Exams Prep Master
Air is the most necessary thing for all humans. Air is essential for all humans, animals, birds and all living things because they can only survive with air. We can feel the presence of air but it’s impossible to see it. Air moves everywhere around us. Air can be compressed easily because it is a gaseous substance. Air contains so many gases. We saw a lot of examples of Air around us in our daily life While cycling, flying a kite, flapping a hand fan, moving a firkin, etc. In this article, we are going to explore more about air. Let’s know about the Air that we are surrounded by. We are going to learn the properties, components, uses of air and discuss some important questions.
| Table of Content |
Keywords: Components of Air, properties of Air, Air around us, oxygen, Gases, the importance of Air, Atmosphere, Air pollution.
Also Read: Air Composition
What is Air?
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
Air is one of the most desired things for all living souls. We can’t live without the presence of Air. It is a mixture of several gases. You can’t see it but you can feel it for sure. When the tree leaves rustle or hanging clothes lines sway we feel the presence of air. Air contains 78.11% Nitrogen & 20.95% of oxygen. It also contains carbon dioxide, some other gases, dust, our articles & water vapour. It is like a thick blanket that surrounds the surface of the earth. The atmosphere is like an air envelope that surfaces the whole world. We are surrounded by air but we just can’t see it.
Also Read: Atmosphere Layers
Properties of Air
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
The properties of air can be divided into the following points:
- Air has no color as it is invisible but you can see clearly with the help of air.
- Air has no taste.
- Air has a gaseous odorless substance.
- Air can’t be seen but it occupies space.
- Air can easily dissolve in water.
- Air can be easily compressed & can be filled into a container.
- Moving air is called wind
Components of Air
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
The components of air can be divided into the following heads;
Nitrogen
- Nitrogen is the gas that occupies 78.11% of air.
- Nitrogen is the lightest, most colorless & odorless gas.
- Nitrogen occurs in Diatomic Form N2.
- It is used for synthesis protein in the body by plants & animals but it can’t be used directly, it is fixed into its nitrate or nitrite.
- It is used to manufacture fertilizers, ammonia manufacturing.
Oxygen
- Oxygen is the gas that occupies about 20.95% of air.
- Oxygen is a chemical element that is in the form of gas.
- It is cationic & made up of two atoms.
- The molecular oxygen is presented as O2.
- Oxygen is the active part of the air and is 1/5 of the total air volume.
- It helps in oxidizing the eaten food by all the organisms to release energy.
- It is essential for respiration by the organisms that are living on the land.
- Oxygen is used for welding purposes, combustion helps in the protection from UV rays, is used as fuel in rockets, used in cylinders to provide respiration to the patient.
- Another use of oxygen includes oxygen masks for patients & oxygen cylinders are carried by astronauts & mountaineers.
Carbon Dioxide
- Carbon dioxide occupies 0.03% of the air.
- One carbon & two oxygen atoms made carbon dioxide.
- It is presented as CO2 Which is Used by plants in synthesizing food By the photosynthesis process.
- It is used in soft drinks & fire extinguishers.
Inert gases
- Inert gases are noble gases, they occupy a negligible percentage in the air.
- Argon, helium, neon & radon are inert gases.
- These gases are used in many kinds of requirements & making.
Water vapor
- The water that is presented in the form of gas is called water vapour.
- The amount of water varies with the heat of the sun.
- Water vapour is used in the formation of clouds later that clouds become rain.
Dust & Smoke
- Air also contains some dust & smoke in it.
- They both are contributed by vehicles & industries, they release them.
- Dust & smoke are harmful to all of us as they cause some respiratory disease.
What is the Atmosphere?
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
The atmosphere is just like a sheet over the earth’s surface and is spread above 500 km of the surface of the earth. When sun rays fall from the sky they fall over the atmosphere first. It has 5 layers in it. Ozone layers also play an important role; their main work is to absorb the UV rays of the sun. From 10-15 km to the atmosphere the ozone gas is present.
Uses of Air
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
Uses of air can be pointed out as follows;
- It is used as a dispersal agent for pollen grains and seeds. The process is called pollination.
- It is used for compressing inflated tires of vehicles.
- It is used for electricity generation, in the windmills and aero generators.
- Air is important for all living things for respiration and photosynthesis.
- All flying objects require air for flying purposes. Flying object helicopter, airplane, etc.
- Air plays a vital role in maintaining the temperature.
- Air is the biggest supplier of the energy
- Air is essential to sustain a better life for all human beings.
- We can hear sounds more clearly because of Air.
- Air works as a drying agent, solid gets saturated after rain but it gets dry with the help of air.
- Air is used in flight mode of cars, it is used in riding bicycles & also in aircraft.
- There is air present in water & soil.
- Air contains oxygen that helps in burning & it is essential for all living things.
Air Pollution
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
When some harmful materials enter the air they make it polluted & due to this air becomes unhealthy for all the living things. The bacteria, germs & smoke it. These all things are called pollutants. Air pollution is the reason for several lung disorders & it is also a cause of eye problems. The burning of a coal fire is the main reason for air pollution. Volcanic eruptions, forest fires, emission from factories and vegetation decay are also responsible for air pollution.
Things to Remember
- Any living soul can not survive on the earth without the presence of the air.
- Air contains so many gases in it like oxygen, nitrogen & some other gases.
- All the plants & animals exchange oxygen & carbon dioxide from each other.
- Air contains oxygen which helps in burning.
- There are five different layers in the atmosphere, it is called the envelope of the air.
- The air is invisible as it is colourless & transparent.
Also see: Endangered Species
Sample Questions
Ques: Describe the surrounding Air. (2 marks)
Ans: All aquatic creatures breathe by inhaling dissolved air in water. The atmosphere is necessary for living life on the earth. It is a mixture that is colourless, tasteless & gaseous. It contains hydrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, neon, argon, helium & some other gases. There is 78% nitrogen in the air & 20.95% of oxygen in the air. The air that is moving is called wind & the air that doesn’t contain water vapour is called dry air. It is invisible & colorless. Air is a vital component for all living organisms.
Ques: Explain that air supports burning through a diagram. (2 marks)
Ans: Here is a diagram that proves that air supports burning.
In this diagram, it is shown that when we burn a candle in the air it burns continuously but when we put a glass over it, it stops burning because there is no air inside the glass.
Hence it is proved that air supports burning.
Ques: Does Air get dissolved in water? (3 marks)
Ans: to know whether the air gets dissolved in water, we should try an example.
Step 1: First, take glass
Step 2: Fill the glass with water.
Step 3: Now, heat the water present in the glass.
Step 4: You will see that bubbles are coming out.
Step 5: Before the water reaches its boiling point, the bubbles are formed.
Step 6: Hence it is clear that air gets dissolved in the water.
Ques: What is the Atmosphere? (2 marks)
Ans: The atmosphere is one of the most essential elements for the existence of all living souls. It is made of 5 layers.
- The first layer is the Troposphere, which is situated above the surface & contains half part of the earth's surface. All the weather occurs in the first layer.
- The second layer is called the Stratosphere. All the jet aircraft fly in this layer. It is the most stable layer, here the ozone layer absorbs the harmful rays.
- The third layer is the Mesosphere. The meteors & rocks fragments burn up in this layer.
- The fourth layer is the Thermosphere. This layer contains auras. It is where the space shuttle exits the orbits.
- The fifth layer Exosphere is the thinnest layer. In this layer, the atmosphere merges into space. It is called the upper limit of the atmosphere.
Ques: Describe the Ozone Layer. (2 marks)
Ans: The ozone layer is made up of ozone gas. It is a layer that absorbs the UV rays from the sun. The ozone layer absorbs 93-99% of the UV rays from the sun. It is present about 10-15 km high over the earth's atmosphere. Due to the use of chlorofluorocarbons, the ozone layer is depleting. The UV rays of the sun are harmful to all of us. The ozone layer protects us from UV rays. The harmful UV rays can cause several problems to our eyes and can also cause eye cancer.
Ques: Explain the Oxygen cycle through a diagram. (3 marks)
Ans: here is the diagram of the oxygen cycle:
Ques: Describe the presence of air through a diagram. (4 marks)
Ans: In the following picture, we are trying to show the presence of air.
Ques: Explain the photosynthesis process with a diagram. (2 marks)
Ans:
Related Links:
Comments