Air

Q1. Write briefly on Composition of Atmosphere

Ans. The atmosphere is a layer of gases, which protects from the harmful rays
of the sun. It regulates the temperature and makes life possible on the earth. All
living beings on this earth depend on the atmosphere for their survival.
The atmosphere is a mixture of many discrete gases. These gases are present in varying
quantities, each with its own physical properties.
The main constituents of the atmosphere are nitrogen and oxygen.
It also includes other gases like carbon dioxide, argon, helium, ozone, hydrogen, water vapour
and other components. Besides, the atmosphere also has suspended dust particles.
Nitrogen and oxygen are the two gases that make up the bulk of the atmosphere.
Q2. Brief note on Nitrogen (N2)
Ans. Nitrogen is an essential constituent of all living organisms. Plants and
animals need nitrogen to survive, but cannot directly breathe it in. Nitrogen-fixing
bacteria take nitrogen from the air and convert it into water-soluble compounds.
Plants get the nitrogen they need from the bacteria present in the soil or root nodules. These
bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into nitrogen compounds, which can be readily absorbed
by plants. This process is called nitrogen fixation.
Animals acquire nitrogen either from plants or from other animals.
Q3. Brief note on Oxygen (O2)
Ans. Oxygen is the second most plentiful gas in the air. The oxygen content in
air remains constant due to the constant exchange of the gas through the processes
of photosynthesis and respiration.
The balance of oxygen the air gets disturbed mainly due to deforestation.
Q4. Brief note on Carbon dioxide (CO2)
Ans. Carbon dioxide is another important gas. The CO2 content in air remains
constant due to photosynthesis and respiration. Plants use carbon dioxide exhaled
by humans and animals in the process of photosynthesis.
Q5. What is Air pollution
Ans. It is caused when the presence of pollutants in the air harm both living and
non-living things and also produce harmful environmental effects.
Q6. What is Pollutants
Substances that cause harmful changes in the air are called pollutants. Air pollution is
caused due to the presence of pollutants in the air.
Q7. How is Air pollution caused
Ans. It is caused by burning fossil fuels, like coal and petroleum,
in industries, power plants and vehicles, and by burning of firewood and dung
cakes. Pollutants are also released into the air by natural events like a dust
storm, forest fire or volcanic eruption.
Q8. What are different types of air pollutants
Ans. Automobile emissions produce high levels of carbon monoxide, carbon
dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and smoke. Respiratory problems are a result of this
type of pollution.Incomplete burning of fossil fuels, like petrol and diesel, results
in the production of colorless, odorless and toxic carbon monoxide gas.
Q9. What is Smog
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Ans. Smog is a mix in the air of smoke and chemicals with fog. The chemical
components of smog can include ozone, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen
dioxide and carbon monoxide.
Smog can trigger breathing difficulties like asthma and coughing.

Pollutants like sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide are released in large
quantities by petroleum refineries. These emissions can cause respiratory
problems and also permanent lung damage.
Q10. What is CFCs
Ans. CFCs or chlorofluorocarbons are synthetic products that contain carbon,
chlorine and fluorine. They were formerly used as a refrigerant and as
a propellant in aerosol or air sprays.
CFCs contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer that protects us from
the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun.

Q11. What is Green house effect

Ans. The effect in which the suns heat does not escape into space after reaching
earth is called greenhouse effect. There are gases in the atmosphere that trap the
sun’s heat and are known as greenhouse gases. Water vapor, carbon dioxide,
nitrous oxide and methane are some of the major greenhouse gases.

When the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere increases, they trap more
heat from the sun and also from the earth’s surface. As a result, the atmosphere
becomes warmer. This is called global warming.
Q12. What are the Consequences of Global warming
Ans. Due to global warming Glaciers and polar ice caps has started which has
resulted in a rise in the global sea level. Due to global warming change in rain
pattern takes place. Global warming brings in various deadly diseases like
dengue, malaria and yellow fever to man kind. As it provides bacteria and
viruses environment favorable for their growth.
Q13. What are the Measures to check global warming
Ans. Minimize use of fossil fuels such as wood, coal, petrol and LPG.
etc.Planting more trees as they release oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide gas in
the atmosphere.Minimize the use of automobiles. Minimize the use of personal
vehicles by using public transport systems.For the generation of electricity use
renewable resources like wind and water in the place of fossil fuels.Stop the use
of plastics. Instead of plastics use recyclable materials.
Q14. What are the Steps to prevent air pollution
Ans. Use of fuels like CNG and unleaded
petrol in automobiles.Switching to alternative fuels, like solar energy,
hydropower and wind energy.Planting trees.Travelling to school on a bicycle or
on public transport or car pooling.Avoiding the burning of
leaves, trash and vegetable matter.Restricting cigarette smoking.
Q15. Write the Significance of oxygen
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Ans. It is an essential constituent of carbohydrates, proteins, fats and nucleic
acids. Oxygen is found in air, in combined form as carbon dioxide, and in the
earth’s crust as carbonates, sulphates and nitrates. Plants and animals use
atmospheric oxygen during respiration and release the same
during photosynthesis. Fossil fuels require oxygen for combustion.
The ozone layer is present in stratosphere, one of the layers of the atmosphere.
Each molecule of ozone is made up of three oxygen atoms. The ozone layer
prevents harmful radiations from reaching the earth’s surface, where they might
damage life forms.
Q16. Describe the Preparation of oxygen
Ans. By heating mercuric oxide: On heating mercuric oxide decomposes to give
Mercury and oxygen. 2HgO → 2Hg + O2
i. By heating potassium nitrate
Salts rich in oxygen, such as nitrates, and permanganates on heating
decomposes to yields oxygen.

2KNO3 → 2KNO2 + O2
Potassium Δ Potassium Dioxygen
nitrate nitrate

2NaNO3 → 2NaNO2 + O2
Sodium Δ Sodium Dioxygen
nitrate nitrate
Q17. Explain the Laboratory synthesis of oxygen
Ans. Oxygen is made in the laboratory by using manganese dioxide and 20 %
of hydrogen peroxide solution. Take manganese dioxide in a clean conical flask.
Fix a 2 holed stopper to the conical flask.
Insert a thistle funnel through 1 hole and a delivery tube through another hole.
Connect the other end of the delivery tube to beehive shell placed in a trough of
water. Place a glass cylinder filled with water in an inverted position over the
beehive shell.
Add 20% of H2O2 through thistle funnel. Oxygen is collected by downward
displacement of water.
i. Chemical equation: 2H2O2 MnO 2 → 2H2O + O2
Q18. Write the Physical properties
Ans. Oxygen is a colorless, tasteless and odorless gas. It is slightly heavier than
air. It is slightly soluble in water .This small quantity of dissolved oxygen is just
sufficient to support marine and aquatic life. It can be liquefied under pressure to
a pale blue liquid by compressing the gas at 90 K. It can also be solidified into a
bluish white solid at 55K.
Q19. What are the Chemical properties of oxygen
Ans. Chemical properties of oxygen
i. Combustibility
It is an incombustible gas. But it is a supporter of combustion.
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ii. Action with litmus
It is neutral in character. It does not affect both red and blue litmus papers.
iii. Action with sulphur
Sulphur burn in the presence of oxygen with a brilliant blue flame and
form sulphur dioxide.S + O2 → SO2
iv. Sulphur dioxide turns moist blue litmus to red. Since, sulphur dioxide
reacts with water and form sulphurous acid.SO2 + H2O → H2SO3
v. Action with carbon
Carbon burn in the presence of oxygen to give an acidic oxide called
carbon dioxide.C+O2 → CO2Carbon dioxide turns moist blue litmus to
red. Since, Carbon dioxide reacts with water and form Carbonic acid
O2 +H2O → H2CO3 CO2 turns lime water to milky due to the formation of
calcium carbonate. Ca(OH)2 +CO2 → CaCO3 + H2O.
vi. Phosphorous burn in the presence of oxygen with dazzling white flame to
give an acidic oxide called phosphorous pentoxide.
vii. 4P + 5O2 → 2P2O5.
viii. Reaction with metals Oxygen is a very reactive element and reacts
directly with nearly all metals. It does not react directly with some metals
like gold and platinum, and some noble gases like helium, neon and
argon.Most metals burn in dioxygen and form oxides that are mostly basic
in nature.

Metal + Oxygen → Metaloxide

4M + O2 → 2M2O
4Na + O2 → 2Na2O
2Mg +O2 → 2MgO
These metallic oxides are basic in nature. They form basic oxide when
they dissolve in water.
Na2O +H2O → 2 NaOH.
MgO + H2O → Mg(OH)2
Q20. What is Rusting
Ans. If articles made of iron are left in open air for some time, they get coated
with a brown powdery substance, called rust. This process of iron changing into
rust is called rusting.Rusting of iron occurs only if iron comes in contact with
moist air.
Prevention of Rusting
Rusting can be prevented by adopting any of these methods.
• Galvanisation - It is the process of depositing a layer of zinc on iron.
• Alloy formation - Stainless steel is an alloy.
• Painting an iron surface.

Q21. What are the Uses of oxygen

Ans. Oxygen lies in its support to vital processes such as combustion and
respiration.The main importance of oxygen lies in its support to vital processes
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such as combustion and respiration.Oxygen mixed with carbon dioxide or helium
is used for artificial respiration.It is used in the manufacture of many metals.It is
used in oxy-acetylene welding and metal cutting.It is used to oxidise ammonia in
the manufacture of nitric acid.Oxygen cylinders are widely used in hospitals,
high-altitude flying and in mountaineering.Liquid oxygen is an important
constituent of the fuel used in rockets.
Q22. How is oxygen in the air balanced.
Ans. Even though large amount of oxygen is consumed by plants animals yet
the amount of oxygen in the air remains same. The oxygen content in air remains
constant due to the constant exchange of the gas through the processes of
photosynthesis and respiration.

Q23. What is Ore

Ans. Metals are available in the form of their ores.
Ore is a mineral which contains high percentage of metal from which a metal can
be extracted most economically
Q24. What is Alloy
Ans. An alloy is a homogeneous mixture of solid solution of two or more
metals or metals with non-metals.Duralumin is a light and tensile alloy of
aluminium. Duralumin is used in the making of air craft frames, pressure
cookers.
Magnalium is an alloy of aluminium and magnesium. Magnalium is used in
the making of balances because of its high structural strength and resistance to
corrosion. It is also used in the making of optical
instruments like cameras and microscopes due to its light weight and resistant to
corrosion
Q25. Write a brief note on Carbon dioxide
Ans. It occurs in free state in the atmosphere, and accounts for 0.03 to 0.04 %
of its total volume. It is also found in mines and caves in the form of minerals,
such as limestone, magnesite and dolomite.
Carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere during respiration by living
organisms, combustion offuels, and fermentation.
Q26. What are the Physical properties of caebon Dioxide?
Ans. Colourless and odourless gas with a sour taste.Slightly soluble in
water.Heavier than air.Solidifies at room temperature and 70 atmospheres
pressure.Solid CO2 is called Dry ice
Q27. What are Chemical properties of Carbon Dioxide
Ans. CO2 Reacts with water to form carbonic acid.
CO2 + H2O → H2CO3

CO2 Reacts with sodium hydroxide to form sodium carbonate. Excess carbon
dioxide produces sodium bicarbonate.
CO2 + 2NaOH → Na2CO3 + H2O
Na2CO3 + H2O + CO2 → 2NaHCO3
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CO2 Reacts with calcium hydroxide to form calcium carbonate and water.
Ca(OH)2 + CO2 → CaCO3 + H2O

CO2 Reacts with metals to form metallic oxides.

2Mg + CO2 → 2MgO + C

CO2 Reacts with non-metals to form carbon monoxide.

C + CO2 → 2CO