Worked solutions to textbook questions

Chapter 20 Gases of the atmosphere

Q1.
The reaction between concentrated nitric acid and copper to form nitrogen(IV) oxide
is a redox reaction. For this reaction, identify:
a the oxidant
b the reductant
A1.
a
b

HNO3 is the oxidant because N is reduced from 5+ to 4+.

Cu is the reductant because it is oxidised from 0 to 2+.

Q2.
Write the chemical formulas of the fertilisers:
a ammonium sulfate
b ammonium nitrate
c ammonia
A2.
a
b
c

(NH4)2SO4
NH4NO3
NH3

E1.
What mass of iron is required in the ISS oxygen candle to produce 1.0 kg of
oxygen?
AE1.
1.0 kg of O2 required = 1000 g/M(O2)
= 1000 g : 32 g mol1
= 31.25 mol O2 required
From the equation, 4 mol of Fe is required for 3 mol of O2 produced.
So, n(Fe) required = (4/3) 31.25
= 41.67 mol
So, m(Fe) required = n(Fe) M(Fe)
= 41.67 55.85 g
= 2327.27 g
= 2.33 kg

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E2.
What mass of hypochlorine would react with 5.00 g of barium peroxide?
AE2.
n(BaO2) = m(BaO2)/M(BaO2)
= 5.00 g 169.33 g mol1
= 0.029 5285 mol
From the equation, 4 mol of HOCl reacts with 2 mol of BaO2.
So, n(HOCl) required = (4 2) 0.029 5285
= 0.059 057 mol
So, m(HOCl) required = n(HOCl) M(HOCl)
= 0.059 057 52.455 g
= 3.097 835 g
= 3.10 g
Q3.
a
b

Why is oxygen essential for the continuation of life on Earth?

Write a balanced chemical equation to summarise respiration.

A3.
a
b

Oxygen is required for cellular respiration, the life-sustaining process for almost
all living things.
C6H12O6(aq) + 6O2(g) 6CO2(g) + 6H2O(g) + energy

Q4.
Aluminium metal reacts rapidly with oxygen to form aluminium oxide. Write a
balanced chemical equation for this reaction.
A4.
4Al(s) + 3O2(g) 2Al2O3(s)
Q5.
Carbon dioxide forms in the reaction between magnesium carbonate and nitric acid.
Write a balanced equation for this reaction.
A5.
MgCO3(s) + 2HNO3(aq) Mg(NO3)2(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)
Q6.
a
b

Why is carbon dioxide used in some fire extinguishers?

What is dry ice?

A6.
a
b

It does not burn or support combustion, and it is denser than air.

Dry ice is solid carbon dioxide.

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Worked solutions to textbook questions

Chapter review
Q7.
a
b

What kind of bonding exists between nitrogen molecules in liquid nitrogen?

In terms of intermolecular bonding, suggest why the boiling point of nitrogen is
lower than that of oxygen.

A7.
a
b

dispersion forces
Both nitrogen and oxygen are non-polar, so dispersion forces are the only forces
operating between nitrogen molecules and oxygen molecules. Oxygen has more
electrons, so it has greater dispersion forces.

Q8.
Nitrogen fixation is a process involving atmospheric nitrogen (N2).
a Explain what nitrogen fixation is.
b Why do plants need nitrogen?
A8.
a
b

Nitrogen fixation is needed because plants cannot use atmospheric nitrogen

directly. Bacteria in the soil convert nitrogen into NO3 and NH4+ ions, which can
be obtained by plants through their roots.
Plants need a continual supply of nitrogen to produce compounds needed in the
plant cells.

Q9.
a
b

Write a balanced chemical equation for the laboratory preparation of oxygen from
hydrogen peroxide solution.
What role does manganese dioxide (MnO2) play in this reaction?

A9.
a
b

2H2O2(aq) 2H2O(l) + O2(g)

catalyst

Q10.
Explain, using a chemical equation, how ozone can be produced in the air near
electric motors.
A10.
O2(g) 2O(g)
O2(g) + O O3(g)

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Q11.
A student reads the following statements in a chemistry text:
We can collect oxygen by displacement of water because it is insoluble.
Aquatic plants and animals rely on dissolved oxygen for respiration.
How do you explain this apparent contradiction?
A11.
Oxygen can dissolve in water but only to a small extent, so aquatic plants and animals
can survive.
Q12.
Why do substances burn more vigorously in pure oxygen than they do in air?
A12.
Air has only 21% oxygen, so pure oxygen will provide a more vigorous reaction.
Q13.
a
b

Write a balanced chemical equation for the laboratory preparation of carbon

dioxide from marble chips and hydrochloric acid.
Write a balanced chemical equation for the production of carbon dioxide from the
heating of calcium carbonate.

A13.
a
b

CaCO3(s) + 2HCl(aq) CaCl2(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)

CaCO3(s) CaO(s) + CO2(g)

Q14.
Why is carbonic acid regarded as a weak acid?
A14.
Carbonic acid is a weak acid because it only partially ionises in solution. At any one
time only a small proportion of carbonic acid molecules in a solution will be ionised:
H2CO3(aq) + H2O(l)
HCO3(aq) + H3O+(aq)
Q15.
List the main ways carbon dioxide is returned to the atmosphere.
A15.
Carbon dioxide is returned to the atmosphere during respiration, as a result of the
biological decay of dead organisms, as a product of the combustion of fossil fuels, and
as a product of a number of industrial processes.

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Q16.
a
b

Write balanced chemical equations representing the complete combustion of:

i ethane (C2H6)
ii butane (C4H10)
What is the difference between complete and incomplete combustion?

A16.
a
b

i 2C2H6(g) + 7O2(g) 4CO2(g) + 6H2O(g)

ii 2C4H10(g) + 13O2(g) 8CO2(g) + 10H2O(g)
In incomplete combustion the amount of carbon is limited, so carbon and carbon
monoxide form instead of carbon dioxide.

Q17.
Each of the following reactions has carbon dioxide as one of its products. Write a
balanced chemical equation for each reaction. Remember to include the states of
reactants and products.
a Zinc carbonate is heated.
b Hydrochloric acid is added to solid sodium carbonate.
c Nitric acid is added to potassium hydrogen carbonate solution.
d Carbon monoxide reacts with oxygen.
e Methane (CH4) burns in excess air.
A17.
a
b
c
d
e

ZnCO3(s) ZnO(s) + CO2(g)

2HCl(aq) + Na2CO3(s) 2NaCl(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)
HNO3(aq) + KHCO3(aq) KNO3(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)
2CO(g) + O2 (g) 2CO2 (g)
CH4(g) + 2O2 (g) CO2 (g) + 2H2O(g)

Q18.
From your knowledge of structure and bonding, explain the following observations:
a Both oxygen and nitrogen have very low solubilities in water.
b The boiling temperatures of oxygen and nitrogen are both very low.
c Carbon dioxide does not support combustion even though its molecules contain
oxygen.
A18.
a
b

Nitrogen and oxygen molecules are non-polar, so nitrogen and oxygen will not
easily dissolve in water, which is a polar solvent.
Both nitrogen and oxygen molecules are non-polar, so dispersion forces are the
only forces operating between nitrogen molecules and oxygen molecules. These
are weak forces, so little energy is needed to overcome them. Their boiling
temperatures are therefore low.
The carbonoxygen double bond is so strong that it will not support combustion
(except for magnesium) unless at very high temperatures.

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Q19.
Air consists mostly of oxygen and nitrogen gases. It also contains a small amount of
carbon dioxide.
a Give the structural formulas of these three gases.
b Briefly explain how nitrogen and oxygen are commercially obtained from air.
c Give two uses each of oxygen and nitrogen.
d Carbon dioxide is not obtained commercially from air. Give an equation that
represents the commercial production of carbon dioxide.
A19.
a

oxygen
nitrogen
carbon dioxide

b
c

They are separated by fractional distillation of liquid air. Air is compressed and
cooled. By compressing and then expanding the air, gases with different boiling
points can be separated. Oxygen has a higher boiling point than nitrogen.
Oxygen is used in the manufacture of steel and in combustion processes, such as
in power stations, and nitrogen is used in the manufacture of fertilisers and, as
liquid nitrogen, for refrigeration.
CaCO3(s)

CaO(s) + CO2(g)

Q20.
Three identical containers of gas have had their labels removed. The removed labels
are Oxygen, Carbon dioxide and Nitrogen. Suggest some tests that could be done
in the school laboratory to identify the three gases.
A20.
Test a sample of each gas with a glowing taper. The gas that makes the taper glow is
oxygen.
Bubble a sample of each gas into a container of limewater. The gas that turns the
limewater milky is carbon dioxide. The remaining container of gas contains nitrogen.

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