HKDSE CHEMISTRY / Topic I Planet Earth / Chapter 4 / Rocks and minerals / Page.
Chapter 4.
Rocks and Minerals
I(c) Rocks and minerals
- rocks as a source of minerals
- isolation of useful materials from minerals as exemplified by the extraction of metals from their ores
- describe the methods for the extraction of metals from their ores, such as the physical method, heating
alone and heating with carbon
- limestone, chalk and marble as different forms of calcium carbonate
- describe different forms of calcium carbonate in nature
- erosion processes as exemplified by the action of heat, water and acids on calcium carbonate
- understand that chemicals may change through the action of heat, water and acids
- thermal decomposition of calcium carbonate and test for carbon dioxide
- use word equations to describe chemical changes
- tests to show the presence of calcium and carbonate in a sample of limestone / chalk / marble
- demonstrate how to carry out tests for carbon dioxide and calcium
4.1 Metals in the Earth’s crust
(1) Most metals are obtained from the Earth’s crust.
(2) About 25% of the Earth’s crust consists of metals. However, only a few metals, such as gold
and silver, exist as free elements in the Earth. Most of them exist as compounds in nature.
(3) The individual chemical compounds that make up rocks are called minerals.
(4) Most rocks are mixtures of minerals.
(5) Rocks from which we obtain metals are called ores.
4.2 Extracting metals from their ores
(1) Getting a metal from its ore is called extracting the metal.
(2) Examples of some common ores are shown below :
(i) Bauxite – the main ore of aluminium. It is mostly aluminium oxide.
(ii) Copper pyrite – the main ore of copper. It is mostly copper iron sulphide.
(iii) Haematite – the main ore of iron (III) oxide.
(iv) Galena – the main ore of lead. It is mostly lead(II) sulphide.
(v) Unreactive metals – gold, silver (in an uncombined state)
(3)
(4) Methods to extract metal from the mineral, e.g.
(i) Physical separation such as panning for gold
(ii) Heating the ore alone
(iii) Heating the ore with carbon (Carbon reduction)
(iv) Electrolysis of molten ore
4.3Limestone, chalk and marble as different forms of calcium carbonate
(1) Limestone, chalk and marble are three common rocks in the Earth’s crust.
(2) They all contain the same mineral –calcium carbonate.
(3) These three forms of naturally occurring calcium carbonate have different appearances and
hardness.
(i) Limestone is hard and strong, but inexpensive.
(ii) Chalk is slightly softer.
HKDSE CHEMISTRY / Topic I Planet Earth / Chapter 4 / Rocks and minerals / Page.2
(iii) Marble is a beautiful crystalline solid, very hard indeed.
A. Formation of limestone, chalk and marble
(1) Millions of years ago, oceans were filled with sea creatures
having shells. When they died, the remains built up a thick
deposit on ocean beds.
(2) Under high pressure, the deposit changed to chalk after
millions of years.
(3) Earth movements caused the deposit to sink further.
(4) Under higher temperature and pressure , chalk changed to
limestone.
(5) Under much higher temperatures and pressures, limestone
changed to marble.
B. Uses of limestone, chalk and marble
1. Limestone (i) Materials for construction.
(ii) making cement.
(iii) making glass.
2. Chalk Materials for construction, paper, plastics, ceramics, cosmetics and
paints.
3. Marble Materials for buildings and monuments, interior decoration, statuary
and table tops.
4.4 Action of water, acids and heat on calcium carbonate
(A) Action of water :
(1) Calcium carbonate is insoluble in water.
(2) It has no reaction with water.
(B) Action of acids :
(1) Calcium carbonate reacts with dilute hydrochloric acids to give calcium chloride, carbon
dioxide and water.
(2) Calcium carbonate + hydrochloric acid calcium chloride + carbon dioxide + water.
(3) Chemical equation : CaCO3 + 2HCl CaCl2 + H2O + CO2
(C) Action of heat (Thermal decomposition) :
(1) Calcium carbonate decomposes on heating to give calcium oxide (quicklime) and carbon
dioxide.
(2) Calcium carbonate Calcium oxide + carbon dioxide
(3) Chemical equation : CaCO3 CaO + CO2
HKDSE CHEMISTRY / Topic I Planet Earth / Chapter 4 / Rocks and minerals / Page.3
Fig. 4.23 Heating calcium carbonate strongly to make quicklime (calcium oxide).
(4) Calcium oxide is commonly known as quicklime.
(5) When Calcium oxide is added to water, calcium hydroxide solid (slaked lime) is formed
and it produces a lot of heat at the same time.
(6) Calcium oxide + water calcium hydroxide solid
(7) Chemical equation : CaO + H2O Ca(OH)2
(8) Calcium hydroxide is slightly soluble in water. The saturated calcium hydroxide
solution formed is called limewater.
(9) Limewater (Calcium hydroxide solution) reacts with carbon dioxide to give calcium
carbonate and water.
(10) Calcium hydroxide + carbon dioxide Calcium carbonate + water
(11) Chemical equation : Ca(OH)2 + CO2 CaCO3 + H2O
Question :
Write word equations for steps 1 – 4 as shown below.
Step 4 : pass in carbon Calcium carbonate Step 1 : strong heating
dioxide (limewater test) (Limestone)
Calcium hydroxide solution Calcium oxide
(limewater) (quicklime)
Step 2 : add a little water
Step 3 : add more water, Calcium hydroxide
stir well and then filter (slaked lime)
Answer:
Step 1 : calcium carbonate
Step 2 : Calcium oxide +
Step 3 : Calcium hydroxide +
Step 4 : Calcium hydroxide + +
Question / Answer:
Ancient China invented a method of producing white paint on wall. They stirred slaked lime with
water and paint the mixture on wall. A few days later, the mixture turned from grey to white.
[Hint : Slaked lime is alkaline. Which gas in air is acidic may react with the Slaked lime ?]
(a) What is the white substance ?
(b) Suggest how it is formed.
CaCO3 is and .
HKDSE CHEMISTRY / Topic I Planet Earth / Chapter 4 / Rocks and minerals / Page.4
4.5 Erosion of limestone
(1) Erosion is a process in which rocks are slowly worn away by wind, water, chemicals and
other factors.
(2) Carbon dioxide in the air dissolves in rainwater to form carbonic acid (H2CO3).
Carbon dioxide + water carbonic acid
(3) The acid reacts with limestone to form soluble calcium hydrogencarbonate and thus the
limestone is slowly worn away :
Calcium carbonate (insoluble) + carbonic acid calcium hydrogencarbonate(soluble)
Chemical equation : CaCO3 + H2CO3 Ca(HCO3)2
(2) Heat can also erode limestone.
(3) Chemical equation : CaCO3 CaO + CO2
(4) The results of this natural chemical weathering process include :
Formation of sinkholes in limestone areas.
Damage to limestone statues.
Fig. 4.20 A sinkhole in limestone area. Fig. 4.21 This limestone statue has
been chemically weathered by rain.
Answer: (page 3)
Step 1 : calcium carbonate calcium oxide + carbon dioxide
Step 2 : Calcium oxide + water calcium hydroxide
Step 3 : Calcium hydroxide + water calcium hydroxide solution (limewater)
Step 4 : Calcium hydroxide + carbon dioxide calcium carbonate + water
4.6 Tests for calcium and carbonate in a sample of limestone / chalk / marble
A. Test for calcium
(1) Calcium compounds give a brick red flame in the flame test.
HKDSE CHEMISTRY / Topic I Planet Earth / Chapter 4 / Rocks and minerals / Page.5
Question
How to perform a flame test ?
Answer:
(1) Dip a clean wire into concentrated acid.
(2) Dip the tip of the wire into a to be tested.
(3) Put the tip of the wire into a flame.
B. Test for carbonate
(1) Carbonate can be tested by adding dilute hydrochloric acid to the calcium carbonate.
(2) If the sample contains carbonate, a colourless gas – carbon dioxide is produced, which turns
limewater milky.
(3) Calcium carbonate + hydrochloric acid calcium chloride + carbon dioxide + water
(4) Chemical equation : CaCO3 + 2HCl CaCl2 + H2O + CO2
(5) The gas evolved turns limewater milky due to the formation of insoluble calcium carbonate.
(6) Chemical equation : Ca(OH)2 + CO2 CaCO3 + H2O
Question / Answer: (page 3)
(a) What is the white substance ? Calcium carbonate (CaCO3)
(b) Suggest how it is formed.
Calcium hydroxide + carbon dioxide calcium carbonate + water
Ca(OH)2 + CO2 CaCO3 + H2O
CaCO3 is harder and whiter.
Answer: (page 4)
(4) Dip a clean platinum wire into concentrated hydrochloric acid.
HKDSE CHEMISTRY / Topic I Planet Earth / Chapter 4 / Rocks and minerals / Page.6
(5) Dip the tip of the wire into a sample to be tested.
(6) Put the tip of the wire into a non-luminous flame.
Name : ________________ Class : _____ Class No.: _____ Block : ____ Block No.:____
Exercises :
Section I :
1. The second most abundant metal in the Earth’s crust is
A. iron.
B. copper.
C. aluminium.
D. gold. □
2. Aluminium can be extracted by
A. filtration of its ores.
B. fractional distillation of its molten ores.
C. electrolysis of its molten ores.
D. sublimation of its molten ores. □
3. Metal ores are natural resources that should be preserved. Which of the following
explanations are correct?
(1) Metals are limited in amount.
(2) Metals are non-renewable.
(3) Metals are expensive.
A. (1) and (2) only
B. (1) and (3) only
C. (2) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3) □
4. Which of the following is NOT a use of limestone?
A. To make buildings
B. To make glass
C. To make cement
D. To make plastics □
HKDSE CHEMISTRY / Topic I Planet Earth / Chapter 4 / Rocks and minerals / Page.7
5. Which of the following substances contain calcium carbonate?
(1) Marble
(2) Chalk
(3) Limestone
A. (1) and (2) only
B. (1) and (3) only
C. (2) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3) □
6. Which of the following word equations shows correctly the reaction that occurs when
calcium carbonate is heated strongly in air?
A. calcium carbonate calcium oxide + carbon
B. calcium carbonate calcium + carbon + oxygen
C. calcium carbonate calcium oxide + carbon dioxide
D. calcium carbonate calcium + carbon dioxide □
7. Which of the following word equations shows correctly the reaction that occurs when
carbon dioxide is bubbled into limewater?
A. calcium hydroxide + carbon dioxide calcium oxide + water
B. calcium hydroxide + carbon dioxide calcium carbonate + water
C. calcium oxide + carbon dioxide calcium carbonate
D. calcium carbonate + carbon dioxide calcium oxide + carbon monoxide □
8. Which of the following word equations shows correctly the reaction that occurs when
calcium oxide is put into water?
A calcium oxide + water calcium + water
B. calcium oxide + water calcium hydroxide
C. calcium oxide + water calcium oxide + hydrogen
D. calcium oxide + water calcium + calcium hydroxide □
9. Limewater is a saturated solution of
A. calcium carbonate.
B. calcium oxide.
C. calcium hydrogencarbonate.
D. calcium hydroxide. □
10. When powdered marble is put under a blue Bunsen flame. The flame colour is
A. lilac.
B. green.
C. brick-red.
D. golden yellow. □
11. Arrange the procedures of obtaining metals from its ores in a correct sequence:
(1) Increasing ore concentration
(2) Metal extraction
(3) Digging up ores
HKDSE CHEMISTRY / Topic I Planet Earth / Chapter 4 / Rocks and minerals / Page.8
(4) Purifying metal
A. (1)®(4)®(3)®(2)
B. (3)®(1)®(2)®(4)
C. (2)®(3)®(4)®(1)
D. (1)®(3)®(2)®(4) □
12. Which of the following is regarded as a chemical weathering?
A. A road is damaged due to long time usage.
B. A statue is damaged by acid rain.
C. A rock is broken by heavy rain.
D. An iron bar is broken due to a great force applied on it. □
13. When dilute nitric acid is added to a sample of chalk, which of the following statements is
INCORRECT?
(1) The gas produced could give a ‘pop’ sound with a burning splint.
(2) Calcium chloride is produced.
(3) One of the compounds produced would give a golden yellow flame in a flame test.
A. (1) and (2) only
B. (1) and (3) only
C. (2) and (3) only
D. (1), (2) and (3) □
Section II :
1.
(a) Write down two ways in which marble and limestone behave similarly.
(1) Both react with acid to give out ;
(2) Both are on strong heating.
(b) Describe three uses of limestones.
(1) acidic soil and lakes affected by acid rain.
(2) As a raw material to make by heating with sand and sodium carbonate
(3) As a raw material to make by heating with clay.
2.
(a) What are the chemical names for the following substances ?
(i) Quicklime :
(ii) Slaked lime :
(iii) Limewater :
(b) Write a word equation for the reaction that occurs when
(i) calcium carbonate is heated strongly.
_________________________________________________________
(ii) hydrochloric acid is added to calcium carbonate.
__________________________________________________________
(iii) water is added to calcium oxide
___________________________________________________________
HKDSE CHEMISTRY / Topic I Planet Earth / Chapter 4 / Rocks and minerals / Page.9
(iv) carbon dioxide is passed into limewater.
____________________________________________________________
(c) Dolomite is a rock. It is similar to limestone, but contains a mixture of magnesium carbonate
and calcium carbonate instead of calcium carbonate alone. What would be observed when
dilute hydrochloric acid is added to the rock ?
3. Malachite is a green mineral used as an ore of copper and for making ornamental objects. Its
formula can be represented as CuCO [Link](OH)2. Malachite reacts with dilute hydrochloric
acid to give a colourless gas and a blue solution.
(a) What is the colourless gas ? Write an equation for its formation.
(b) Copper(II) ions are present in the blue solution. Suggest a test that can be used to show
the presence of copper(II) ion in the solution.
(c) On strongly heating malachite with coke (a kind of carbon), a reddish brown solid can be
obtained. This solid conducts electricity.
(i) What is this reddish brown solid.
(ii) Write appropriate equations for the formation of the reddish brown solid from
malachite.
Section I :
1. A 7. B
2. C Aluminium is so reactive that it 8. B
cannot be extracted by 9. D
heating its ores with carbon. 10.C Marble is a form of calcium carbonate.
Electrolysis is required for Calcium salts give a brick-red flame in
the extraction. flame test.
3. A 11. B
4. D 12.B Other options are physical weathering.
5. D 13. D (2) is incorrect as calcium carbonate would
6. C react with dilute nitric acid to give
calcium nitrate.
Section II :
1.
(a) Write down two ways in which marble and limestone behave similarly.
(1) Both react with acid to give out carbon dioxide;
(2) Both are decomposed on strong heating.
(b) Describe three uses of limestones.
(1) Neutralizing acidic soil and lakes affected by acid rain.
(2) As a raw material to make glass by heating with sand and sodium carbonate
(3) As a raw material to make cement by heating with clay.
2.
(a) What are the chemical names for the following substances ?
HKDSE CHEMISTRY / Topic I Planet Earth / Chapter 4 / Rocks and minerals / Page.10
(i) Quicklime : Calcium oxide
(ii) Slaked lime : Calcium hydroxide
(iii) Limewater : Calcium hydroxide solution
(b) Write a word equation for the reaction that occurs when
(i) calcium carbonate is heated strongly.
calcium carbonate calcium oxide + carbon dioxide
(ii) hydrochloric acid is added to calcium carbonate.
CaCO3 + 2HCl CaCl2 + H2O + CO2
(iii) water is added to calcium oxide
Calcium oxide + water calcium hydroxide
(iv) carbon dioxide is passed into limewater.
Calcium hydroxide + carbon dioxide calcium carbonate + water
(c) Dolomite is a rock. It is similar to limestone, but contains a mixture of magnesium carbonate
and calcium carbonate instead of calcium carbonate alone. What would be observed when
dilute hydrochloric acid is added to the rock ?
The rock fizzes; colourless gas is given out.
3. Malachite is a green mineral used as an ore of copper and for making ornamental objects. Its
formula can be represented as CuCO [Link](OH)2. Malachite reacts with dilute hydrochloric
acid to give a colourless gas and a blue solution.
(a) What is the colourless gas ? Write an equation for its formation.
Carbon dioxide
CuCO3 + 2HCl CuCl2 + H2O + CO2
(b) Copper(II) ions are present in the blue solution. Suggest a test that can be used to show
the presence of copper(II) ion in the solution.
Flame test. Bluish green flame appears.
(c) On strongly heating malachite with coke (a kind of carbon), a reddish brown solid can be
obtained. This solid conducts electricity.
(i) What is this reddish brown solid.
Copper
(ii) Write appropriate equations for the formation of the reddish brown solid from
malachite.
CuCO3 CuO + CO2
Cu(OH)2 CuO + H2O
2CuO + C 2Cu + CO2
