Chapter 8: Chemicals in Industry

8.1 properties of alloys and their uses in industry

8.1.1 Alloy
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

An alloy is a solid mixture of at least one metallic element melting in it.

Examples: steel, pewter, bronze, brass, duralumin and etc.
The mixture of metals in alloys follows a specific percentage rate.
Alloying produces a new substance which has different properties from the original metal.
Alloying is carried out to improve the weakness and structure of pure metals. Pure metals are
a) Soft and weak
b) Rust easily, make it less shinny and dull: metal + oxide = metal oxide
c) Less durable
d) Not suitable for various uses
6. Alloys are better than pure metals because:
a. More harder and stronger
b. More resistant to corrosion
c. Better appearance
7. Pure metals are weaker than alloy because, in pure metals atoms are arranged neatly in rows.
The rows can slide over each other easily when force is applied. This makes the pure metal to
be:
a) Ductile
b) Malleable
c) Easily shaped
8. When another metal is added, its atoms stop the row from sliding over each other. This is
because the added metal has atoms of a different size.

9. Comparison between a pure metal and an alloy

Pure metal

Alloy

Atoms are arranged orderly and closely

together
The layers of atoms slide easily over one
another
Ductile and malleable.

Other atoms are randomly scattered and are

filled between pure metal atoms.
There is no layered structure. The pure metal
atoms are unable to move because the
addition of foreign atoms hols them in place.
Harder, non-ductile and non-malleable

10. Composition, properties and uses of alloys in daily life.

Type of alloy
Brass

Composition
70% copper
30% zinc

Properties
Hard and malleable
Resistant to corrosion

Bronze

88% copper
12% tin

Duralumin

95% aluminium
5% copper

Hard and malleable

Can withstand corrosion
better than copper
Shinny
Light and strong
Resists corrosion

Stainless steel

74% iron
18% chromium
8% nickel

Pewter

96% tin
3% copper
1% antimony
99% iron
1% carbon

High carbon
steel
Cupronickel

75% copper
25% nickel

Magnalium

70% aluminium
30% zinc

Same as carbon steel but

its appearance is shinny
Can withstand corrosion
better than carbon steel
Soft, shiny and malleable

Strong, hard
High wear resistant
Withstand great pressure
Attractive, silvery
appearance
Hard and tough
Light hard and strong

Uses
Making kitchen
appliances and
ornaments
Making decorative
ornaments and trophies

Making aircraft bodies,

bicycle frames and
modern jets
Cutlery like forks, spoons
and surgical knives
Building construction,
bodies of cars, pipes
Making decorative
ornaments and drinking
mugs
Making of cutting tools,
hammers and chisels
Making of silver coins

Aircraft body frames and

rims of racing car types

8.1.2 The importance of Alloys in Industry

1. Alloys are widely used in industries because they have more desirable properties than pure
metals.
2. One of the main contributions of alloy is in the form of superconductor alloy.
3. Superconductor alloy:
a. Are electrical conductors which do not have electrical resistant to the flow of electricity in
certain temperature.
b. Allow high current to flow through them without producing heat as compared to normal
conductors.
c. Also shows diamagnetic properties which are repelled by magnets.
d. Superconductor alloys are used to make very light, small and strong magnets in:

i.

ii.
iii.

The medical field- The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine uses
superconductor alloy to produce a strong magnetic field which helps medical
specialist to do diagnosis more accurately before operation or other treatment.
Superconductor alloys such as niobium-titanium and niobium-tin are used in
construction of MRI apparatus.
Bullet trains- The train uses the help of a magnet to move as though it if floating.
The production of electrical energy- A magnetic superconductor alloy in a nuclear
reactor can produce more electrical energy

8.2 Production and Uses of Ammonia in Industry

1. Ammonia is a:
a. Colourless gas with pungent smell
b. Very soluble in water
c. Produces alkali (ammonium hydroxide) in water
2. In industry, ammonia is produced by Haber process
Iron catalyst
Nitrogen + Hydrogen
Ammonia
450 C 550 C, 200 atm
3. Ammonia and its compounds are used for:
a. Making nitric acid in large scale through Ostwald process. Ammonia as the raw material.
b. Making ammonium fertilisers which can supply nitrogen to plants
Ammonia + sulphuric acid
Ammonia + nitric acid
Ammonia + carbon oxide

ammonium sulphate + water

ammonium nitrate + water
urea + water

c. As a cooling agent as ammonia gas is easily compressed and has a high heat capacity
d. Making chemical substances such as in dyes, synthetic nylon fibres, pharmaceutics and
refrigerants
e. As a cleaning agent - Ammonia solution reacts with vegetable oil or hydrocarbon to
produce cleaning agents
f. Preventing the coagulations of rubber latex
g. Making explosive substances such as trinitrotoluene (TNT)

8.3 Effects of Industrial Waste Disposal on the Environment

1. Without proper disposal, industrial waste can cause environment pollution.
2. Poisonous and harmful industrial wastes in all forms are released from factories and
laboratories into the environment, causing pollution.
3. The two main industrial activities which cause the pollution are:
a) The burning of fossil fuels
b) The direct disposal of industrial wastes from the factories
Sources of pollution
Burning of fossil
fuels in electrical
power plants and
other industrial
facilities

Pollutants
Air pollutants such
as sulphur oxides,
nitrogen oxides,
hydrocarbons,
carbon oxides and
soot

Chemical industry

Toxic waste such as

acids, alkali and
heavy metals, oil

Effects on the environment

a) Irritate the respiratory system, leading to
asthma or chronic bronchitis
b) Carbon monoxide reduces the ability of the
blood to transport oxygen, causing headache
and fatigue, mental impairment or even
death.
c) A high-level of carbon dioxide and other
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere can
cause global warming
d) When acidic gases such as sulphur and
nitrogen oxides dissolve in rain water, causes
acid rain. Acid rain can damage the forest
and aquatic ecosystems
a) Heavy metals such as mercury can damage
the brain and kidneys. It also can cause birth
defects.

and untreated waste

matters

Mining and
processing of
radioactive minerals,
nuclear power plant,
nuclear weapon
industry, medical
and scientific
research facilities
Agricultural industry

Radioactive wastes

Excessive artificial
fertilisers and
pesticides and
organic waste

b) Pollute the land and water, making it

undrinkable
c) Aquatic animals and plants are effected by
dissolved oxygen level in water
d) Vapours of benzene and hydrocarbons can
move upwards and are inhaled by humans
can cause cancer in ling term
Exposure to radiation from radioactive wastes
causes serious health problems in living things.
These include various types of cancers, mutations,
sterility and birth defects

a) Long term exposure to pesticides can cause

a variety of cancers and birth defects
b) Excessive fertilisers washed to the lakes
cause eutrophication
c) Open dumps of organic wastes are breeding
grounds for disease vectors such as rats and
flies.
d) Methane gas is released when this organic
waste is decomposed by microorganisms
e) Aquatic animals and plants are effected by
dissolved oxygen level in water

4. The control of industrial waste can be carried out through the following ways:
a) Law enforcement
a) Environmental Quality ( Scheduled Waste) Regulation, 1989
b) Environmental Quality (Clean Air) Regulation, 1978
c) Environmental Quality (Sewage and Industrial Effluents) Regulation, 1979
b) Education
a) Campaigns
b) Mass media
c) Education curriculum
c) Recycling waste
d) The use of technology in treating industrial waste
a) Using an electrostatic precipitator-traps ashes in the smoke
b) Plasma torch- to convert toxic industrial waste to harmless substances
c) Modern landfills
d) Switch from fossil fuels to solar energy
e) Using a scrubber
f) Direct burning- agricultural wastes are directly burned in a heating furnace
g) Disposal drums- to store radioactive wastes
h) Biogas technology- process agricultural wastes naturally through digestion of
anaerobic microorganism.
i) Scrubber- to filter poisonous gases
j) International cooperation
i.
Montreal protocol (1987)
ii.
Langkawi Declaration (1991)

iii.
iv.
v.
5.
6.
7.
8.
1.
2.
3.
4.

Kuala Lumpur Declaration (1992)

Kyoto Protocol (1997)
Rio Declaration on Environment and Development

8.4 The need for Preservation and conservation of the environment from Industrial waste
Pollution

Preservation: effort to maintain the environment in a good condition.

Conservation: management of the environment so as to prevent damage to the environment
Uncontrolled and haphazard disposal of industrial waste will pollute the air and water
Water pollution causes water source become unsuitable for human consumption and also
threatens aquatic lives.
5. All waste produced by various industries have to be stored, transported and disposed properly.
This is to ensure minimal destruction of the environment.
6. Air pollutants from industries will cause air pollution. When, the air is polluted by smoke, dust
and soot:
a) Haze occurs- respiratory problems, poses danger to road users
b) Acid rain forms- health problems, plants and animals are affected
7. By controlling the disposal of industrial waste, the following can be achieved:
a) Environmental pollution can be reduced. The air will be fresher and the river is cleaner.
b) Guarantee the health and co-existence of humans and other organisms.

9.