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How is oxygen gas produced industrially? - Leaving Cert Chemistry - Question A - 2004
Question A
How is oxygen gas produced industrially?
Worked Solution & Example Answer:How is oxygen gas produced industrially? - Leaving Cert Chemistry - Question A - 2004
Step 1
Liquefaction / Fractional Distillation / Using Diffusion of Air
Answer
Oxygen gas can be produced by the liquefaction of air. This involves cooling air until it becomes a liquid and then using fractional distillation to separate its components. During this process, the different gases in the air are separated based on their boiling points, allowing for the collection of oxygen gas as it vaporizes at a higher temperature than other components, such as nitrogen.
Step 2
Electrolysis of Acidified Water
Answer
Another method of producing oxygen gas is through the electrolysis of acidified water. In this process, an electric current is passed through water that has been mixed with an acid (such as sulfuric acid). This causes the water to decompose into hydrogen and oxygen gas. The oxygen is collected at the anode, while hydrogen is collected at the cathode.