Separation of Components of Air

Air is a mixture of various gases.

How to Separate Different Gases from Air?

We know that Air is a mixture of different gases like Nitrogen, Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide etc.

They are separated by using Fractional Distillation

We use Fractional Distillation because difference in Boiling Point of the gases are below 25° C

Steps to separate Air into component gases:

• Air is compressed and cooled to Liquid
  This is done by increasing pressure and decreasing temperature
  
  
• Liquid Carbon Dioxide flows out as dry ice
  
  
• Remaining Liquid Air is Warmed up
  Heat is applied slowly by using fractional distillation column
  
  
• Different Gases get separated at different Heights
  This is because of Difference in boiling points of different gases
  
  
• Nitrogen and Argon Move to the top
  Oxygen remains at the bottom , it is cooled as liquid Oxygen