--%>
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 : Question on Raoults law Give me answer

    Give me answer of this question. For a dilute solution, Raoult's law states that: (a) The lowering of vapour pressure is equal to mole fraction of solute (b) The relative lowering of vapour pressure is equal to mole fraction of solute (c) The relative lowering of v

    		•
  • Q : Ddd 4) The addition of S2- ion to

    4) The addition of S2- ion to Fe(OH)2(s). Explain why the addition of S2- ion to Cr(OH)3(s) does not result in the formation of Cr2S3(s).

    		•
  • Q : Neutralisation of phosphorous acids

    Provide solution of this question. To neutralise completely 20 mL of 0.1 M aqueous solution of phosphorous acid (H3 PO3) the volume of 0.1 M aqueous KOH solution required is: (a) 40 mL (b) 20 mL (c) 10 mL (d) 60 mL

    		•
  • Q : What is covalent radii? Explain its

    Average covalent radii can be assigned on the basis of molecular structures. The accumulation of structural data by spectroscopic studies and both electron and x-ray diffraction studies allows one to investigate the possibili

    		•
  • Q : Explain Vapour Pressure Composition A

    A pressure composition diagram for a liquid vapor system can be used to show the composition of the liquid and equilibrium vapor.Vapor equilibrium data are useful in the study of distillations. It is of value to have diagrams showing not only the vapor pre

    		•
  • Q : Problem on making solution Select the

    Select the right answer of the question. The weight of H2C2O42H2O required to prepare 500ml of 0.2N solution is : (a) 126g (b) 12.6g (c) 63g (d) 6.3g

    		•
  • Q : Finding strength of HCL solution Can

    Can someone please help me in getting through this problem. 1.0 gm of pure calcium carbonate was found to require 50 ml of dilute  HCL for complete reaction. The strength of the HCL  solution is given by: (a) 4 N  (b) 2 N  (c) 0.4 N  (d) 0.2 N

    		•
  • Q : Application of colligative properties

    Choose the right answer from following. Colligative properties are used for the determination of: (a) Molar Mass (b) Equivalent weight (c) Arrangement of molecules (d) Melting point and boiling point (d) Both (a) and (b)  

    		•
  • Q : Donnan Membrane Equilibria The electric

    The electric charge acquired by macromolecules affects the equilibrium set up across a semipermeable membrane.Laboratory studies of macromolecule solutions as in osmotic pressure and dialysis studies confine the macromolecules to one compartment while allo

    		•
  • Q : Vapour pressure of a liquid Help me to

    Help me to go through this problem. The vapour pressure of a liquid depends on: (a) Temperature but not on volume (b) Volume but not on temperature (c) Temperature and volume (d) Neither on temperature nor on volume

    		•