Non Metal Fun Facts and Famous Manufacturing Processes

Boron

-usually forms only three covalent bonds, which is contrary to the octet rule

- found in boric acid which is used to kill ants and borax which is used as a detergent

Nitrogen

-can assume many oxidation states (-3 to +5)

-it is found in explosives, fertilizers (ammonia is made with the Haber process from H2 and No at low temperature with a catalyst), and as an oxide in laughing gas, Viagra, smog, and preservatives

Carbon

-has three allotropes including C6o, which forms interesting tubular and spherical structures, graphite, which is sp2 hybridized and diamond, which is sp3 hybridized, COs is an inorganic form of carbon that is an essential part of a cycle involving the greenhouse gas, COz, a diprotic acid, and limestone, CaCO3

Phosphorus

- found in man common materials including soaps, toothpaste, fertilizer, and pesticides

-it is extracted from Caз(PO4)2 rock

-phosphate is the backbone in nucleic acids like DNA. Phosphates cause algae bloom and increasingly their use is discouraged for environmental reasons

Halides

-have small radii, high ionization energy, high electronegativity, and form 1 anions

-their oxides and hydrides are acidic

Fluoride

-instead of OH in tooth enamel to protect from decay

Chloride

-is manufactured as Cl, a strong oxidizing agent

-it is used in disinfection and sanitation. It is also used to make PVC tubing

Noble Gases

-are inert with 2 or 8 electrons in filled shells

-specialty uses include as cryogens (He), inert gases (Ar), and lights (Ne)

Claus and Contact Processes

-combine to produce H2SO4 through a series of oxidation and acid/base reactions

Claus

-a two-step oxidation produces elemental sulfur from H2S, which is a contaminant in natural gas, methane

-reactant is H2S

-product is S

Contact

- four-step oxidation process produces H2SO4 from

elemental sulfur, S

-reactant is S

-product is H2SO4

Sulfuric Acid

-it is the most manufactured chemical in the world

-about half of all sulfuric acid is used to solubilize phosphate in rocks by the wet method; in turn the solubilized phosphate is used in fertilizers.

-sulfuric acid is not just a strong acid, it is also a strong oxidizing agent and a strong dehydration agent (removing water)