Using Limestone

Question 1

What is limestone mostly made of? and What is it often formed from?

Answer 1

Mostly Calcium Carbonate, CaCO3

Formed from sea shells

Question 2

When limestone is heated it [ ] to make calcium [ ] and [ ]

Answer 2

Thermally decomposes
Calcium Oxide
Carbon dioxide

Question 3

Calcium Oxide = (Formula and common name)

Answer 3

CaO and Quicklime

Question 4

What other materials thermally decompose in the same way as limestone?

Answer 4

Magnesium, Copper, Zinc and Sodium CArbonates

Question 5

Why can’t you thermally decompose some materials with a Bunsen burner?

Answer 5

Doesn’t get hot enough

Question 6

Calcium Carbonate reacts with acid to make a calcium [ ], carbon dioxide and [ ]

Answer 6

salt

water

Question 7

The type of salt depends on the type of [ ]

Answer 7

acid

Question 8

Calcium Oxide reacts with water to produce [ ].

Answer 8

calcium hydroxide

Question 9

Calcium hydroxide = (Formula and common name)

Answer 9

Ca(OH)2 and Slaked lime

Question 10

Calcium hydroxide is an alkali/acid

Answer 10

alkali

Question 11

Calcium hydroxide can be used to neutralise…

Answer 11

acidic soil

Question 12

What is an advantage of using Calcium hydroxide over powdered limestone to neutralise acidic soil?

Answer 12

Calcium hydroxide works much FASTER

Question 13

Calcium hydroxide can also be used in a test for [ ]

Answer 13

Carbon Dioxide

Question 14

How do you use Calcium hydroxide to test for Carbon Dioxide?

Answer 14

If you make a solution of Calcium hydroxide in water (lime water) and bubble gas through it, the solution will turn cloudy if there’s CO2 in the gas
The cloudiness is caused by the formation of Calcium Carbontate

Question 15

Calcium hydroxide reacts with [ ] to create Calcium hydroxide solution which is called…

Answer 15

water

Lime water or Ca(OH)2 (aq)

Question 16

How do you make CEMENT?

Answer 16

Powdered Limestone is heated in a kiln with powdered CLAY

Question 17

How do you make MORTAR?

Answer 17

Cement is mixed with sand and water

Question 18

What else can you use to make MORTAR?

Answer 18

Calcium hydroxide

Question 19

How do you make CONCRETE?

Answer 19

Mix cement with sand and aggregate

Question 20

What is aggregate?

Answer 20

Water and gravel

Question 21

What are the disadvantages of quarrying limestone? (5)

Answer 21

Makes a huge, ugly hole, which permanently change the landscape

Quarrying processes, like blasting rocks with explosives, create dust and noise

Destroys the habitats of animals and birds

Limestone transported away in lorries creates noise and pollution

Waste materials produce unsightly tips

Question 22

How does making stuff from limestone create pollution? (2)

Answer 22

Cement factories make a lot of dust, which can cause breathing problems

Energy is needed to produce cement and quicklime. The energy is likely to come from burning fossil fuels which causes pollution

Question 23

Advantages of using limestone (5)

Answer 23

Provides material for roads, buildings. Chemicals used in making dyes, paints and medicines also come from limestone.
Limestone products neutralise acidic soil. Acidity in lakes and rivers caused y acid rain is also neutralised by limestone
Used in power station chimneys to neutralise sulphur dioxide (causes acid rain)
Quarrying provides jobs -> More money for the local economy -> local improvements (roads)
Landscaping and restoration after quarrying is part of the planning permission

Question 24

4 Advantages of limestone as a building material

Answer 24

Widely available
Cheaper than granite or marble
Fairly easy rock to cut
Can be more hard-wearing than marble

Question 25

Concrete : Advantage (4)

Disadvantage (2)

Answer 25

Advantage: Quick, cheap, poured into any shape mould, doesn’t corrode
Disadvantage: Ugly, low tensile strength

Question 26

Advantage of Limestone, concrete and cement (Erosion) (3)

Answer 26

Doesn’t rot (unlike wood)
Can’t be gnawed by insects or rodents
Fire-resistant