Question

Explain how you would separate mixture of nitrogen and oxygen gases given that their boiling point are _196 degree Celsius and 183 degrees Celsius respectively

Answer 1

There are several ways of separating nitrogen and oxygen. The first involves cooling the mixture down to -200 degrees Celsius and separating the gases using a process called fractional distillation. Alternatively, the gases can be cooled down to -182.95 °C, the liquefaction point of oxygen. At this temperature, the oxygen in the mixture gets liquefied, while the nitrogen remains in its gaseous form, because nitrogen liquefies at -196 °C.

Another method involves forcing air through polymer membranes shaped like hair-thin hollow tubes. Oxygen passes through these membranes faster than nitrogen. The air coming into these tubes gradually becomes poorer in oxygen and richer in nitrogen.