MadSci Network: Chemistry
Query:

Re: How is oxygen absorbed from a mixture of gases?

Date: Thu Mar 2 16:31:32 2000
Posted By: John Lyga, Staff, Chemistry, FMC Corp.
Area of science: Chemistry
ID: 951389725.Ch
Message:

You ask a very practical question, let me provide you with a lab method I 
have used to remove oxygen from cylinders of compressed nitrogen.  Trace 
amounts of oxygen can be removed by passing the nitrogen gas through a 
solution which absorbs oxygen.  One such solution is called Fieser's 
solution.  It is made from a mixture of two chemicals, sodium 
anthraquinone sulfonate and sodium dithionate, dissolved in aqueous 
potassium hydroxide.  As the blood red solution absorbs oxygen it oxidizes 
and changes color to brown.  There are other mixtures of chemicals that 
also can selectively remove oxygen. They all work using a similar 
mechanism of reacting with the oxygen.  I hope this helps.  


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