Nonmetallic Elements and Their Compounds

Flashcards covering the production, properties, and compounds of nonmetallic elements including Hydrogen, Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Oxygen, Sulfur, and Halogens based on Chapter 21/22 lecture notes.

Synthesis gas (syngas)

A mixture containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen ($CO$ and $H_{2}$) produced from reactants like methane and water or coal and water.

Deuterium ($D$ or $^{2}H$)

An isotope of hydrogen that exhibits a kinetic isotope effect, seen in the difference between the acid dissociation constants of $CH_{3}COOH$ ($K_{a} = 1.8 \times 10^{-5}$) and $CH_{3}COOD$ ($K_{a} = 6 \times 10^{-6}$).

Tritium ($T$ or $^{3}H$)

An isotope of hydrogen identified as $^{3}H$.

Hydrogenation

The addition of hydrogen to compounds containing multiple bonds, often utilizing a $Pt$ catalyst on $Al_{2}O_{3}$ to convert unsaturated fats to saturated fats.

Fuel Value

The energy released per unit mass of fuel; for Hydrogen, this value is $142,kJ\,g^{-1}$, which is significantly higher than gasoline ($48,kJ\,g^{-1}$).

Metallic Hydrogen

A state of hydrogen found in the interior of Jupiter, existing as metallic molecular hydrogen and metallic atomic hydrogen surrounding a rock core.

Coal gasification

The process of reacting coal (carbon) with steam to produce syngas: $C(s) + H_{2}O(g) \rightarrow CO(g) + H_{2}(g)$.

Steam reforming

A method of producing syngas from methane and steam, represented by the reaction $CH_{4}(g) + H_{2}O(g) \rightarrow CO(g) + 3H_{2}(g)$, resulting in a $1:3$ ratio of $CO$ to $H_{2}$.

Water gas shift reaction

The chemical reaction where carbon monoxide reacts with steam to produce carbon dioxide and additional hydrogen: $CO + H_{2}O \rightarrow CO_{2} + H_{2}$.

Hydrazine

A nitrogen compound with the formula $N_{2}H_{4}$ where nitrogen has an oxidation number of $-2$.

Nitrous oxide

Also known as dinitrogen monoxide ($N_{2}O$), where nitrogen has an oxidation number of $+1$.

White Phosphorus

The $P_{4}$ allotrope of phosphorus that can be converted into red phosphorus ($(P_{4})_{n}$) by heating to $300\,^{\circ}C$.

Ammonium Nitrate ($NH_{4}NO_{3}$)

An explosive fertilizer that decomposes into $N_{2}O$ and $H_{2}O$ at temperatures above $250\,^{\circ}C$, or into $N_{2}$, $H_{2}O$, and $O_{2}$ at temperatures above $300\,^{\circ}C$.

Superoxide

An oxide species containing the $O_{2}^{-}$ ion, which reacts with water to produce oxygen gas and hydroxide ions: $2O_{2}^{-}(aq) + 2H_{2}O(l) \rightarrow 3O_{2}(g) + 4OH^{-}(aq)$.

Ozone ($O_{3}$)

A powerful oxidizing agent formed from oxygen gas through a non-spontaneous reaction ($\Delta G^{\circ} = 326.8,kJ$) often triggered by electrical discharge.

Frasch Process

A method for recovering elemental sulfur from underground deposits using pressurized steam at approximately $165\,^{\circ}C$ to melt the sulfur (melting point $115\,^{\circ}C$).

Claus process

A desulfurization process that converts hydrogen sulfide ($H_{2}S$) into elemental sulfur through oxidation.

Chlor-Alkali Process

An industrial electrolytic process used to produce chlorine gas ($Cl_{2}$) and sodium hydroxide ($NaOH$) from a brine solution ($NaCl$).

Bleach

A solution of sodium hypochlorite ($NaOCl$), typically in concentrations of $3\text{--}6\%$, produced by the reaction of chlorine gas with sodium hydroxide.