Uses of some common non metals

Metal and Non-metals of Class 8

USES OF SOME COMMON NON METALS

Non-metals too play a vital role in everyday life.

Proteins, carbohydrates and fats are made mostly of the non-metals carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen.

We need oxygen to breathe and plants need carbon dioxide for photosynthesis.

Non-metals are also important for the manufacture of a number of industrial substances.

The uses of some commonly known non-metals are discussed below:—

OXYGEN:

Oxygen is a life supporting gaseous non-metal. No living thing can survive without oxygen.

About 21% by volume and 23% by weight of air is oxygen 88.8% of pure water by weight is oxygen.

In combined state, it is present in the earth’s crust as oxides, carbonates, sulphates, etc.

Oxygen is used

For respiration and combustion.
For artificial respiration for patients suffering from breathing problems (in the form of carbogen, a mixture of 95% oxygen and 5% carbon dioxide).
For artificial respiration by people in special occupations. Deep sea divers, mountaineers, astronauts, miners and firemen carry oxygen cylinders with them.
To weld and cut metals.
In the extraction of iron and manufacture of steel. Oxygen reacts with the impurities of the crude iron ores to form ferrous oxides.
In the manufacture of sulphuric and nitric acids.
For blasting of rocks in the mining industry; carbon dust (carbon mixed with liquid oxygen) is used as an explosive, a substitute for dynamite.
As a propellant for spacecraft; liquid oxygen (LOX) helps to burn hydrogen. Oxygen is carried in containers attached to the spaceships. Since, in space there is no oxygen.

NITROGEN:

Nitrogen constitutes about 78% of air by volume. It is a colourless, odourless, tasteless gas.

It is slightly lighter than air. It is neither combustible nor supporter of combustion.

Nitrogen is an important component of human food nutrients.

Nitrogen plays an important role in controlling the rate of combustion. It dilutes the oxygen present in the air that we breathe, otherwise, pure oxygen would burn our lungs.
It is an important constituent of proteins, which are necessary for the growth of animals, plants and human beings. Plants convert nitrogen into proteins.
It is used in the manufacture of compounds like ammonia and nitrIt is used to make fertilizers like ammonium salts, urea, potassium nitrate, etc.
It is used to prepare explosives like T.N.T. (Trinitro toluene)
Because of its inert nature, nitrogen is used for preservation of food. The containers used for storing foodstuffs are flushed with nitrogen (to remove oxygen) before they are packed and sealed. The absence of oxygen does not allow for bacterial growth. Thus food remains fresh for a long time.

During a thunderstorm, when lightning occurs, nitrogen and oxygen in the atmosphere combine to form oxides of nitrogen, which are washed away with rain (in the form of nitric acid) into the soil.

CHLORINE:

It is a greenish yellow gas, with a pungent suffocating smell. It is fairly soluble in water, forming a pale yellow solution called chlorine water.

Chlorine is used

As a bleaching agent for rough and hand fibres like jute and cotton.
As a disinfectant for sterilizing both drinking water and swimming pool water.
In the manufacture of mineral acids like hydrogen chloride.
In the manufacture of chemicals like D.D.T. (Dichloro diphenyl trichloro ethane), B.H.C (Benzene hexachloride) and bleaching powder (CaOCl2), which are used as an insecticide, a pesticide and a disinfectant, respectively.

SULPHUR:

Sulphur is yellow solid. It is brittle in nature. In free state in occurs in volcanic regions, while in combined state it occurs as sulphates, sulphides, etc.

Substances like garlic, onion, eggs, hair and wool contain sulphur. Sulphur in small amounts is a vital ingredient for the human body.

Sulphur has wide applications

It is used in the chemical industry for the manufacture of sulphuric acid, sodium thiosulphate (used in photography), gunpowder, dyes, matches and fireworks.
It is used in the medical industry:
to prepare skin ointments, since it has excellent fungicidal properties.
to fumigate disease-infected areas (in the form of sulphur vapour)
to purify blood (in the form of a colloidal solution).
to prepare homeopathic and ayurvedic medicines.
to prepare a range of other medicinal drugs.
Sulphur powder is used as an insecticide and as a fungicide.
In the form of sulphur dioxide it is used for fumigation of factories, godowns and cold storages.

PHOSPHORUS:

Phosphorus is found in red or yellow or white or black or scarlet colours. It does not occur in free state, since it readily combines with oxygen.

In combined state phosphorus occurs as phosphates. It is present in the brain, the bones and the teeth of animals [in the form of calcium phosphate [Ca3(PO4)2] and in plant cells.

White phosphorus is used as rat poison. It is used also in fireworks because of its inflammable nature.
Phosphorus is used in the manufacture of fertilizers, detergents and fine chinaware.
Phosphorus sulphide is used on the sides of safety match boxes.

SILICON:

Silicon is one of the most useful elements available to modern man. It does not occur free in nature.

In combined state however it ranks next only to oxygen in abundance i.e., as sand. [The chemical name of sand is silica (SiO2)].

Applications of Silicon:

Highly purified silicon is used in making microchips for computers, transistors, solar cells, rectifiers and other solid state devices that are used extensively in the electronic and the space age industries.
Silicon is used in the manufacture of “silicone”, a waterproof material.
It is used also to prepare silicon carbide, which is the hardest substance prepared by man. It is used as the grinding agent in various kinds of grinding tools.
In the form of sand to prepare concrete, bricks and cement. Sand is the principal ingredient of glass.
In the form of silicates, silicon is used in enamel, pottery, etc., and for preserving eggs.
Silicon is an important ingredient in steel, an alloy of iron.

IODINE:

Iodine is a dark grey, crystalline solid, with a metallic lustre. It is insoluble in water but soluble in water but soluble in both alcohol and potassium iodide solutions.

It is used

In the form of iodized slat for the healthy growth of the human body. Iodine deficiency causes goiter and other thyroid based diseases.
In Photographic films (in the form of potassium iodide).
to make tincture of iodine and iodex, which are used as disinfectant and pain reliever respectively.

FLUORINE:

Pure fluorine is a greenish yellow gas with a suffocating odour.

Fluorine is used mainly in the production of fluorides and fluorocarbon compounds.
In the form of stannous fluoride it is used in toothpastes to prevent dental decay, especially in children.
Fluorine is used to prepare a type of plastic known as teflon. Teflon is thermally stable and chemically resistant. Therefore, it is widely used as an insulator and as a lubricant.
Fluorine is potentially a rocket fuel, through it is rarely used for this purpose.