Carbonates, Air and Water

Specification Points

Air and Water

Understand the importance of water:

• know a chemical test for water and how water is purified by filtration and chlorination
• name some uses of water in the home and some uses of water in industry
• discuss the implications of an inadequate supply of water, limited to safe water for
drinking and water for irrigating crops
Understand the importance of clean air:
• clean air is a mixture containing approximately 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen
• oxygen is used in oxygen tents in hospitals and (with the hydrocarbon acetylene) in
welding
• there are small amounts of noble gases, carbon dioxide and water vapour in the air
• carbon dioxide is formed by the complete combustion of carbon compounds
• carbon dioxide is a product of respiration
• carbon dioxide and methane are greenhouse gases and be able to explain how they
contribute to climate change
• carbon dioxide is given off when an acid reacts with a carbonate
• pollutants in the air include carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen and
lead compounds and state the adverse effects of these common pollutants on building
and health and discuss why these pollutants are of global concern
• the carbon monoxide is formed by incomplete combustion of carbon compounds and is
poisonous
• the sulphur dioxide is formed from the combustion of fossil fuels containing sulphur
• sulphur dioxide contributes to acid rain which corrodes buildings and damages fish and
plants
• the lead compounds and nitrogen oxides are found in car exhausts
• nitrogen oxides contribute to acid rain and irritate the nose and throat
• lead compounds damage the nervous system
• describe the carbon cycle in simple terms to include the processes of combustion,
respiration and photosynthesis
• describe how nitrogen and oxygen are separated from liquid air by fractional distillation
• explain how nitrogen oxides are formed in the car engine and are removed by the
catalytic converter
Describe methods of rust prevention:
• paints and other coatings prevent rust by stopping oxygen getting to the iron
• sacrificial protection (by placing a metal higher in the reactivity series in contact with the
iron) and galvanizing iron with a layer of zinc
Carbonates

Describe the reactions and uses of calcium carbonate:

• how lime (calcium oxide) is made from calcium carbonate by heating
• the chemical reaction involved in making lime is thermal decomposition
• lime is used to neutralise acidic soils
• slaked lime is used to neutralise acidic industrial waste
• calcium carbonate is used in the manufacture of iron and of cement

Independent Study suggestions

1. Look at the specification points above – use the textbook pages (210-241) or the revision guide
pages (123-129,132-136) to make a few notes/spider diagram/revision cards
2. Have a go at the questions in the revision guide on pages 130-131, 137-138 and mark yourself –
answer in the back
3. Watch the Fuse School short 3-4 minute explanation videos for any topic you are unsure about.
 Reactions of iron: https://www.fuseschool.org/topics/65/contents/973
 Iron alloys: https://www.fuseschool.org/topics/65/contents/327
 Corrosion and rusting: https://www.fuseschool.org/topics/65/contents/367
 Rust prevention: https://www.fuseschool.org/topics/65/contents/328
 The atmosphere: https://www.fuseschool.org/topics/65/contents/1026
 Properties of hydrogen: https://www.fuseschool.org/topics/65/contents/1212
 Properties of oxygen: https://www.fuseschool.org/topics/65/contents/969
 Properties of nitrogen: https://www.fuseschool.org/topics/65/contents/968
 Nitrogen cycle: https://www.fuseschool.org/topics/65/contents/1107
 Air Pollution: https://www.fuseschool.org/topics/65/contents/838
 Acid rain: https://www.fuseschool.org/topics/65/contents/331
 Reducing acid rain: https://www.fuseschool.org/topics/65/contents/332
 Global warming: https://www.fuseschool.org/topics/65/contents/332
 Effects of global warming: https://www.fuseschool.org/topics/65/contents/1053
 Burning fossil fuels and global warming: https://www.fuseschool.org/topics/65/contents/1082
 Evaluating the evidence for global warming: https://www.fuseschool.org/topics/65/contents/837
 Ozone layer 1: https://www.fuseschool.org/topics/65/contents/1083
 Ozone layer 2: https://www.fuseschool.org/topics/65/contents/1019
 Catalytic converters: https://www.fuseschool.org/topics/65/contents/967
 Biofuels: https://www.fuseschool.org/topics/65/contents/1061
 Biofuels – economic costs: https://www.fuseschool.org/topics/65/contents/391
 Carbon cycle 1: https://www.fuseschool.org/topics/65/contents/1051
 Carbon cycle 2: https://www.fuseschool.org/topics/65/contents/1052