AQA GCSE SCIENCE A

CHEMISTRY UNIT 2
Workbook
Limestone and building materials

Name: .. Date:

Heating limestone
Safety notes
Wear eye protection
Do not touch the lime that is formed from heating limestone. It will be hot after
heating and lime is an irritant even when it is cool.
1. Take some lumps of limestone.
Examine the stone and describe its colour, texture and any other notable features briefly.
Observation
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2. Place a couple of lumps on a tripod and gauze and heat with a roaring Bunsen flame for
15 minutes. Take care; the lumps will become extremely hot.
3. While the lumps are being heated, take two more lumps of unheated limestone. Add a few
drops of water and note any reaction.
Observation
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.
.

4. Returning to the lumps being heated, note any changes - particularly in colour. Take care;
the lumps will be extremely hot.
Observation
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5. If possible, darken the room and note what happens when the flame is trained directly on
the lumps
Observation
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6. Remove the lumps from the heat and allow them to cool to room temperature on the
heatproof mat. Then take one of the heated pieces with your tongs. Gently try to crush it on
the heatproof mat with the tongs. Try the same with a lump that has not been heated.
Observation
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7. Use tongs to place one of the lumps that has been heated in a test tube and then gently
add a few drops of water with the dropping pipette. Make sure you are wearing eye
protection.
Observation
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.
.
8. Now add more water to the test tube until it is about half full. Shake the test tube and pour
off the clear liquid, half into one test tube and half into another. Add a few drops of Universal
Indicator to one tube and record the pH using a colour chart.
Observation
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9. Place a straw into the clear liquid in the second tube and blow gently into the liquid
through the straw.
Observation
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Explanations
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Limestone has many uses.

Look at the list - tick each one that uses limestone:
Use

Limestone used?

Construction
Roadstone coated
Roadstone uncoated
Railway ballast
Concrete
Cement
Building stone
Asphalt filler / mine dust
Building lime
Industrial
Agricultural / horticultural
Iron & steel
Specialist fillers
Soda ash
Sugar refining
Glass

YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEKvcuBPZ20

Questions
1. What happens to the mass of limestone when it is heated?
2. What is thermal decomposition?
3. What is the difference between quicklime and slaked lime?
4. Write down the chemical symbols to show the thermal decomposition of copper
carbonate.
5. How could you test the gas given off to see if it is carbon dioxide?
6

Limestone is used as a building material. Acid rain erodes limestone.

Limestone contains calcium carbonate.
The symbol equation for the reaction of calcium carbonate with hydrochloric acid is
shown.
CaCO3(s) + 2HCl(aq) CaCl2(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)
Describe a test to show that carbon dioxide is produced in this reaction.
Give the result of the test.
............................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................
............................................................................................................................................

Limestone quarries
In this question you will be assessed on using good English, organising information clearly
and using specialist terms where appropriate.
Limestone contains calcium carbonate.
There is a large deposit of limestone under an area of natural beauty.
A company wants to quarry this limestone and build a kiln near to the quarry to make
cement.
Area of natural beauty

A quarry

Explosives will be used to extract the limestone out of the ground.

Heavy machinery will be used to lift and crush the limestone.
Lorries will be used to transport the limestone to the kiln to make cement.
The lorries and the heavy machinery will use diesel fuel.

Quarrying limestone and making cement will have an impact on everything near the area.
Describe the positive and the negative impacts of quarrying limestone and making cement.

Start by using bullet points:

Positive

Negative

Write the above bullet points into good English

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8

Explain the difference between cement, concrete and mortar

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Match the compound to the formula

Calcium carbonate

Ca(OH)2

Calcium oxide

CaCO3

Carbon dioxide

CaO

Calcium hydroxide

CO2

Science A Chemistry Limestone questions

Q1.

Limestone has been called the Earths most useful rock.

(a)

Limestone contains calcium carbonate, CaCO .

3

(i)

Complete the table to show the number of atoms of each element in the formula of
calcium carbonate.
Calcium has been done for you.

Element

Number of atoms in the formula CaCO

Calcium, Ca

Carbon, C
Oxygen, O
(2)

(ii)

The diagram below represents a carbon atom.

Use words from the box to label the parts of this atom.

bond

electron

molecule

nucleus

(2)

10

(b)

At a cement works, limestone is mixed with clay and heated in a kiln.

Use the information in the diagram to answer these questions.

(i)

Name the fuel that is used to heat the limestone and clay.
...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii)

Limestone contains calcium carbonate, CaCO .

3

Draw a ring around the correct gas in the box to complete the sentence.

argon.
The gas formed when calcium carbonate
decomposes is

carbon
dioxide.
nitrogen.
(1)

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(c)

The cement works starts to burn a different fuel.

Local residents are concerned because more children are suffering asthma attacks.
Residents have also noticed that parked cars are becoming dirty because of smoke
particles from the chimney.
The table shows the possible medical risk from smoke particles.

(i)

Particle size in mm

Medical effect

Larger than 0.4

No medical risks known

0.3 and smaller

Causes asthma attacks

0.2 and smaller

May cause cancer

Give two reasons why local residents are concerned about the cement works
burning a different fuel.
1 ........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
2 ........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(ii)

The company operating the cement works stated that smoke particles from the
chimney had not changed since it started burning the different fuel.
If you were a local resident, what evidence would you like to see to help you decide
if the companys statement is true or not?
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 10 marks)

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Q2.

Limestone and the products of limestone have many uses.

(a)

Limestone is quarried.

Photograph Lonny Kalfus / Getty Images

Quarrying limestone has impacts that cause environmental problems.

Tick (

) two impacts that cause environmental problems.

Impact of quarrying

Tick (

Puts off tourists

Causes dust pollution
Increases jobs
Increases traffic
(2)

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(b)

Limestone contains calcium carbonate, CaCO . When it is heated calcium carbonate

produces calcium oxide and carbon dioxide.
3

The word equation for this reaction is:

calcium carbonate calcium oxide + carbon dioxide
(i)

Complete the sentence.

The reaction when calcium carbonate is heated is called
thermal ...........................................
(1)

(ii)

100 g of calcium carbonate was heated and produced 56 g of calcium oxide.

Calculate the mass of carbon dioxide produced.
...............................................................................................................
....................................... g
(1)

14

(c)

The flow chart shows the stages in the limestone cycle.

Complete the names of the calcium compounds formed in the flow chart.

(2)
(Total 6 marks)

15

Q3.

An old lime kiln made in the ground is shown.

(a)

The thermal decomposition of calcium carbonate makes a white solid and carbon dioxide.
(i)

Name a naturally occurring form of calcium carbonate.

...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii)

What does thermal decomposition mean?

...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(iii)

Suggest and explain the purpose of the coal.

...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(iv)

Write a word equation for the thermal decomposition of calcium carbonate.

................................... ................................... + ....................................
(2)

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(b)

The diagrams show what happens when drops of cold water are added to the white solid
formed by heating calcium carbonate.

(ii)

What type of chemical reaction takes place?

...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii)

Give the chemical name of the solid formed. Give a use of this solid.
Name ................................................................................................................
Use ...................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 10 marks)

Q5.

We can get many important substances from the Earths crust. Sometimes we can use
these substances straight from the ground.
(a)

Which one substance in the list can be used straight from the ground?
Draw a ring around the correct answer.
gold

iron

lead

calcium

aluminium
(1)

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(b)

In this question you will be assessed on using good English, organising information clearly
and using specialist terms where appropriate.
Rock salt is a mixture containing salt (sodium chloride) that we get from the Earths crust.
To get pure salt from rock salt we need to separate the pure salt from the other
substances in the mixture.
Describe how you would obtain pure salt from rock salt in the laboratory. You should
include in your answer the apparatus that you would use.
......................................................................................................................
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......................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................
(6)

(c)

(i)

Name the elements in pure salt.

.............................................................................................................
(1)

(ii)

What is the chemical formula for pure salt?

.............................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 9 marks)

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Q6.

Lime (calcium oxide) is used in agriculture to reduce the acidity of soils.

Describe, as fully as you can, the reaction by which lime is made.
Name any other product(s).
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
(Total 3 marks)

Q7.

Portland cement was invented by Joseph Aspdin, a builder from Leeds. The flow diagram
shows how cement is made.

(a)

(i)

Name the raw material X used to make cement.

..........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii)

In the kiln the raw materials are heated to about 1500C.

The limestone (calcium carbonate) is broken down at this temperature.
Complete the word equation for this reaction.
calcium carbonate ........................................ + carbon dioxide
(1)

(iii)

Suggest one major cost of this process other than the cost of the raw materials.
..........................................................................................................................
(1)

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(b)

Cement can be used to make concrete.

Name two substances that must be mixed with cement to make concrete.
1 .....................................................................
2 .....................................................................
(2)
(Total 5 marks)

Q8.

Sea water contains magnesium ions. Magnesium oxide can be obtained from sea water
using the following process.

(a)

State the chemical name for limestone.

....................................................................................................................................
(1)

(b)

Write a word equation for the action of heat on limestone.

....................................................................................................................................
(2)

(c)

State the chemical name for slaked lime.

....................................................................................................................................
(1)

(d)

Write a balanced chemical equation for the addition of water to quicklime.

...................................................................................................................................
(2)

(e)

How can magnesium hydroxide be separated from sea water?

...................................................................................................................................
(1)

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(f)

Suggest and explain how magnesium could be obtained from magnesium oxide.
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
...................................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 9 marks)

Q9.

Limestone is mainly calcium carbonate.

(a)

Quicklime is produced by heating limestone.

(i)

Complete the word equation for this reaction by writing the chemical name of the
solid and the gas produced.
calcium carbonate

................................. + ................................. .
(2)

(ii)

What is the name for this type of chemical reaction?

..........................................................................................................................
(1)

(b)

Quicklime is used in self-heating cans.

The diagram shows a self-heating can designed to raise the temperature of coffee to
60 C.

The button on the base of the can is pushed. The foil separator breaks, allowing water to
mix with the quicklime. After about 3 minutes, the can is opened by the ring pull. Insulating
materials are used inside the walls of the can to prevent either the lips or the fingers from
being burned.

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(i)

Explain why the coffee becomes hot.

..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
(2)

(ii)

Suggest two reasons why it is not possible to re-use this self-heating can.
1 .......................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
2 .......................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 7 marks)

Q10.

(a) Limestone is a hard rock that is used as a building material.

Limestone was used by the Egyptians to make plaster.
Reaction 1 calcium carbonate, CaCO , was decomposed by heating limestone
3

CaCO

CaO + CO

Reaction 2 water was added to the solid produced to make slaked lime
CaO + H O Ca(OH)
2

Reaction 3 a mixture of slaked lime and water was used as plaster. After the plaster
had set it became even harder with age
Ca(OH)
(i)

+ CO

CaCO

+ HO
2

Name the solid formed when calcium carbonate decomposed.

...........................................................................................................................
(1)

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(ii)

Use the reactions to explain how the plaster became even harder with age.
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(3)

(b)

A gardener wanted to make a step up to his greenhouse door. He decided to use a

mixture of cement and sand to make mortar.
He experimented using mixtures with different cement to sand ratios.

The mortar mixtures were put in the same sized mould.

Each mortar mixture was allowed to set hard.

He then dropped a metal ball from increasing height_s until the set mortar cracked.

He recorded his results in a table.

Volume of sand
in cm

Volume of cement
in cm

Height the metal ball

dropped to crack the set
mortar in cm

800

100

17

700

100

24

600

100

30

500

100

36

400

100

37

300

100

48

200

100

54

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(i)

What is the relationship between the volume of sand and the strength of the mortar?
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii)

The gardener was not sure about some of his results.

Use the results to explain why.
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 7 marks)

Q11.

A limestone quarry is in an area of natural beauty and near several villages.

The company operating the quarry wants planning permission to build a new cement works in
the quarry.
The diagram shows some of the substances used and produced at a cement works.

(a)

Limestone is mainly calcium carbonate, CaCO .

Write the correct number in the box to complete each sentence.
3

(i)

The formula shows that calcium carbonate, CaCO ,

3

contains

different elements.
24

(1)

(ii)

Calcium carbonate, CaCO , contains a total number of

3

atoms.
(1)

(b)

The company wants the new cement works because the nearest cement works is 100 km
from the quarry. The company argues that a new cement works sited inside the quarry
would reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Suggest why the new cement works might reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(1)

(c)

Residents from the villages near the quarry are concerned that there will be atmospheric
pollution from the new cement works.
(i)

Name and explain how one of the emissions from the chimney causes atmospheric
pollution.
Name of emission: ...........................................................................................
Explanation: .....................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(ii)

Suggest what the company could do to reduce this atmospheric pollution.

...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(1)
(Total 6 marks)

25

Q12.

Limestone contains calcium carbonate, CaCO .

At a cement works, limestone is mixed with clay and heated in a kiln.
3

(a)

(i)

When methane is burned in this process the waste gases contain carbon dioxide
and nitrogen.
Explain why.
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(ii)

Complete the symbol equation for the thermal decomposition of calcium carbonate.
CaCO .........................
3

.........................
(2)

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(b)

A different fuel is burnt at the cement works.

Suggest one reason the company may give for using this different fuel at the cement
works.
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(1)

(c)

The cement works continue to burn the different fuel.

Local residents are concerned because more children are suffering asthma attacks.
Residents have also noticed that parked cars are becoming dirty because of smoke
particles from the chimney.
The table shows the possible medical risk from smoke particles.

Particle size in mm

Medical effect

Larger than 0.4

No medical risks known

0.3 and smaller

Causes asthma attacks

0.2 and smaller

May cause cancer

It is also recommended that to avoid damage to health, the concentration of any particles
should be no higher than 2 parts per million (ppm).
Scientists were brought in to monitor the emissions from the cement works chimney.
They positioned four sensors around the cement works to monitor airborne smoke
particles.

27

These four sensors only detect particle sizes larger than 0.5 mm and measure the
concentration of particles in ppm. The scientists reported that the particle sensors showed
that the average concentration of particles was 1.8 ppm. The scientists concluded that
there was no risk to health.
(i)

Explain why the local residents objected to the positions of the four sensors.
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(ii)

What evidence did the scientists use to conclude that there was no risk to health?
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(iii)

The local residents were still concerned that there was a risk to health, even though
the average concentration of particles was 1.8 ppm.
Explain why.
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(3)
(Total 11 marks)

28

Q13.

Limestone is an important raw material.

The diagram shows a lime kiln. The limestone is heated by the burning coal.

(i)

Suggest why hot air is blown into the lime kiln.

.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii)

Give two reasons why carbon dioxide is produced in the lime kiln.
Reason 1 .....................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
Reason 2 .....................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 3 marks)

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