MadSci Network: Chemistry |
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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