Date : 24 June 2003

Activities : 5.5
Aim : To show the properties of oxygen and carbon dioxide

a. Solubility in Water

Apparatus: test tubes containing oxygen and test tubes

containing carbon dioxide.

Procedure:
1. A basin is filled with water.
2. The stopper of the test tube containing oxygen is
removed and the mouth part is closed with my
thumb.
3. The test tube is inverted into the basin of water as
shown in diagram beside.
4. Steps 2-4 is repeated with the test tube containing
carbon dioxide.

b. Reaction with sodium hydroxide solution

Apparatus: One test tube of oxygen, one test tube of
carbon dioxide, sodium hydroxide, 250ml beaker.

Procedure: Sodium
1. A beaker is filled with sodium hydroxide solution hydroxide
2. The stopper of the test tube containing oxygen
is removed and the mouth part is closed with
my thumb
3. The test tube is inverted into a beaker of
sodium hydroxide.
4. Steps 2-4 is repeated with the test tube containing
carbon dioxide.
C. The effect on glowing wooden splinter

Apparatus: wooden splinter, a test tube of oxygen and

a test tube of carbon dioxide.

Procedure:
1. A glowing wooden splinter is put into a test tube
containing oxygen.

2. The test is repeated by putting another glowing

wooden splinter into a test tube containing carbon
dioxide.

3. The glowing wooden splinter is observed.

D. The effect on burning wooden splinter

Apparatus: wooden splinter, a test tube of oxygen and

a test tube of carbon dioxide.

Procedure:
1. A burning wooden splinter is put into a test tube
containing oxygen.

2. The test is repeated by putting another burning

wooden splinter into a test tube containing carbon
dioxide.

3. The burning wooden splinter is observed.

e. Effect on litmus paper
Gas
Apparatus: blue litmus paper, red litmus paper, a test
tube of oxygen and a test tube of carbon dioxide.
Moist red
Procedure: litmus paper
1. A piece of moist blue litmus paper and a piece of
moist red litmus paper are put into a test tube
containing oxygen as shown in figure beside. Moist blue
litmus paper
2. The test is repeated by putting another piece of blue
litmus paper and a piece of moist red litmus paper
into a test tube containing carbon dioxide.

3. The colour of the litmus paper is observed

f. The effect on lime water Figure 5.10

Apparatus: lime water, a test tube of oxygen and a test

tube of carbon dioxide.

Procedure:
1. 2cm3 of lime water is poured into test tube
containing oxygen as shown in figure beside. The
test tube is shook and observed.

2. The test is repeated by pouring 2cm3 of lime water

into a test tube containing carbon dioxide. The test
tube is shook and observed.
g. The effect on bicarbonate indicator

Apparatus: bicarbonate indicator, a test tube of oxygen

and a test tube of carbon dioxide.

Procedure:
1. A few drops of bicarbonate indicator are added into
test tube containing oxygen as shown in figure 5.11
The test tube is shook and the changes of colour of
bicarbonate indicator is observed.

2. The test is repeated by putting a few drops of

bicarbonate indicator into a test tube containing
carbon dioxide. The test tube is shook and
observed.

3. All the reports are written in my science report book.