HYDROGEN AND ITS COMPOUNDS

Occurrence of Hydrogen
Hydrogen occurs freely in the atmosphere in a very small amount of 0.01%. It also occurs in a
combined state with other elements. Hydrogen is found in natural gas, kerosene and other
petroleum products. It is also a constituent of other organic compounds such as protein,
carbohydrates and fats.
LABORATORY PREPARATION
1. Action of zinc on an acid e.g. HCl or H2SO4
Zn(s) + 2HCl(aq) ZnCl2(aq) + H2(g)
2. Action of sodium on cold water (this is a very vigorous reaction which must be carried out
with care.
3Fe(s) + H2O(g) Fe3O4(s) + 4H2(g)
Industrial preparation of hydrogen
i. From water gas (Bosche process) :Hydrogen is produced in this process in large quantities
from cheap raw materials such as water and coke. When steam is passed over red hot coke
(carbon) at about 120oC, a mixture of carbon II oxide and hydrogen known as water gas is
produced. Further yield of hydrogen is realized when excess steam is mixed with water
gas and passed over a catalyst, iron III oxide or aluminum oxide at 450oC.
H2O(g) + C(s) CO(g) + H2(g) [endothermic reaction]
Water gas

CO2(g) + H2(g) + H2O(g) CO2(g) + 2H2(g) [oxidation reaction]

ii. From methane: This process is similar to that of Bosch process but instead of carbon,
methane is used. The process involves two stages.
800 c
i. CH4(g) + H2O(g) CO(g) + 3H2(g)
Ni
synthesis gas
ii. CO(g) + 3H2(g) + H2O CO2 + 4H2(g)
iii. By electrolytic method: oure hydrogen gas can be produced from electrolysis gas can be
produced from electrolysis of brine or electrolysis of dilute sodium or potassium hydroxide
solution.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
1. Hydrogen is a colourless, odorless and tasteless gas
2. it is the lightest known substances, it is 14.4 time less dense than air
3. it is neutral to moist litmus paper
4. it has a very low boiling point of -25oC
5. it is relatively insoluble in water

Chemical properties of hydrogen

The chemical behaviour of hydrogen can be explained by it’s tendency to acquire the stable
duplet electronic configuration of helium. Thus, hydrogen
 a. Accepts an electron from another atom to form the negative negative hydrides ion H-
b. Donates its one electron to form the positive hydrogen ion H+
c. Form a covalent bond by sharing its lone electron as in the hydrogen molecules, H-H.
The following are some of its chemical properties:
1. It combines with metal and non-metals to form electrovalent and covalent hydrides
respectively
2Na(s)+ H2(g) 2NaH(s)
2H2(g)+ O2 H2O
2. It is a strong reducing agent
CuO(s) +H2(g) Cu(s) + H2O(g)
Fe2O3(s)+3H2(g) 2Fe(s) + 3H2O(q)
TEST FOR HYDROGEN
If a glowing (lighted) splinted is inserted into a test tube containing hydrogen it burns with a pop
sound.
USES OF HYDROGEN
1. Hydrogen is used in the manufacture of ammonia, hydrochloric acid and methane.
2. it is used for filling balloons because of its low density.
3. it is used in oxy-hydrogen flame because it produce a lot of heat when it burns
4. it is a constituent of many gaseous fuel such as water gas (CO + H 2) and coal gas.
Liquid hydrogen is used as rocket fuel.
Isotopes of hydrogen
Hydrogen exists in three isotopic forms. These are:
1. hydrogen or protium, 1H
2. heavy hydrogen or deuterium, 21H
3. tritium 31H or T
Deuterium is chemically similar to protiumn but slightly less reactive. It forms the oxide D 2O
(heavy water). Tritium is radioactive and not commonly found in ordinary hydrogen.
HYDRIDES
Reaction of hydrogen with metals and non-metals gives hydrides
Hydrides of alkali and alkali earth metal are ionic and react with water to form hydroxide and
liberate hydrogen. Hydrides of non-metals are mainly covalent. E.g. CaH 2, NaH, H2O, HCl,
NH3, HF
Complex hydrides: Lithium tetrahydridoaluminate III, LiAlH4, Sodium tetrahdridoborate III,
NaBH4

WEEK 8
OXYGEN
CONTENT:
Oxygen is the most abundant element on earth. It constitutes 21% by volume of atmospheric air.
Occurrence: It occurs as free elements in nature and in combined states.
LABORATORY PREPARATION
1. By the thermal decomposition of potassium trioxochlorate V in the presence of MnO2 as
catalyst
heat
2KClO3 2KCl2 +3O2(g)
2. By decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, H2O2 in the presence of MnO2 or acidified
KMnO4
heat
2H2O2 (aq) 2H2O + O2(G
5H2O2 + 2KMnO4 + 3H2SO4 K2SO4 + 2HMnO4 + 8H2O + 502(s)

INDUSTRIAL PREPARATION
i. Electrolysis of water
ii. Fractional distillation of liquid air
Liquifaction of air
Air is first passed through Caustic Soda, NaOH(aq) to remove CO2. It is then subjected through
series of compressions, expansions and cooling until liquid is obtained at -200oC.
Fractional distillation of liquid air
The liquid air is let to a fractional distillation column. On distillation, nitrogen with a lower
boiling point of -1960C is evolved first, leaving behind liquid oxygen. Further heating converts
the liquid oxygen to a gas at -1830C

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
1. It is colourless , odourless and tasteless diatomic gas
2. it is neutral to litmus
3. it is slightly soluble in water
4. gaseous oxygen is denser than air
5. gaseous oxygen liquefies at -1830C
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
1. Oxygen combines directly with most metals to form basic oxides
2Ca + O2 2CaO
4K + O2 K2O
The oxides of very electropositive metals, K, Na, Ca dissolves in water to form alkalis
2 K2O + 2 H2O 4KOH
2. Non-metals burn in oxygen to acidic oxides. These are known as acid anhydrides as they
dissolves in water to form acids.
S(s) + O2 SO2(g)
SO2(g) + H2O H2SO3(aq)
 P4(s) + O2(g) P4O6(g)
P4O6 + H2O 4H3PO3(aq)
3. Most hydrocarbon and compounds of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen burn in oxygen to give
CO2 and H2O
C2H5OH + 3O4(q) 2CO2 + 3H3O
USES OF OXYGEN
i. It is used in oxy-ethylene flame
ii. It is required for respiration
iii. It is used in steel industry for the removal of C,S and P impurities from pig iron
iv. Liquid oxygen and fuel are used as propellant for space rockets
v. Oxygen is used in the manufacturer of tetraoxosulphate VI, trioxomitrate VI acid and
ethanoic acid.

OXIDES
Oxides are compound formed when oxygen combines with other elements
TYPES OF OXIDES (CLASSIFICATION)
1. Basic Oxides: These are oxides of metals e.g. NaO2 K2O, MgO, CaO etc. they react with
acids top form salt and water only.
e.g. Na2O(s) + 2HCl(aq) 2NaCl(s) + H2O(i)
2. Acidic Oxides: These are oxides of non-metals e.g. CO2, SO2, NO2 etc. they react with
water to form acids and are called acid anhydrides. They react with alkali to form a salt
and water only e.g. CO2(q) + 2NaOH(aq) Na2CO3 + H2O
3. Amphoteric Oxides: These are oxides of metals which can react with both acids and
alkalis to form salt and water only. They include the oxides of Al, Zn, Pb and Sn e.g.
ZnO(s) + H2SO4 ZnSO4(aq)+ H2O(i)
ZnO(s) + 2NaOH(aq) + H2O Na2Zn(OH)4(aq)
4. Neutral Oxides: These are oxides of non-metals which are neither acidic nor basic. They
are netral to litmus. They include CO2H2O and N2O
5. Peroxides: These are oxides which contain higher proportion of oxygen than ordinary
oxides e.g Na2O2, CaO2 and BaO2. They react with dilute acid to produce hydrogen
peroxide, H2O2
HYDROGEN PEROXIDES
Oxygen combines with hydrogen to form two major hydrides, water and hydrogen peroxides.
Hydrogen Peroxides: is usually prepared in the laboratory by the action of dilute acid on certain
metallic peroxides, usually Barium, peroxides.
H2SO4(aq) + BaO2 BaSO4(s) + H2O2(aq)
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
1. Pure hydrogen peroxides is a pale blue syrup liquid
2. it dissolves in water to give a very weak acidic solution
 3. it boils with decomposition at 15oC and freezes at about -0.9oC
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
1. It decomposes on exposure to air to form water and oxygen
2 H2O2(l) 2 H2O2(l) + O2(l)
2. It reacts as an oxidizing agent and becomes reduced to water
2KI(aq) + H2O2(aq) + H2SO4(aq) K2SO4(aq) + 2H2O(l) + l2(aq)
3. It reacts as a reducing agent. Hydrogen peroxide reduces chlorine to hydrochloric acid and
silver oxides to the metal.
Cl2 + H2O2(aq) 2HC(aq) + O2
AgO(s) + H2O2(aq) 2Ag(s) + H2O + O2
Uses of H2O2
i. It is used as antiseptic.
ii. It is used in bleaching delicate materials, woods, wood pulp, slik.
iii. Liquid H2O2 provides O2 for the burning of fuel in space rockets.
iv. For the manufacture of compounds like sodium dioxochlorate III.
OZONE
Ozone is an unstable allotrope of oxygen. Ozone is formed from atmospheric oxygen by
lightning flashes.
PREPARATION
Ozone can be prepared from oxygen by passing an electric discharge through it. An ozoniser is
used for ozonizing oxygen. Ozone is a pale blue gas with characteristics smell like that of
chlorine. It is poisonous. It has the same chemical properties as oxygen but more oxidizing
agent.
AIR POLLUTION
Apart from the constituents of air, there are some materials (substances) release into the air which
is detrimental to human health if used for breathing. These substances constitute air-pollution and
they are called air-pollutants.
The main air pollutants are as follows:
1. Particulate matter.
2. Oxides of carbon.
3. Oxides of sulphur and nitrogen.
4. Gaseous hydrocarbons and chlorofluorocarbons
These air pollutants cause a lot of damage to the respiratory system (particulate matter), combines
with haemoglobin in the blood (carbon II oxide) to form carboxy-heamoglobin, which reduces
the amount of oxygen in the body and leads to dizziness, headaches, fatigue and lethargy. Some
other adverse effects caused by air pollution are fall of acid rain, irritation of the eyes, nose and
throat. Depletion of ozone layer and greenhouse effect are other harmful effects caused by the air
pollutants.
GREEN HOUSE EFFECT is the gradual warming of our planet which would cause the polar
caps to melt and submerge many of the coastal regions and islands on earth.
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
1. Government should make anti air pollution laws and should be very strict to make sure that the
citizens abide by the laws.
2. Safety devices should be set up to make sure that complete combustion of fuels is ensured.
3. People should be well educated about the effect of air pollution and how it can be controlled.

WEEK 9
HALOGENS
CHARACTERISTICS
1. Members of the group are Fluorine, Chlorine, Iodine and Bromine.
2. They are non-metals and are generally called the halogens.
3. They are diatomic molecules (gases)
4. They are the most electronegative and oxidizing elements in the periodic table.
5. They form mainly covalent compounds with other non-metals.

F Cl I Br
Decreasing order of electronegativity
And oxidizing ability.

ELECTRONIC CONFIGURATION
Chlorine atom has atomic number of 17 which gives the number of protons and also the number
of electrons in its atom, thus the electronic configuration of chlorine atom with atomic number
17, is 2, 8, 7. Using the principal quantum number (n) or 1s2, 2s2 2p6, 3s2 3p5
Chlorine has oxidation state of number -1, +1 and +5 in all its compounds.
Cl- has oxidation state of -1
ClO- has oxidation state of +1
ClO3- has oxidation state of +5
Chlorine exhibit Isotopy and its Isotopes are: 3517Cl, 3717Cl
LABORATORY PREPARATION
1. It is prepared in the laboratory by the action of heat on a mixture of concentrated hydrochloric
acid. And magnesium (iv) oxide. The greenish yellow gas given off is first passed into a glass
wash tube containing water which absorbs excess HCl fume and then into glass wash tube which
contains Conc. H2SO4 which dry the gas. The dry gas is then collected by downward delivery or
upward displacement of air in a gas jar.
HCl + MnO2 MnCl2 + 2H2O + Cl2
Summary of the reaction
Reagent Used: Concentrated HCl and MnO2
Condition of Reaction: Heating
Drying Agent Used: Concentrated H2SO4 acid.
Mode of Collection: By downward delivery tube or upward displacement of air being denser than
air.
Physical Properties of Chlorine Gas.
i. It is a greenish yellow gas.
ii. It has unpleasant choking smell.
iii. It is sparingly soluble in water.
iv. It is a poisonous gas.
v. It is denser than air.
Chemical Properties.
1. It undergoes combination reaction with metals and non – metals to give chlorides.
2. It displaces ions of less reactive non – metals from solutions of their salts.
3. It acts as an Oxidizing Agent.
4. It reacts with water in the presence of Sun Light to give HCl.
5. It acts as a bleaching agent in the presence of water.
USES OF CHLORINE GAS
1. It is used as a germicides in killing bacteria in water.
2. It is used as a bleaching agent.
3. It is used in commercial production of HCl.
4. It is used in the manufacture of PVC plastic.
5. It is used in the manufacture of chlorinated compounds such as CCl4, DDT,
Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)
COMPOUNDS OF CHLORINE GAS
HYDROGEN CHLORIDE GAS
It is covalent molecule and it exist as a compound and as a gas.
LABORATORY PREPARATION
It is prepared by the action of heat on a mixture of Conc. H2SO4 acid and sodium chloride salt.
The colourless HCl gas liberated is dried in a wash glass tube containing Conc. H2SO4 and the gas
is collected by downward delivery.
H2SO4 + 2NaCl HCl + Na2SO4
Summary of the reaction of HCl gas.
Reagent used: Conc. H2SO4 and sodium chloride
Condition of reaction: Heat.
Drying agent used for the preparation: Conc. H2SO4
Mode of collection of the gas: Downward delivery or upward displacement of air being denser
than air.
HCl ACID
LABORATORY PREPARATION
It is prepared by passing HCl gas through an inverted glass funnel into a beaker of water in other
to prevent sucking back of water into the hot flask which might break the flask.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF HCl GAS.
i. It is a colourless gas.
ii. It has an irritating smell.
iii. It fumes in moist air.
iv. It is soluble in water.
v. It is denser than air.
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES.
1. HCl gas dissolves in water to give acidic solution.
2. Reaction of HCl gas with NH3 gas to give dense white fume of NH4Cl.
3. Precipitation reaction with silver trioxonitrate (v) salt to give insoluble lead (ii) chloride or
silver chloride.
4. Neutralization reaction occurs when acid reacts with alkali solution to give salt and water only.
5. Dilute HCl reacts with reactive metals to give hydrogen gas.
USES OF HCl
1. It is used in the manufacture of gelatin and glue from animal tendon.
2. It is used in the manufacture of chloroethene which is used in the production of PVC plastics.
3. It is used in production of starch from glucose and in the manufacture of dyes and textiles.
4. It is used in pickling of metals in steel making industry.
5. It is used as analytical reagent in the laboratory.

OTHER COMPOUNDS INCLUDE

Sodium Oxochlorate(i) NaClO
Calcium Oxochlorate (i) CaOCl2
Ammonium Chloride, NH4Cl
Sodium Chloride, NaCl salts.
Uses of NaCl
1. It is used in manufacture of HCl gas.
2. It is used in preservation of food.
3. It is used in solvay process for the manufacture of Na2CO3
4. It is used in salting-out process during manufacture of soap.
5. It is used in manufacture of NaOH by electrolysis of Sodium chloride solution using graphite
electrode.

Uses of NaClO
1. It is used as antiseptic.
2. It is used as bleach.

Uses of CaOCl2 H2O

1. It is used as bleaching powder.

Uses of NH4Cl
1. It is used as electrolyte in car battery.
2. It is used in manufacture of fertilizer.
Uses of HOCl
1. It is used as bleaching agent
Uses of NaClO3
1. It is used as a weed killer.
PREPARATION OF SOLUBLE CHLORIDES
1. They are prepared by the action of dilute HCl on metals.
2. They are prepared by action of dilute and Conc. HCl on trioxocarbonate (iv) and Hydrogen
trioxocarbonate (iv).
3. They are prepared by direct combination reaction i.e. by passing chlorine gas over heated
metal.
4. By reaction of dilute and Conc. HCl on alkalis and on insoluble bases.
PREPARATION OF INSOLUBLE CHLORIDES
1. They are prepared by double decomposition reaction between a soluble salt and an insoluble
salt containing the metal of the chloride to be prepared.
2. By precipitation reaction of dilute/ Conc. HCl or H2SO4 on lead (ii) trioxonitrate(v)
TEST FOR CHLORIDE SALTS.
Using AgNO3 solution:
It gives white precipitate of AgCl with excess AgNO3 solution and precipitate dissolves in excess
NH4OH solution. The white precipitate turns greyish black when exposed to sunlight.
WEEK 10
NITROGEN
Nitrogen is a Non-metal covalent molecule and is an element with molecular formula, N2 and
molecular mass 14 x 2= 28gmol-1. The symbol of the atom is N with atomic mass of 14g.
General Properties
1. It exist in nature as a molecule which is diatomic gas (N2).
2. It is an unreactive element at room temperature.
3. It is found in period 2 of the periodic table (has 2 main shells)
4. It is a P- block element.
5. It forms a trivalent negative ion by gaining 3 electrons to complete its octet structure of a noble
gas.
6. It forms ionic compounds with metals. ( Na, Ca, Al)
Laboratory Preparation.
1. Using physical method by Obtaining N2 gas from air: It is passed through the aspirator bottle
containing Conc. H2SO4 acid which removes the water vapour, the air is then passed through
caustic soda solution in a glass wash tube to remove the carbon(iv) oxide gas of the air. The out
going air is then passed through heated reddish brown copper, contained in a porcelain boat
placed inside combustion tube, in order to remove the oxygen of the air.
The nitrogen gas that is collected in a gas jar is not pure and it is contaminated by small quantity
of rare gases.
2. Using Chemical Method by Obtaining gas from ammonia gas: this involves passing ammonia
gas over blackcopper(ii) oxide that is heated in a combustion tube.
NH3 + CuO N2 + 3Cu + 3H2O

Industrial Preparation of Nitrogen Gas

It is prepared in industry as liquid Nitrogen by liquefaction of air and fractional distillation of the
liquefied air. Nitrogen has a boiling has a boiling point of -193oC and distilled off first leaving
oxygen behind in the fractionating flask.
Uses of Nitrogen Gas.
i. It is used as carrier gas in gas chromatography.
ii. Liquid Nitrogen used as a coolant.
iii. It is used in the industrial manufacture of ammonia gas by Haber process.
Characteristic Properties of Nitrogen Gas.
i. It is a colourless odourless gas.
ii. It is slightly less dense than air.
iii. It is slightly soluble in water.
Characteristic Properties of Nitrogen Gas.
A. Physical Properties
i. It is a colourless, odourless gas.
ii. It is slightly less dense than air.
iii. It is slightly soluble in water.
B. Chemical Properties
i. Reaction with metals: Nitrogen reacts with metals such as Na, K, Mg, Ca, Al and Fe when
heated to form Nitride of the corresponding metal.
ii. Reaction with non – metals:
a,. Nitrogen react with hydrogen gas by Haber process to give ammonia gas.
b. It reacts with oxygen gas at 2000oC.
WEEK 11
COMPOUNDS OF NITROGEN
This compounds includes:
a. Ammonia gas.
b. Ammonium salts.
c. Trioxonitrate (v) acid.
d. Trioxonitrate (v) salts.
e. Oxide of Nitrogen (NO2, N2O and NO)

AMMONIA GAS (NH3)

It is a compound gas consisting of discrete molecules because of the weak Vander Waal forces in
its molecules.
It is very soluble in water because it forms hydrogen with water molecule and is used in fountain
experiment in the laboratory because of its extreme solubility in water.

LABORATORY PREPARATION
It is prepared in the laboratory by heating by heating powdered mixture of ammonium chloride
and slake lime in a slanted round bottom flask suspended on a retort stand. The colourless
ammonia gas is passed into an absorption tube that contained calcium oxide (quicklime) which
dry the gas. The gas is then collected in an inverted gas jar by upward delivery tube being less
dense than air.
Ca(OH)2 + NH4Cl CaCl + 2H2O + NH3
INDUSTRIAL PREPARATION
It is produced industrially / commercially from Nitrogen gas and Hydrogen gas by Haber Process.
Nitrogen gas is obtained from liquid air and hydrogen gas that is obtained from water gas are
mixed together in a dryer in ratio 1 : 3 and the gas mixture is passed over finely divided iron
catalyst at a temperature of 250oC and a pressure of about 200 atmospheres.
Chemical Properties
i. It can be used as a precipitating agent.
ii. It burns in Oxygen of the air to give Nitrogen gas and water.
iii. It has basic properties.
iv. It can be used as a reducing agent.
CHEMICAL TEST
It gives a dense white fume of NH4Cl with conc. HCl acid stopper.
USES
1. It is used as a refrigerant.
2. It is used in the manufacture of fertilizers
3. It is used in softening temporary hard water.
AMMONIUM SALT
They are ionic compounds with coordinate and ionic bonds in their structures. All ammonium salt
are soluble in water and prepared by:
1. Neutralization reaction of aqueous ammonia with the appropriate acid such as HCl, H2SO4
Characteristic Properties
Physical Properties
1. They are white crystalline salts.
2. They are soluble in water.
Chemical Properties
1. All ammonium salt decompose on heating. Only ammonium chloride sublime on heating.
2. All ammonium salt liberates ammonia gas when heated with alkali solution such as sodium
hydroxide solution.
3. Ammonium salt dissolves and reacts with water to give acidic solutions.

Important ammonium salts: Ammonium Chloride, Ammonium trioxonitrate (v), Ammonium

tetraoxosulphate (vi), Ammonium trioxocarbonate (iv).

OXIDES OF NITROGEN
1. Nitrogen (iv) oxide (NO2)
2. Nitrogen (ii) oxide (NO)
3. Nitrogen (i) oxide (N2O)
NITROGEN (IV) OXIDE (NO2)
It is a reddish brown fume gas given off from the thermal decomposition of trioxonitrate(v)salts
of metals except sodium and potassium trioxonitrate (v)salts.
Laboratory Preparation
It is prepared by heating lead(ii)trioxonitrate(v) crystals.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
1. It is acidic to litmus paper.
2. It is denser than air.
3. It is a reddish brown gas.
4. It has an irritating smell.
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES.
1. It is soluble in water to give a mixture of acid anhydride.
2. It oxidizes heated copper and iron to their oxides and itself is reduced to nitrogen gas.
3. It dissociates at a very high temperature of about 140oc to give nitrogen (ii)oxide.
4. It supports combustion.
5. It reacts with alkali to give a solution of salt and water.
NITROGEN (II) OXIDE (NO)
It cannot be prepared in pure form because it is readily oxidized by oxygen to give nitrogen (iv)
oxide gas which contaminates the gas.
LABORATORY PREPARATION
It is prepared by the action of a very dilute trioxonitrate (v) acid on copper metal. It passed over
water to remove the contaminating NO2 gas and is collected by upward delivery, being slightly
denser than air.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
1. It is soluble in water.
2. It is a colourless and poisonous gas.
3. It is neutral to litmus.
4. It is slightly denser than air.
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
1. It is readily decomposed on heating to give nitrogen and oxygen.
2. It supports combustion.
3. It reacts with oxygen to give brown fumes of Nitrogen(iv)oxide.
4. It is an oxidizing agent.
5. It also acts as a reducing agent and decolourise acidified KMnO4
NITROGEN (I) OXIDE (N2O)
It is also called laughing gas.
LABORATORY PREPARATION
It is prepared by the action of heat on ammonium trioxonitrate (v) salt and ammonium chloride
salt. The salt is highly unstable and when heated directly causes explosion due to its exothermic
nature. Hence the heating is slightly. The gas given off is collected by downward delivery being
denser than air.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES.
1. It is a colourless gas with a faint, pleasant smell.
2. It is fairly soluble in water.
3. It is denser than air.
4. It is neutral to litmus paper.
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES.
1. It is decomposed by heating to 600oc to give nitrogen gas and oxygen gas.
2. It decomposed by heat liberated by burning magnesium, sulphur or phosphorus to give
nitrogen and oxygen gas which then combines to give their oxides.
3. As an oxidizing agent, it oxidizes heated copper and carbon metal to their oxides and itself is
reduced to nitrogen gas.