Question

Which of the following statement explains why oxygen can be separated from nitrogen by the fractional distillation of liquid air?

• A. Oxygen is denser than nitrogen
• B. Oxygen is more reactive than nitrogen
• C. Both oxygen and nitrogen have different boiling points
• D. Both oxygen and nitrogen are in different groups in the Periodic Table

Answer 1

The correct option is C

Both oxygen and nitrogen have different boiling points

Explanation for the correct options:

(C) Both oxygen and nitrogen have different boiling points

• The fractional distillation method makes use of the various boiling points of the main components of air.
• The temperature at which a gas transitions from a liquid to a gas is known as the significant boiling point of the gas.
• The temperature drops until it approaches the boiling point of the next compound as the liquid compound lowers to the bottom of a shared vessel.
• Because the boiling temperatures of the two elements are different, fractional distillation of liquid air can be used to separate oxygen from nitrogen.

Explanation for the incorrect options:

(A) Oxygen is denser than nitrogen

• The fractional distillation method can separate oxygen from nitrogen, and it does not rely on density.

(B) Oxygen is more reactive than nitrogen

• Because of their distinct boiling temperatures, oxygen and nitrogen are separated during the fractional distillation process rather than because of their reactivity.

(D) Both oxygen and nitrogen are in different groups in the Periodic Table

• The fractional distillation process is unaffected by the placement of elements in the various periodic table groups.

Hence, option (C) is correct., due to the fact that oxygen and nitrogen have distinct boiling temperatures, oxygen and nitrogen can be separated from each other by fractional distilling liquid air.