6+Elements+and+Their+Oxides+Kevin+Yranon


 * Elements and Their Oxides **

toc Elements are pure substances that have different and unique properties to those of the other elements.The elements can be found in the period table of elements.The periodic table is sorted in a way for scientists around the world can be able to comprehend it in the same manner. The malleable and shiny metals are found at the left side of the table. On the opposite side, we can find the brittle and dull non-metals. An oxide is a compound of an element that has been chemically combined with oxygen, through covalent or ionic bonding. There are ways of creating these oxides by the means of combustion or gradual change. media type="youtube" key="qSr39UwpELo?version=3" height="351" width="467" Here we see the combustion of magnesium to form magnesium oxide. 2Mg (s) + O 2 (g) ** → ** 2MgO (s) = Non-Metallic Oxides  =

Like the name states, a non-metallic oxide is a compound in which a non-metal covalently reacts with oxygen. Most non-metallic oxides are gases when in room temperature and when dissolved in water, turns into an acidic solution. These acidic solutions are called acidic oxides. Acidic oxides produce hydrogen ions in water. Below we have the 3 most acidic oxides found in the world.

Carbon Dioxide


Having a chemical formula of CO 2, it contains a carbon atom double-bonding with 2 oxygen atoms.It the most common oxide of carbon. It is made by simply breathing air out the lungs or burning of fossil fuels/hydrocarbons. Take propane as an example.

C 3 H 8 (g) + O 2 (g) → 4 H 2 O (g) + 3 CO 2 (g)

To the right, we see a depiction of carbon dioxide, showing the oxygen atoms in red and the carbon atom in purple. Below it, we see the structural formula.

Nitrogen Oxides
Nitrogen is the most abundant element found on Earth, making up approximately 78% of the Earth's atmosphere. It is diatomic and because of it's triple bond, shown to the left, N2 is stable and unreactive. Normally, nitrogen oxides occur whenever lightning strikes on Earth but cars being used by humans today, make up most of the nitrogen oxides found in the atmosphere. The car's engine increase in temperature when running causing a synthesis reaction with nitrogen and oxygen. The product in this reaction is nitrogen monoxide, NO. N 2 (g) + O 2 (g) ** → ** 2NO (g) When it released into the air, it further oxidizes to form nitrogen dioxide. NO (g) + O 2 (g) ** → ** 2NO 2 (g)

Sulphur Oxides


Sulphur oxides can be produced naturally as a result of volcanic eruption. They are also made by the combustion of impure fossil fuels such as crude oil and coal or made as by-products from factories.

Sulphur dioxide is the most common sulphur oxide emitted.



Combustion of sulphur into sulphur dioxide and then further oxidizes into sulphur trioxide:

S 8 (s) + 8O 2 (g) → 8SO 2 (g) + 4O 2 (G) → 8SO 3 (g)

Environmental Impact
All of the non-metallic oxides above, are present in the air. When mixed with precipitation, it comes down on earth is its aqueous state. The CO2 undergoes a synthesis reaction with H2O and and produces carbonic acid. CO 2 (g) + H 2 O (l) ** → ** H 2 CO 3 (aq) Then the carbonic acid breaks down, producing a hydrogen ion and as a result, decreases the pH of water. H 2 CO 3 (aq) ** → ** H + (aq) + HCO 3 - (aq) This normally causes rain to have a pH of 5.6 due to the carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere. Then nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides furthur decrease the pH of rain below 5.6 producing acid rain. When rain falls down, it not only mixes with carbon dioxide but also with nitrogen dioxide and sulphur trioxide to create nitric, nitrous and sulpuric acid. These acids break down and produce more hydrogen ions, further decreasing the pH of water. 2NO 2 (g) + H 2 O (l) ** → ** HNO 3 (aq) + HNO 2 (aq) ** → ** 2H + (aq) + NO 3 - (aq) + NO 2 - (aq) SO 3 (g) + H 2 O (l) ** → ** H 2 SO 4 (aq) ** → ** H + (aq) + HSO 4 - (aq)

The result of acid rain causes major damages to the environment. Trees slowly die from taking in the acid rain. As a result, carbon dioxide will increase in concentration in the atmosphere and therefore, adding to global warming. Oceans and/or lakes decrease in pH causing fish to die.

media type="youtube" key="9aEx067YkDE?version=3" height="360" width="480" Acid rain in a nutshell. = Metallic Oxides =

A non-metallic oxide is a compound consisting of a metal and oxygen through ionic bonding. Many metal oxides form by being exposed to the air. Most metallic oxides are salts when in room temperature and when dissolved in water, becomes a metal hydroxide. This forms a solution of the metal cation and hydroxide anion. As a result of these hydroxide anions, the water becomes basic. This is the reason why metal oxides are called basic oxides.

Sodium Oxide
Sodium oxide has a chemical formula of NaO. Sodium metal quickly tarnishes to form NaO.

media type="youtube" key="N3647SKBCeI?version=3" height="360" width="480"

In the video above, this is what is happening:

4Na (s) + O 2 (g) → 2Na 2 O (s)

When added to water:

Na 2 O (s) + H 2 O (l) → 2NaOH (aq)

It breaks down:

NaOH (aq) → Na + (aq) + OH - (aq)

Concentrated sodium hydroxide is corrosive and used to clean out drainage pipes.

= References: =

Information
Chemistry Textbook

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=Things I Learned Reading Other Wikis (Review):=

Metallurgy (Keasha Grant)

 * 1) Metallurgy is the study of the chemical and phycisal properties of a metal.
 * 2) Using metallurgy, we can create pure metals through physical or chemical processing.
 * 3) It causes sulphur dioxide emissions and adds to acid rain.

Super Glue (Farooq Darsot)

 * 1) Super glue is scientifically called cyanoacrylate with the chemical formula of C 5 H 5 NO 2.
 * 2) Its maximum strength is achieved when bonding 2 metals.
 * 3) It was discovered during World War II by Harry Coover accidentally when trying to make gun-sight lenses.

Iodine (Sharmarke Ali)

 * 1) Iodine comes from the Greek word "iodes" meaning violit.
 * 2) It was first discovered by a French chemist, Barnard Courtois, when trying to produce salt pepper from seaweed.
 * 3) We have trace amounts of Iodine in our body.