Testing for the presence of Oxygen - Science

Testing for the presence of Oxygen

Aim: To carry out a test for the presence of Oxygen Gas (02)

Equipment: A pea-sized amount of manganese dioxide (Mn02), boiling tube, bottle of hydrogen peroxide (H202), safety glasses, wooden splint, Bunsen burner, test tube rack.

Method: 

1. Light your Bunsen burner.

2. Add the manganese dioxide to the boiling tube and place it in your test tube rack. 

3. Add 2mL of hydrogen peroxide. 

4. Light a splint and let it burn for a while. 

5. Blow the splint out and insert the glowing embers into the mouth of the boiling tube. 

Observations: The mixture rose to the top of the tube after the hydrogen peroxide was added. It also made smoke and bubbles. When we put the 

splint in the tube the splint reignited. That happened because if oxygen is present the splint will reignite and that did happen so the experiment 

worked. 

Discussion: The oxygen gas from both reactants was released which is how the splint reignited. 

Conclusion: This experiment went well and it did indeed work.