1-steam is a mixture. 2-i)fractional distillation ii)Depending upon their boiling point different gases get separated at different heights. HOPE IT HELPS YOU

1. Steam is a compound.

Steam is the gaseous state of water, which is a compound made up of two elements: hydrogen and oxygen. The chemical formula for water is H2O, indicating that each water molecule consists of two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom. When water is heated, it undergoes a phase change from its liquid state to a gaseous state, resulting in the formation of steam. Therefore, steam is considered a compound.

2. Two main steps used for separation of gases from air:

Step 1: Compression
In the first step of separating gases from air, the process begins with the compression of air. This is done by using a compressor, which increases the pressure of the air. By compressing the air, its volume decreases, and the molecules become closer together. This step is essential as it allows for easier separation of the different gases present in the air.

Step 2: Cooling and Fractional Distillation
After the compression step, the compressed air is cooled down. Cooling is necessary because it causes the different gases in the air to condense into liquid form at different temperatures. This process is known as fractional distillation.

During fractional distillation, the compressed air is passed through a series of cooling stages. Each stage is set at a specific temperature, allowing the different gases to condense and separate based on their boiling points. The gases with lower boiling points will condense first, while those with higher boiling points will remain in the gaseous state.

As the air is cooled, the liquid fractions containing the separated gases are collected and further processed to obtain pure gases. For example, nitrogen, which has a lower boiling point, will condense first and can be collected separately. Oxygen, which has a slightly higher boiling point, will condense next and can be collected separately as well. This process allows for the separation of various gases present in the air, including nitrogen, oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide, and trace amounts of other gases.

In conclusion, the separation of gases from air involves two main steps: compression and cooling through fractional distillation. By compressing the air and then cooling it, the different gases can be separated based on their boiling points, allowing for the production of pure gases for various industrial and scientific purposes.