Oxygen gas can be prepared in the school laboratory by the catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide or by the electrolysis of acidified water. However, for large-scale use, oxygen gas is not usually produced by a chemical reaction but is extracted from the other gases in air. (i) Give one use for oxygen other than as a respiratory gas or to aid breathing. (ii) Describe the stages of the industrial separation of oxygen from air. (15) (iii) Identify the major co-product of this industrial process. (iv) Give a use for the co-product. (v) Explain why the co-product is chemically inert.

Leaving Cert Chemistry OPTION: Industrial Chemistry: Oxygen gas can be prepared in th

Oxygen gas can be prepared in the school laboratory by the catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide or by the electrolysis of acidified water - Leaving Cert Chemistry - Question A - 2020

Question A

Oxygen gas can be prepared in the school laboratory by the catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide or by the electrolysis of acidified water. However, for large... show full transcript

Worked Solution & Example Answer:Oxygen gas can be prepared in the school laboratory by the catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide or by the electrolysis of acidified water - Leaving Cert Chemistry - Question A - 2020

Step 1

Give one use for oxygen other than as a respiratory gas or to aid breathing.

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Answer

Oxygen is used in steel-making as a fuel oxidant.

Step 2

Describe the stages of the industrial separation of oxygen from air.

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Answer

Filtration: Remove non-gaseous impurities, such as dust and water vapor.
Compression: Use a compressor to cool and expand the air quickly to liquefy it.
Fractional Distillation: In a fractionating column, liquid air is vaporized, heated, and warmed up to separate components.
Separation of Nitrogen and Oxygen: At around -196°C, nitrogen (N₂) gas is at the top of the column while oxygen (O₂) settles at a higher boiling point around -183°C.

Step 3

Identify the major co-product of this industrial process.

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Answer

The major co-product is nitrogen (N₂).

Step 4

Give a use for the co-product.

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Answer

Nitrogen is used for packaging food to prevent oxidation and to prevent crushing of delicate items.

Step 5

Explain why the co-product is chemically inert.

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Answer

Nitrogen is chemically inert due to its very strong (high energy) triple bond (N≡N), making it non-polar, with a high degree of symmetry and no dipole moment, which results in no unpaired electrons.

Oxygen gas can be prepared in the school laboratory by the catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide or by the electrolysis of acidified water - Leaving Cert Chemistry - Question A - 2020

Worked Solution & Example Answer:Oxygen gas can be prepared in the school laboratory by the catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide or by the electrolysis of acidified water - Leaving Cert Chemistry - Question A - 2020

Give one use for oxygen other than as a respiratory gas or to aid breathing.

Describe the stages of the industrial separation of oxygen from air.

Identify the major co-product of this industrial process.

Give a use for the co-product.

Explain why the co-product is chemically inert.

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