GCSE Chemistry C1.2 -
Limestone & Building
Materials
Limestone
Calcium carbonate
(CaCO3) also known as
Limestone is a
sedimentary rock. This
can be obtained by
quarrying and cut into
blocks. It is used as a
building material to build
walls of houses.
Advanatages of quarrying:
Creates Jobs
Supplies limestone for
glass, stell, cement
industries in the area
Increases business for
local workers.
Disadvantages of quarrying:
Destroys habitats
Noise pollution
Dust pollution
Destroys landscape
Dust will destroy local
farmers crops
Thermal Decomposition
Calcium carbonate decomposes
on heat to produce calcium
oxide and carbon dioxide. This
reaction is known as thermal
decomposition
Other metal carbonates also
undergo thermal
decomposition, also producing
a metal oxide and carbon
dioxide gas.
Reaction of calcium hydroxide
Calcium hydroxide reacts with
carbon dioxide to produce calcium
carbonate. This reaction is used as
a test for carbon dioxide gas (if the
limewater AKA Calcium hyrdoxide
turns cloudy, the test is positive for
carbon dioxide).
Cement, Mortar, Concrete
Cement - Powdered limestone and powered clay are
mixed in a rotary kiln to produce dry cement.
Mortar = Cement + sand +water
Concrete = Aggragate (crushed rock) + sand + water
Reacting Metal Carbonates
Metal carbonates + acid --> Salt + Water + Carbon dioxide