--%>
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 : What are isotonic and hypotonic

    The two solutions which are having equivalent osmotic pressure are called isotonic solutions. The isotonic solutions at the same temperature also have same molar concentration. If we have solutions having different osmotic pressures then the solution having different

    		•
  • Q : Electrochemistry ( electrolysis of

    1. Define Faraday's first law of electrolysis 2. define Faraday's second law of electrolysis

    		•
  • Q : Describe characteristics of halides and

    Halides characteristics

    		•
  • Q : Explain Phase Rule The relation between

    The relation between the number of phases, components and the degrees of freedom is known as the phase rule. One constituent systems: the identification of an area on a P-versus-T with one phase of a component system illustrates the two degrees of freedom that

    		•
  • Q : Problem on physical and thermodynamic

    The shells of marine organisms contain calcium carbonate CaCO3, largely in a crystalline form known as calcite. There is a second crystalline form of calcium carbonate known as aragonite. Physical and thermodynamic properties of calcite and aragonite at 298

    		•
  • Q : Molecular Symmetry Types The number of

    The number of molecular orbitals and molecular motions of each symmetry type can be deduced. Let us continue to use the C2v point group and the H2O molecule to illustrate how the procedure develop

    		•
  • Q : What are various structure based

    This classification of polymers is based upon how the monomeric units are linked together. Based on their structure, the polymers are classified as: 1. Linear polymers: these are the polymers in which monomeric units are linked together to form long straight c

    		•
  • Q : Vapour pressure of water Give me answer

    Give me answer of this question. 5cm3 of acetone is added to 100cm3 of water, the vapour pressure of water over the solution: (a) It will be equal to the vapour pressure of pure water (b) It will be less than the vapour pressure of pure water

    		•
  • Q : Statement of Henry law Determine the

    Determine the correct regarding Henry’s law: (1) The gas is in contact with the liquid must behave as an ideal gas (2) There must not be any chemical interaction among the gas and liquid (3) The pressure applied must be high (4) All of these.

    		•
  • Q : Finding Normality Can someone please

    Can someone please help me in getting through this problem. Concentrated H2SO4 has a density of 1.98 gm/ml and is 98% H2SO4 by weight. The normality is: (a) 2 N  (b) 19.8 N  (c) 39.6 N  (d) 98

    		•