Question

State the physical and chemical properties of oxygen.

Answer 1

Oxygen -

• It is a highly reactive gas.
• It forms 21% of the air.

Physical properties -

• It is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas.
• It is soluble in water and provides for the respiration of aquatic organisms.
• The liquid oxygen can be obtained by fractional distillation of the air.
• It is heavier than the air.

Chemical properties -

• Oxidation - The formation of oxides of metals and non-metals by reaction with oxygen.

Reaction with metal -

$\underset{\mathrm{Calcium}}{2\mathrm{Ca}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Oxygen}}{{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}\to \underset{\mathrm{Calcium}\mathrm{oxide}}{2\mathrm{CaO}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}$

Reaction with non-metal -

$\underset{\mathrm{Sulfur}}{\mathrm{S}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Oxygen}}{{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}\to \underset{\mathrm{Sulfur}\mathrm{dioxide}}{{\mathrm{SO}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}$

• Action on litmus paper - Oxygen gas does not change the color of red or blue litmus paper and hence, is a neutral gas.
• Combustion - The reaction of oxygen with a substance (fuel) that results in the release of heat and light is called combustion.

$\mathrm{Fuel}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)\left(\mathrm{l}\right)\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+\mathrm{Oxygen}\left(\mathrm{g}\right)\to \mathrm{Carbon}\mathrm{dioxide}\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+\mathrm{Heat}+\mathrm{Light}$