Year 11 chemistry worksheet: Air and water

Read pages 182-189 in the textbook completely before

attempting questions, and then use these pages to
research proper answers to the following questions
Complete the following table showing the composition of dry,
unpolluted air. List the most abundant gases first.
Gas
Oxygen
Carbon dioxide
Nitrogen
Argon

Formula
O2
CO2
N2
Ar

Abundance %
21
0.04
78
0.9

The natural humidity of air varies across the globe. What is the
general range of % water in the atmosphere? Between 1% and
4%.
Name and briefly describe the process used to obtain pure
nitrogen and oxygen gases from air.
Air is cooled and compressed to form a liquid, and then the liquid is fractionally distilled
to obtain each of the different components in the air.

Name three uses for pure oxygen gas (do not include normal
breathing).
-

Oxygen gas is poisonous to bacteria that cause gangrene. Therefore, it is used to kill
them.
Oxygen is used as a step in the production of antifreeze and polyester polymers. The
polymers are then used to make plastic and fabrics.
Pure oxygen is used to ensure the complete combustion of different chemicals.

Name two uses for Nitrogen gas, and explain why it is so useful.
-

Nitrogen is used in high temperature thermometers where mercury cannot be used. This
is because mercury boils at 356 C and cannot be used in such thermometers.

Nitrogen mixed with argon is used in electric bulbs to provide an inert atmosphere. It
helps in prevention of oxidation and evaporation of the filament of the bulb, giving it a
longer life.

Name an industrial process that uses nitrogen gas as a reactant

(Hint: you should have revised this process by now!) and state the
main products.
Haber Process
This reaction is reversible.
The forward reaction (from left to right) is exothermic.
Nitrogen + hydrogen
N2(g)

3H2(g)

ammonia (+ heat).
2NH3(g) (+ heat)

The industrial conditions are

1) Temperature between 450 C and 500 C.
2) Pressure of 200 atm (200 atmospheres).
3) Use an iron catalyst.
Only about 15% of the reactants are converted into products
under these conditions.
Ammonia is cooled and liquefied at the reaction pressure,
and then removed as liquid ammonia.
The remaining mix of nitrogen and hydrogen gases (85%)
are recycled and fed in at the reactant stage.
The process operates continuously.

List the most common pollutants in the table, with their sources
and hazards.
Pollutant

Source

Hazard

Why do nitrogen oxides form in exhaust gases? Write a balanced

equation.
What is fitted to car exhausts to remove nitrogen oxides? Write
and equation to show how two toxic gases are reacted together to
produce less harmful gases.

One of these less harmful gases is still a major environmental

concern. Which gas is it, and what is the concern?
There are four main greenhouse gases. List them in the table
below.
Greenhouse gas
Carbon dioxide
Methane

Source
Burning fossil fuels in power stations
and cars.
Cows, pigs and sheep release a lot of
methane by bacterial action in their
digestive systems.
Produced by bacteria in the soil.

Nitrous oxide
CFCs

Depletion of the ozone layer which

surrounds earth.

Read pages 180-181 in the textbook completely before

attempting questions, and then use these pages to
research proper answers to the following questions
There are two chemical tests for water. Name them both, and
write equations to explain and demonstrate the colour changes.
1: Copper (II) sulfate

2:

Label the diagram showing the stages of water treatment.

Settlement tank

Aluminum
sulfate added

Chlorine

Sand filter

Why is chlorine added to the water supply?

Chlorine is a highly efficient disinfectant, and is added to public water supplies to kill
disease-causing pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses that commonly grow in water
supply reservoirs, on the walls of water mains and in storage tanks.