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Oxygen
STRUCTURE |
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COMMERCIAL
PREPARATION |
By fractional distillation of liquid air |
LABORATORY
PREPARATION |
By decomposition of hydrogen peroxide using manganese dioxide
MnO2
2H202 (aq) -> 2H2O (l) + O2 (g)
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| PROPERTIES |
Colourless, odourless, slightly soluble in water, supports combustion, reacts with most metals (corrosion) and with most non-metals. |
| TESTING |
A glowing splint reignites in the presence of oxygen |
| USES |
Used in the manufacture of steel and chemicals (sulfuric acid, methanol), in hospitals, sewage treatment, and combustion processes. |
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