--%>
Assignment Help - homework help

Explain oxygen and its preparation.

Karl Scheele, the Swedish chemist, was the first to prepare oxygen by heating mercuric oxide in 1772. He recognized the gas as one of the major constituents of atmospheric air and called it 'fire air'. Joseph Priestley, the English chemist also prepared oxygen by focusing the sun rays by means of a double lens on mercuric oxide. Priestley published his results in 1774 and has been regarded as the discoverer of oxygen. However, its elemental nature was proved by Lavoisier.

Oxygen is first element of group 16 of periodic table. It may be called the head of chalcogens family. Its configuration (1s22s22p4)shows the presence of six electrons in the valence shell. It does show some characteristics which are not shown by other members of the family because of its small size. For example, it is able to form pπ-pπ bonding and exists as diatomic molecule (O2). The other elements of the group do not exist as diatomic molecule due to their inability to form pπ-pπ bonding.

Isotopes of oxygen

Oxygen has three naturally occurring isotopes which are:

1870_dioxygen.png 

Out of these three isotopes, O-18 is radioactive in nature and finds frequent use in studying the mechanisms of organic reactions and other trace techniques. Like hydrogen, oxygen also exists in the elementary form as diatomic molecule (O2) and is referred to as dioxygen. 

Terrestrial abundance and distribution

Oxygen is the most abundant element on the surface of the earth. In Free State, it occurs in air and constitutes 21% by volume of air and 23% by weight. In the combined state, it constitutes 89% by mass of water and 50% by mass of earth's solid crust. In earth's solid crust, it is mainly present as silicates, carbonates, aluminates and oxides of metals.

Almost all the dioxygen in atmosphere is believed to be the result of photosynthesis by green plants which can be represented as 

1915_dioxygen1.png 

   Related Questions in Chemistry

  • Q : Relative lowering of vapour pressure

    explain the process of relative lowering of vapour pressure

    		•
  • Q : Explain Rotational Vibrational Spectra

    The infrared spectrum of gas samples shows the effect of rotational-energy changes along with the vibrational energy change.As we know from the interpretations given to thermodynamic properties of gases, gas molecules are simultaneously rotating and vibrating. It follows that an absor

    		•
  • Q : Colligative effect Choose the right

    Choose the right answer from following. Which one of the statements written below concerning properties of solutions, explain a colligative effect: (a) Boiling point of pure water decreases by the addition of ethano (b) Vapour pressure of pure water d

    		•
  • Q : Problem on vapour pressure and mole

    Provide solution of this question. The vapour pressure of a solvent decreased by 10 mm of mercury, when a non-volatile solute was added to the solvent. The mole fraction of the solute in the solution is 0.2. What should be the mole fraction of the solvent, if decrea

    		•
  • Q : Extensive property Choose the right

    Choose the right answer from following. Which one of the following is an extensive property: (a) Molar volume (b) Molarity (c) Number of moles (d) Mole fraction

    		•
  • Q : Problem based on molarity Select the

    Select the right answer of the question. If 18 gm of glucose (C6H12O6) is present in 1000 gm of an aqueous solution of glucose, it is said to be: (a)1 molal (b)1.1 molal (c)0.5 molal (d)0.1 molal

    		•
  • Q : What is Elevation in boiling point? The

    The boiling of a liquid may be defused by the temperature at which its vapour pressure which is equal to atmospheric pressure. The effect of addition in a non-volatile solute on the boiling point shown and its solution containing non-volatile solute with tempe

    		•
  • Q : Problem on reversible and irreversible

    The second law states that  dS ≥ (dQ/T), where dS = dQ/T for a reversible process and dS > dQ/T for an irreversible process.   a. Show that since dW12 = -dW21 (dWreverse = -dWforward) for a r

    		•
  • Q : Decision about dipole moment is present

    How can you decide if there is a dipole moment or not?

    		•
  • Q : What is chemisorption or chemical

    When the forces of attraction existing between adsorbate particles and adsorbent almost of the same strength as chemical bonds, the adsorption is called chemical adsorption. This type of adsorption is also known as chemisorptions. Since forces of attraction existing b

    		•