NITROGEN
Nitrogen occurs mainly as a free element in the air/ atmosphere, about 78% by volume of the atmosphere. It also found in the combined state in many compounds such as ammonia, urea, proteins and trioxonitrates (V) salts. it does not exhibit allotropy and is a diatomic gas
LABORATORY
PREPARATION
From
Air
It can be prepared from air by first passing air through caustic
soda to remove CO2 and then over heated copper turnings to remove and O2 [ the oxygen can equally be removed by passing the air through alkaline pyrogallol]. The nitrogen obtained is not pure and is denser than air because it contains about 1% by volume of
rare/ noble gases.
Pure nitrogen is obtained in the laboratory by any of the following method below:
1. Thermal decomposition of ammonium
dioxonitrate (III)
a. NaNO2(aq) + NH4Cl(aq) →
NH4NO2(aq) +NaCl(aq)
b. NH4NO2(aq) →2H2O(l) + N2(g)
2.
Thermal decomposition of ammonium
heptaoxodichromate (VI)
(NH4)2Cr2O7(s) → Cr2O3(s) + 4H2O(l) + N2(g)
3.
Oxidation of ammonia by hot Copper (II)
oxide
2NH3(g)+3CuO(s) → 3Cu(s) + 3H2O(g)+ N2(g)
4.
Reduction of dinitrogen (I) oxide by red-hot copper.
N2O(g)
+ Cu(s) → CuO(s) + N2(g)
INDUSTRIAL
PREPARATION
Industrially, nitrogen is obtained by fractional
distillation of liquid air. (see industrial preparation of Oxygen)
PHYSICAL
PROPERTIES
1. It is
colourless gas.
2. It is an odourless.
3. It is a tasteless
4. Pure
nitrogen is lighter than air.
5. Slightly
soluble in water
6. Melting
point -2100C and boiling point is -1960C
CHEMICAL
PROPERTIES
1.
It reacts with very electropositive
metals to form nitrides
3Mg(s) + N2(g) → Mg3N2(s)
2.
It reacts with non – metals like
hydrogen and oxygen to form ammonia and oxides respectively.
N2(g)+ 3H2(g) → 3NH3(g)
N2(g) + 2O2(g) → 2N2O(g)
USES
1.
It is used industrial manufacture of ammonia.
2.
Liquid nitrogen is used as a cooling
agent.
3.
It is used as preservative in
packaged foods to prevent rancidity.
The stages in which nitrogen from the atmosphere is converted into soil nitrogen and back to atmospheric nitrogen is summarized below.
1. Oxidation of atmospheric nitrogen:
N2(g) + O2(g) →2NO(g)
2NO(g) + O2(g)→ 2NO2(g)
4NO(g)+O2(g)+2H2O(l)→4HNO2(q)
4NO(g)+O2(g)+2H2O(l)→4HNO3(aq)
2. Action of nitrogen-fixing bacteria:
3. Nitrification by nitrifying bacterial.
4. Denitrification by denitrifying bacteria
COMPOUNDS
OF NITROGEN
OXIDES
OF NITROGEN
1. NITROGEN
(I) OXIDE, N2O
Nitrogen (I) oxide also known as laughing gas. (it can cause uncontrollable laughter when inhale).
LABORATORY
PREPARATION
It is prepared in the lab by thermal
decomposition of ammonium trioxonitrate (V). Ammonium trioxonitrate (V) can not
heated directly because the reaction being highly exothermic and may become uncontrollable
leading to an explosion.
a. KNO3(s)
+ NH4Cl(s) → KCl(s) + NH4NO3(s)
b NH4NO3(s) → 2H2O(g) + N2O(g)
PHYSICAL
PROPERTIES
1. It is a colourless gas
2. It has faintly sickly sweet smell.
3. It has a sweetish taste.
4. It is fairly soluble in cold water.
6. It is a neutral gas
CHEMICAL
PROPERTIES
1. It decomposes on strong heating to form nitrogen and oxygen.
2N2O(g)→ O2(g)+2N2(g)
2. It burns in any substance which is hot enough to decompose it.
Mg(s)+ N2O(g)→ MgO(s)+ N2(g)
3. it is reduced to nitrogen when in contact with very hot iron or copper.
Cu(s)
+ N2O(g)→ N2(g)+ CuO(s)
TEST
FOR N2O
When a glowing splinter is inserted into the jar containing
the unknown gas and it rekindles, then the gas is either oxygen or
nitrogen (I) oxide. If the gas has a pleasant smell and does not produce brown
fumes of nitrogen (IV) oxide when burnt in air; then the gas is nitrogen (I) oxide.
USE:
Nitrogen (I) oxide is used as anesthetic for minor surgical operations.
NITROGEN
(II) OXIDE, NO
LABORATORY
PREPARATION
Nitrogen (II) oxide is prepared by reacting combining copper with 50%
trioxonitrate (IV) acid.
3Cu(s)
+ 8HNO3(aq)→ 3Cu(NO3)2(aq)+ 4H2O(l)
+ 2NO(g)
brown fumes of nitrogen (IV) oxide produced by some of the nitrogen (II) oxide as they react with oxygen is removed as the gas is pass through water.
PHYSICAL
PROPERTIES
1. It is a colourless gas
2. It is a poisonous gas.
3. It is a sp7aringly soluble in water.
3. It is slightly denser than air.
4. It is neutral to litmus.
CHEMICAL
PROPERTIES
1. It combines readily with oxygen to form
brown fumes of nitrogen (IV) oxide
2NO(g) + O2(g)
→ 2NO2(g)
2. At high
temperature, it decomposes to form equal volume of nitrogen and oxygen
2NO(s)→
N2(g) + O2(g)
3. It is reduced to nitrogen by hot metals
2Cu(s)+ 2NO(g) → 2CuO(g)
+ N2(g)
4. It decolourizing acidified potassium
tetraoxomanganate (VI) slowly ( reducing agent)
3MnO4-(aq)+ 4H+(aq) + NO(g)→3Mn2+(aq) 5NO3-
Test for NO
1. With acidified iron (II) tetraoxosulphate (VI): A solution of acdified FeSO4 is poured into the gas jar containing the unknown gas. If the solution turns
dark brown, then the gas is NO.
NITROGEN
(IV) OXIDE, NO2
LABORATORY
PREPARATION
It is prepared by thermal decomposition of
lead (II) trioxonitrate (V) Pb(NO3)2.
Pb(NO3)2 is preferred because it does not contain water of
crystallization which can interfere with the preparation.
Dig
Pb(NO3)2(s)
→ 2PbO(s) + O2(g)+ 4NO2(g)
The gaseous mixture obtained is passed through a U- tube dipped in ice, Nitrogen (IV) oxide liquefies as a green liquid
(yellow if pure) in the tube while oxygen escapes out.
PHYSICAL
PROPERTIES
1. It is a reddish – brown gas.
2. It has an irritating smell
3. It is a poisonous gas
4. It liquefies into yellow liquid at 21oC.
5. It is denser than air.
CHEMICAL
PROPERTIES
1. It turns damp blue litmus paper red
2. Nitrogen (IV) oxide exists mainly as
dinitrogen (IV) oxide, N2O4 at low temperature. It
decomposes on heating as follows.
N2O4(g) + 2O2(g) → 2NO2(g) + O2(g)
- Pale Reddish
- yellow brown
2. It decomposes
on heating to nitrogen and oxygen and so supports combustion
2NO2(g) → N2(g)+ 2O2(g)
3. With reducing agents it is reduced to nitrogen.
4Cu(s) + NO2 → 4CuO(s)
+ N2(g)
4. With dissolved in water it forms two acids, dioxonitrate (III) and trioxonitrate (V) acids, hence, It is a mixed acid
anhydride.
H2O(l)+ 2NO2(g) → HNO2(aq)+ HNO3(aq)
5. It
reacts with alkalis to form a mixture of dioxonitrate (III) and trioxonitrate (V)
salts
2KOH(aq)+ 2NO2(g) → KNO3(aq) + KNO2(aq) + H2O(l)
AMMONIA
Ammonia is a hydride of nitrogen. It is found in traces in the atmosphere from the decomposition/ decay of nitrogenous matter in the absence. Because is very soluble in water, it dissolves in rainwater and is washed down into the soil.
LABORATORY
PREPARATION OF AMMONIA
Ammonia is prepared in the laboratory by heating calcium
hydroxide, Ca(OH)2 (slaked lime) with ammonium chloride.
Ca(OH)2(s)+
2NH4Cl(s)→CaCl2(s) +2H2O(l)+2NH3(g).
It is dried using calcium oxide, CaO. Because it will react with drying agents like Conc. H2SO4 or fused CaCl2, since it is an alkaline gas.
INDUSTRIAL
PREPARATION
Ammonia is manufactured by the
Haber process from nitrogen and hydrogen. In this process nitrogen and hydrogen are reacted in ratio 1:3 by volume.
The reaction is reversible. The conditions for optimum yield of ammonia are
i. A temperature of 450Oc
ii. A pressure of about 200atm and
iii. Finely divided iron catalyst
N2(g)
+3H2(g) →2NH3(g)
+ heat
PHYSICAL
PROPERTIES
i. It is a colorless gas
ii. It has a characteristic choking/ pungent smell.
iii. When inhaled in large quantity it is poisonous
3. It is the only known alkaline gas.
4. It is about less dense than air.
CHEMICAL
PROPERTIES
1. Ammonia burns readily in oxygen to yield and
nitrogen and water vapour
4NH3(g)+3O2(g)→6H2O(g)+ 2N2(g)
2. As a reducing agent, it reduces most metallic oxides to their metals.
i. 3CuO(s)
+ 2NH3(g) → 3Cu(s)
+ 3H2O(l) + N2(g)
ii. With Chlorine it yields NH4Cl
3Cl2(g) + 8NH3(g) → 6NH4Cl(s) + N2(g)
3. Ammonia reacts with carbon IV oxide to form Urea and water
vapour.
2NH3(g)+ CO2(g) → (NH2)2CO(s) + H2O(l)
urea
4. With acids it form ammoniums salts.
2NH3(g) + H2SO4(g)→(NH4)2SO4(s)
TEST FOR AMMONIA
Ammonia
has a choking and a pungent smell. It can be confirmed using:
1. Litmus paper: It turns damp red litmus paper blue
2. Hydrochloric acid: it forms dense white fumes with a concentrated on a glass rod
USES OF AMMONIA
1. Is is one of the raw materials in the Solvay process for the manufacture trioxonitrate (V) acid
and Sodium trioxocarbonate (IV).
2. Liquid ammonia is used as a refrigerant.
3. Aqueous ammonia is used in softening temporary hard water.
4. Aqueous ammonia is also used in laundries as a solvent for
removing grease and oil stains.
TRIOXONITRATE
(V) ACID, HNO3
LABORATORY
PREPARATION
Trioxonitrate (V) acid is a volatile acid. It is prepared
in the laboratory by displacement of the HNO3 from any trioxonitrate salt by
concentrated H2SO4 which is less volatile. Trioxonitrate
(V) of potassium or sodium is usually used because they are cheap.
KNO3(s)+ H2SO4(aq)→ KHSO4(aq)+HNO3(aq)
NOTE: we use an all-glass apparatus for this preparation because the hydrogen
trioxonitrate (V) acid vapour will attack cork or rubber.
INDUSTRIAL
PREPARATION
It is prepared by the catalytic
oxidation of ammonia:
- Ammonia is
treated with excess air using Platinum-rhodium catalyst at 700oC to
produce
4NH3(g)+ 5O2(g)→ 4NO(g)+ 6H2O the nitrogen (II)
oxide formed is cooled and mixed with excess air to produce nitrogen (IV)
oxide.
2NO(g) + O2(g) →2NO2(g)
- Nitrogen (IV)
oxide formed is dissolved with excess air in hot water to yield trioxonitrate
(V) acid solution of up to 50% concentration.
4NO2(g)+ 2H2O(l)+ O2(g)
→ 4HNO3(aq)
PHYSICAL
PROPERTIES
1. Pure HNO3 acid is a colourless liquid with sharp
choking smell. It fumes in air. The acid decomposes to give NO2 gas which redissolves in the acid turning it yellow after a while.
2. The density of the pure acid is 1.52 gcm-3
3. The pure acid boils at 860C and melts at -47oC
4. The pure acid dissolves in water in all proportions
5. The concentrated form of the acid is corrosive.
CHEMICAL
PROPERTIES
1. As an acid
I. The dilute acid turns blue litmus red.
ii. it neutralizes bases and alkalis to form metallic
trioxonitrate (V) and water only
NaOH(aq)+HNO3(aq) → NaNO3(aq)+ H2O(l)
iii. it reacts with trioxocarbonate (IV) to
liberate carbon
(II) oxide
CaCO3(s) + HNO3(aq) → Ca(NO3)2(aq)+ H2O(l)+ CO2(g)
3. Unlike other acids, it rarely gives out hydrogen with metals
except when very dilute solution is reacted with Ca, Mg or Mn.
4. As an oxidizing agent,
it oxidizes non–metal like Sulphur to form
the corresponding oxides of the non – metals.
S(s)+ 6HNO3(aq)→H2SO4(aq) + 2H2O(l)
+ 6NO2(g)
ii. it oxidizes least reactive metals like Cu, Pb, Hg and Ag to
yield the respective
trioxonitrate (V) and nitrogen (IV) oxide. With moderate concentration it yields nitrogen (II)
oxide.
Aluminum
and iron are not oxidized by the acid, because of the formation of a thin coating of the oxide on the surface of the metal which is lmpervious to further attack on the metals.
Hence, containers lined with aluminum and iron can be used
to transport concentrated HNO3(aq)
5.As an oxidizing agent, it oxidizes hydrogen sulphide to
sulphur
H2S(g)
+ 2HNO3(aq) → S(s)+ 2H2O(l)+2NO2(g)
6. it oxidizes iron (II) salts to iron
(III) salts
6Fe2+(aq)
+ 8H+(aq) + 2NO3-(aq) →
6Fe3+(aq) + 4H2O(l) + 2NO(g)
USES
1. It is used as an acid, oxidizing agent and nitrating agent
in the laboratory.
2. It is as rocket fuel
3. It is used in producing nylon and Terylene.
4. It is used to produce fertilizers, dyes, drugs and
explosives.
OBJECTIVE QUESTIONS
1. In which group of the periodic table is nitrogen found?
(a) 2
(b) 5
(c) 7
(d) 6
2. The boiling point of nitrogen in 0C is
(a) -183
(b) -196
(c) 200
(d) 240
3. The percentage of nitrogen in air is
(a) 78
(b) 75
(c) 71
(d) 67
4. The following are uses of nitrogen except a. as a cooling agent b. to prevent rancidity c. in the manufacture of fertilizers d. in laundry.
5. The atomicity of nitrogen is
(a) 1
(b) 2
(c) 3
(d) 4
6. Which of the following compound will leave a metal residue when heated
a. Cu(NO3)2
b. AgNO3
c. K2CO3
4.CaCO3
7. The gas given off when NH4Cl is heated with an alkali is
a. H2
b. Cl2
c. N2
d. NH3
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
THEORY
1a. State TWO physical properties and TWO chemical properties of nitrogen.
1b Mention THREE uses of nitrogen.
1c(i) Briefly describe the preparation of nitrogen from air in the laboratory.
2a(i) Give an equation to show the laboratory preparation of nitrogen (II) oxide.
2b. Describe a test to distinguish between nitrogen (I) oxide and oxygen gas.
2c(iii) Briefly describe the laboratory preparation of ammonia.
3a State TWO physical and THREE chemical properties each of ammonia.
3b. Describe the laboratory preparation of trioxonitrate (V)
acid.
3c Write TWO equations of reactions in which trioxonitrate (V)
is acting as an acid.
4a. Write an equation to show the reaction of nitrogen (IV)
oxide as a mixed anhydride.
4b. Describe the electrolysis of CuSO4 solution using
platinum electrodes.
4c. Classify the following oxides: CuO, Na2O, PbO, NO2,
N2O