Question

Which of the following is the best $C{{O}_{2}}$ absorber as well as a source of ${{O}_{2}}$ in the space capsule?
(A) $K{{O}_{2}}$
(B) ${{K}_{2}}{{O}_{2}}$
(C) $KOH$
(D) $LiOH$

Answer 1

Hint: Removing carbon dioxide from the human environment is used in other areas like the mining industry, submarines, scuba diving, space crafts, and many others. The rationale to remove carbon dioxide from confined spaces is that cannot be eliminated otherwise.

Complete answer:
A space capsule is an often crewed spacecraft that uses a blunt-body reentry capsule to reenter the earth's atmosphere without wings, which contain carbon dioxide absorber and as well as a source of oxygen.

Let's find from the given options which are carbon dioxide absorber and as well as a source of oxygen.
(A) $2K{{O}_{2}}+C{{O}_{2}}\to {{K}_{2}}C{{O}_{3}}+\tfrac{3}{2}{{O}_{2}}$
From the above reaction, potassium superoxide reacts with carbon dioxide which releases potassium carbonate and oxygen. Hence observe the above equation, potassium superoxide is absorbed carbon dioxide and as well as a source of ${{O}_{2}}$
(B) ${{K}_{2}}{{O}_{2}}+C{{O}_{2}}\to {{K}_{2}}C{{O}_{3}}+\frac{1}{2}{{O}_{2}}$
Due to less stability and oxidizing property of potassium peroxide, it does not act as a source of ${{O}_{2}}$.
(C) $KOH+C{{O}_{2}}\to KHC{{O}_{3}}$
Potassium hydroxide when reacts with carbon dioxide, it forms soluble potassium bicarbonate. But, potassium hydroxide will not produce ${{O}_{2}}$.
(D) $LiOH+C{{O}_{2}}\to L{{i}_{2}}C{{O}_{3}}$
Lithium hydroxide reacts with carbon dioxide form lithium carbonate and not forms oxygen as a product.
From the four chemical substance reactions, observed that potassium superoxide is the only chemical substance that absorbs carbon dioxide as well as a source of oxygen in the space capsule.
So, the correct answer is “Option A”.

Note: A carbon dioxide scrubber is a piece of equipment that absorbs carbon dioxide, which is used to exhaust gases from industrial plants, exhaust carbon dioxide in space capsules, submarines. Lithium hydroxide is the best chemical absorbent for Carbon dioxide.