Date:
Topic: Limestone
Teitl: Uses of Limestone
Do Now Task
1. What is the chemical formula of calcium
carbonate?
2. What group and period is calcium in in the
periodic table?
3. Describe the structure carbon.
4. What is the test for oxygen?
5. How can you speed up the reaction between
calcium carbonate and hydrochloric acid?
Specification
Objectives
● Recall the uses of limestone
● Describe how quarrying for
limestone can have social,
economic and environmental
impact.
● Evaluate the benefits and
drawbacks of limestone quarrying.
Research the uses of limestone
Research how limestone is used in the following
industries. Write a couple (2) of sentences to
explain each one.
● Building of roads
● Cement
● Manufacture of iron
● Agriculture
Copy the Table in to your books:
Advantages of Disadvantages of
quarrying limestone quarrying limestone
Make a list of the advantages
and disadvantages of quarrying
Date:
Topic: Limestone
Teitl: Thermal stability of
metal carbonate
Do Now Task
1. What do you think the words “thermal
decomposition” mean?
2. What is the symbol for a carbonate ion?
3. Na+ reacts with CO32-. What is the chemical
formula for sodium carbonate?
Specification
Objectives
● Describe what thermal
decomposition is.
● Write word and symbol
equations for thermal
decomposition
● Use the reactivity series to
rank the thermal stability of
metal carbonates.
Thermal Decomposition of Metal Carbonates
Metal carbonates breakdown to form metal oxides and
carbon dioxide.
Metal carbonate → Metal oxides + Carbon dioxide
Example:
Copper (II) carbonate → copper oxide + carbon dioxide
CuCO3 → CuO + CO2
Thermal Decomposition Equations
Write word and then symbol equations for the
thermal decomposition of the following:
1. Sodium carbonate
2. Calcium carbonate
3. Zinc Carbonate
4. Potassium carbonate
Challenge: Aluminium carbonate
Answers
1. Sodium carbonate → Sodium oxide + carbon dioxide
2. Calcium carbonate → Calcium oxide + carbon dioxide
3. Zinc Carbonate → Zinc oxide + carbon dioxide
4. Potassium carbonate → potassium oxide + carbon dioxide
Challenge:
Aluminium carbonate → Aluminium oxide + carbon dioxide
5. Na2CO3 → Na2O + CO2
6. CaCO3 → CaO + CO2
7. ZnCO3 → ZnO + CO2
8. K2CO3 → K2O + CO2
Challenge:
Al2(CO3)3 → Al2O3 + 3CO2
Reactivity of metal Carbonates
The difficulty of a decomposition
reaction depends on the reactivity
of the metal in the metal
carbonate.
Sodium is a very reactive metal.
This means that sodium carbonate
is very stable and requires a high
temperature to decompose.
Copper is a very unreactive
metal. So copper(II) carbonate is
quite unstable and decomposes at
a relatively low temperature.
Questions
1. Which metal is the most
reactive in the reactivity
series?
2. What does the term ‘thermal
stability’ mean?
3. What is the relationship
between thermal stability and
reactivity?
4. Rank the thermal stability of
the following metal carbonates
a. Zinc carbonate
b. Lead carbonate
c. Aluminium carbonate
Investigating the stability of carbonates
Method
1. Weigh the boiling tube and record the mass in the
table.
2. Use a weighing boat measure out 2g of sodium
carbonate. Record the mass in the table
3. Using tongs heat the carbonate in the roaring flame for
5 minutes.
4. Allow to cool in the test tube rack while you prepare
the other carbonates.
5. When the tubes have cooled weigh them and record the
mass in the table.
6. Subtract the mass of the boiling tube from the mass of
the boiling tube and contents to find the final mass.
7. Finally calculate the change in mass.
Results Table
Name of Carbonate Sodium Copper Calcium
carbonate carbonate carbonate
Mass of boiling tube
(g)
Mass of carbonate
(g)
Mass of boiling tube
and contents (g)
Mass of contents
(g)
Change in mass (g)
Analysis
1. Do your results fit the hypothesis that
metals higher in the reactivity series have
carbonates that are more resistant to
thermal decomposition.
2. What is the strength of the evidence.
3. During the practical all the carbonates gave
off a gas. What will the gas be?
4. How could you collect and test the gas to
confirm which gas it is?
Date:
Topic: Limestone
Teitl: Limestone Cycle
Do Now Task
1. Which metal carbonate has the greatest
thermal stability?
2. Name 3 advantages of quarrying in the local
area?
3. What is the common name and chemical
formula of calcium hydroxide?
4. Explain why all the group 1 metals are reactive.
Stuck? What does the knowledge organiser say?
Specification
Objectives
● Know the chemical names for limestone,
quicklime and slaked lime.
● Recall the steps in the limestone cycle
● Describe the limestone cycle using
chemical equations.
The Limestone Cycle
Demo limestone cycle.
Spend 5 minutes learning the cycle.
Look - Cover - Recall - Repeat
Build the Limestone Cycle Task
Thermal decomposition
calcium oxide is a key
ingredient in cement
Addition of water - This reaction is extremely exothermic
calcium hydroxide is
extremely alkali and
used for neutralisation
When dissolved in water
limewater is formed
Addition of Carbon dioxide
Demonstration of the Limestone Cycle
