Grade 6
  1. Introduction to Chemistry  1.1. What is Chemistry?  1.2. Importance of chemistry in daily life  1.3. Branches of chemistry  1.4. Safety rules in chemistry laboratory  1.5. Common Laboratory Equipment and Their Uses
  2. Matter and its states  2.1. Definition of Matter  2.2. Properties of matter  2.3. States of matter  2.4. Solid state  2.5. Fluid state  2.6. Gaseous state  2.7. Plasma state  2.8. Changes in the states of matter  2.9. Melting and freezing  2.10. Evaporation and Condensation  2.11. Sublimation  2.12. Deposit
  3. Physical and chemical changes  3.1. Definition of Physical Change  3.2. Examples of physical change  3.3. Definition of Chemical Change  3.4. Examples of chemical change  3.5. Difference Between Physical and Chemical Changes  3.6. Indicators of Chemical Change
  4. Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures  4.1. Definition of the element  4.2. Classification of elements  4.3. Metals  4.4. Non metallic  4.5. Metalloids  4.6. Noble gases  4.7. Definition of compound  4.8. Properties of Compounds  4.9. Definition of Mixture  4.10. Types of mixtures  4.11. Homogeneous mixture  4.12. Heterogeneous mixtures
  5. Separation of mixtures  5.1. The need for isolation  5.2. Separation methods  5.3. Handpicking and winnowing  5.4. Filtration  5.5. Sedimentation and decantation  5.6. Evaporation  5.7. Crystallization  5.8. Distillation  5.9. Magnetic Separation  5.10. Chromatography
  6. Air and its composition  6.1. Components of air  6.2. Importance of Oxygen  6.3. The importance of nitrogen in the air and its composition  6.4. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere  6.5. The role of water vapor and other gases in air and its composition  6.6. Properties of Air  6.7. Uses of air  6.8. Air pollution and its effects
  7. Water and its properties  7.1. Importance of Water  7.2. Sources of water  7.3. Properties of water  7.4. Water as the universal solvent  7.5. Water Purification  7.6. Water purification methods (boiling, filtration, chlorination)  7.7. Water cycle  7.8. Water conservation  7.9. Water pollution and its effects
  8. Acids, Bases and Salts  8.1. Definition of Acid  8.2. Properties of Acids  8.3. Examples of Acids  8.4. Definition of Bases  8.5. Properties of bases  8.6. Examples of Bases  8.7. Definition of Salt  8.8. Neutralization reaction  8.9. pH Scale and Indicators  8.10. Uses of Acids, Bases and Salts
  9. Introduction to the Periodic Table  9.1. History of the Periodic Table  9.2. Arrangement of elements in the periodic table  9.3. Groups and periods  9.4. Importance of periodic table  9.5. First 10 elements and their symbols
  10. Metals and Nonmetals  10.1. Properties of Metals  10.2. Properties of Non-Metals  10.3. Difference Between Metals and Nonmetals  10.4. Uses of metals and nonmetals  10.5. Corrosion of metals and its prevention
  11. chemical reactions  11.1. Introduction to Chemical Reactions  11.2. Types of Chemical Reactions  11.3. combustion reaction  11.4. Oxidation and Reduction  11.5. Simple chemical equations  11.6. Rusting of iron
  12. Fuel and energy  12.1. Types of fuel  12.2. Fossil fuels  12.3. Renewable and non-renewable sources of energy  12.4. Energy Conservation  12.5. Alternative sources of energy (solar, wind, hydropower)
  13. Plastic and fiber  13.1. Natural and synthetic fibers  13.2. Properties of plastics  13.3. Advantages and disadvantages of plastic  13.4. Recycling of plastic  13.5. Biodegradable and non-biodegradable materials

Grade 6 → Air and its composition ↓


Components of air


Air is a transparent, odorless, tasteless gas that we breathe. It is all around us. Air is a mixture of various gases that surround the Earth. Without air, life on Earth would not exist. Let's learn about the components of air and their importance.

What is air?

Air is a mixture of many gases. The air around us is colorless and invisible, but it is essential to life. It takes up space and has weight. Even though we can't see air, we can feel it when it moves. For example, when the wind blows, we can feel the air moving on our skin.

Main components of air

The main components of air are: nitrogen (N 2), oxygen (O 2), carbon dioxide (CO 2), and water vapor. Other gases such as argon, neon, helium, methane, krypton, and hydrogen are also present in small amounts.

Nitrogen

Nitrogen is the largest component of air. It makes up about 78% of the Earth's atmosphere. Nitrogen is colorless and odorless. It is very stable and does not easily react with other substances. This makes it an important gas for protecting the Earth's environment. Nitrogen is used by plants to grow. The process of turning nitrogen from the air into nutrients for plants is called nitrogen fixation.

Nitrogen: N 2

N2

Oxygen

Oxygen is the second most abundant gas in the atmosphere. It makes up about 21% of the Earth's atmosphere. Oxygen is essential for life. Humans and animals need oxygen to breathe. When you breathe in, you take in oxygen and when you exhale, you release carbon dioxide.

Oxygen: O2

O2

Carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide is a small but important component of air, making up about 0.04% of the atmosphere. Plants use it to make food in photosynthesis. This process also provides oxygen for us to breathe. Although there is very little carbon dioxide in the air, it plays an important role in regulating the Earth's temperature.

Carbon dioxide: CO 2

CO2

Water vapor

Water vapor is the gaseous form of water present in the air. Its amount ranges from 0 to 4% depending on the location, time of day, and season. Water vapor is important for the water cycle, which results in cloud formation and precipitation. It also helps regulate the Earth's temperature.

Noble gases

In addition to the main gases, air also contains some amount of noble gases such as argon, neon, and helium. Argon is the most common noble gas in air, making up about 0.93% of the atmosphere. These gases are inert, meaning they do not react with other elements or compounds under normal conditions.

Argon

Argon is a noble gas that makes up about 0.93% of the Earth's atmosphere. It is colorless, odorless, and non-reactive. Argon is often used in light bulbs to keep the filament from burning out too quickly.

Other gases

The air also contains traces of other gases such as neon, helium, methane, hydrogen, and krypton. These gases are present in very small quantities but their role can be important. For example, methane is known as a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.

Importance of air

Air is essential for life on Earth. Humans and animals depend on oxygen to breathe. Plants need carbon dioxide for photosynthesis. The presence of water vapor is vital for the water cycle, which provides fresh water for plants and animals. In addition, the atmosphere protects life on Earth by blocking harmful solar radiation.

Air pollution

Despite the importance of air, human activities have led to pollution, making the air harmful to breathe. Major sources of air pollution include vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions, the burning of fossil fuels, and deforestation. Air pollution can cause health problems and damage the environment, so it's important to keep the air clean. Efforts to reduce air pollution include the use of clean energy sources, reforestation, and regulations on emissions.

Experiments and activities

Understanding the components of air can be further enhanced through simple experiments and activities. Here are some ideas you can try at home or in the classroom:

Activity: Discovery of oxygen

Materials: A clear glass jar, a small candle and a match stick.

  1. Light the candle with a matchstick.
  2. Place the glass jar over a burning candle.
  3. Watch how the candle eventually goes out.

Explanation: The candle goes out because it has used up the oxygen inside the jar. This shows the importance of oxygen in combustion.

Activity: Water vapor

Material: Piece of mirror or glass.

  1. Breathe onto a mirror or glass.
  2. Observe the fog on the surface.

Explanation: Fog is formed when water vapor in your breath cools rapidly on contact with a cold surface and condenses into tiny droplets of liquid water.

Understanding the weight of air

Air has weight even though it is invisible. You can understand this by looking at a simple balloon experiment:

Inflate two balloons equally and tie one balloon to either end of a stick. Balance the stick on a string, making sure both balloons are at the same level. Then, burst one balloon. You will see that the stick bends towards the inflated balloon, indicating that the air increases the weight of the balloon.

Conclusion

Air is a vital component of our planet, essential for living organisms and environmental processes. Understanding its composition and role helps us understand its importance and highlights the need to preserve air quality. Recognizing the impact of human activities on air can guide us toward actions that maintain clean and healthy air for the future.


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Components of air

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