A sample of gas is to be identified by means of its behaviour in the presence of a glowing splint. Which of the following gases will neither itself burn nor cause the splint to bum?

The glowing splint test is a standard method for gas identification. Oxygen supports combustion and will cause a glowing splint to relight [1]. Hydrogen is highly combustible and burns with a characteristic 'pop' sound when exposed to a flame [2]. Methane is a hydrocarbon and a primary component of fossil fuels that burns readily in the presence of oxygen [1]. In contrast, Nitrogen is a relatively inert gas that does not support combustion [3]. When a splint is introduced to a sample of pure nitrogen, the flame or glow is extinguished because nitrogen dilutes oxygen and prevents burning [3]. Therefore, nitrogen neither burns itself nor causes the splint to burn, making it the correct identification for a gas that remains inactive in the presence of a glowing splint.

Sources

1. [1] Science ,Class VIII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 8: Nature of Matter: Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures > Safety first > p. 122
2. [2] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 20: Earths Atmosphere > Nitrogen > p. 272
3. [3] Science , class X (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Carbon and its Compounds > Why do substances burn with or without a flame? > p. 70