems
• Enters leaves and affects growth of plants
• Main cause of acid rain

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 Nitrogen Oxides
• At high temperatures, nitrogen and oxygen in the
air combine to form nitrogen monoxide:

• Nitrogen monoxide combines with more oxygen to

form nitrogen dioxide.

• Both oxides are simply known as NOx.

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 Nitrogen Oxides
• Nitrogen oxides are naturally formed in lightning
and forest fires.
– Important source of nitrogen for growing plants.
• Most NOx production is from vehicle engines.
Other sources are power stations, factories and
incinerators.
• Harmful effects…
– Irritate and damage the lungs
– Cause of acid rain
– React with sunlight and other pollutants to form
ozone.

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 Carbon Monoxide
• Colourless, odourless gas.
• Poisonous:
– Reacts with haemoglobin in the blood
– Prevents blood from absorbing oxygen
– Causes headaches, breathing difficulties, heart
damage and death.
• Very dangerous – there is no warning of its
presence.

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 Carbon Monoxide
Sources:
• Natural source: forest fires
• Human sources:
– Incomplete combustion of fuel in motor engines
– Fires with poor ventilations

Harmful effects…
• Causes breathing problems
• Reduces ability of the blood to carry oxygen
• Can cause death at low concentrations

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Acid Rain
 Acid Rain
• Acid rain is any rainfall that has a pH less than 5.
– Normal rainwater is pH 5.6 (slightly acidic)
• Harmful effects:
– Makes soils more acidic, affecting growth of plants
– Corrodes buildings and objects made of limestone
or cement which contain calcium carbonate
– Attacks metals (corrodes galvanized sheets)
– Damages trees
– Fish cannot survive in acidic water.

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 Acid Rain and the Taj Mahal
Damage from acid rain mars some of the world’s finest cultural
monuments. Emissions reductions, however, have helped slow the rate
of damage in North America and Europe. India’s Taj Mahal has not fared
as well. The mausoleum built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his
beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal is losing its white luster and turning a sickly
pale shade. Scientists blame pollution from local foundries and a nearby
oil refinery.
 Acid Rain
Form from 2 air pollutants:
• Sulphur dioxide reacts with oxygen and water vapour
to form sulphuric acid.

• Nitrogen dioxide reacts with oxygen and water vapour

to form nitric acid.

• Both acids dissolve in rainwater, making it acidic.

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 Reducing the Effects of
Acid Rain
• Burn fuels which contain little or no sulphur.
– Use natural gas instead of coal or oil in power
stations
• Reduce the amounts of pollutants emitted into
the air
– Catalytic converters in cars
– Removal of acidic gases in power stations
• Neutralize the acids in lakes and soil
– Using slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) or calcium
carbonate powder to restore lakes and streams.

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