Chapter 28 89

Chapter 28 Chemical Plants (Extension)

A. Multiple Choice Questions 5. Sufficient and cheap supply of

land Chemical plants usually
1. A. Climate occupy large areas of land. Thus, the
2. B. Consumption of electricity cost of land is very important in
3. D. Raw materials setting up a chemical plant.
4. A. (1) and (4) only 6. Good supply of skilled labour
5. D. (2), (3) and (4) only There should be a good supply of
6. A. (2) only skilled labour near the chemical
plant; otherwise, it may be difficult
B. Fill in the Blanks to recruit skilled labour.
(Any three)
1. Availability of resources, transport,
environmental impact 2. 1. For supply of raw materials A
2. brine, sulphur, sulphur ores straight and efficient transport
system ensures a reliable supply of
raw materials. It also reduces the
C. Comprehensive Questions cost of raw materials.
2. For delivery of products An
1. 1. Closeness to the supply of raw efficient transport system ensures
materials If the raw materials can that products can be delivered to
be obtained from nearby areas, the other places for selling or further
cost of raw materials and treatment.
transportation can be reduced. 3. For labours A good transport
2. Cheap and reliable supply of system can attract skilled labour.
electricity A cheap supply of 4. Safety If the raw materials or
electricity can reduce the cost of products have hazards, their
operating a chemical plant. On the transport will require special
other hand, the reliability of arrangements.
electricity supply is equally (Any three)
important.
3. Cheap and reliable supply of fuel 3. 1. Chemical wastes Chemical
A cheap and reliable supply of fuels plants usually produce chemical
can reduce the cost of operating a waste and the waste is usually in the
chemical plant. form of gas and liquid. Some
4. Cheap and reliable supply of chemical waste is harmful and even
water Water has different uses in toxic. If gaseous waste is discharged
chemical plants, for example, as a into air, this will cause air pollution.
reactant in chemical reactions, for Some acidic gases may even
cooling as well as cleaning, etc. dissolve in rain water to form acid
rain. If liquid waste is discharged
into rivers and seas, this will cause
water pollution.

Chapter 28 Solutions (EE).doc

90 Part 6
2. Leakage of chemicals If
accidents occur in chemical plants,
chemicals may leak out. Some
chemicals are harmful and even
toxic. They may cause
environmental pollution and
endanger people and wildlife.
3. Hot water discharged Many
chemical reactions occurred in
chemical plants are exothermic.
Water is usually used to cool down
the products. If the hot water
produced is discharged into rivers
and seas, water lives will be
endangered.
4. (a) Locations A and B are not the good
place for building the plant.
Although location A is near the
sulphur ore and location B is near
railway and pier, these can reduce
the transportation cost, but there are
many environmental problems
caused.
Firstly, the prevailing wind will
carry any gas produced to the farm,
residential and industrial areas.
Since sulphur dioxide is toxic,
leakage of the gas will be vital to
human life. Also, sulphur dioxide
and sulphur trioxide are acidic.
When they are dissolved in rain
water, this will produce acid rain.
The acid rain will cause the
corrosion of the buildings.
Furthermore, location A is too near the
farm. The chemical waste may affect
the acidity of soil and water there, so it
will affect the growth of crops.
Location B is too near residential area,
so leakage of chemicals may endanger
people easily and readily.
Chapter 28 Solutions (EE).doc
Location C is far away from the
farm and residential area. The
prevailing wind will carry any gas
produced from the plant away those
areas, so this can minimize the
effect caused from the leakage of
any toxic gas. Also, location C is
near the river, so the plant can
obtain water easily for dissolving
the oleum in the contact process.
Although there is far away from the
sulphur ore compared to locations A
and B, piers and railways are not too
far away from the plant. Thus, it is
the best location to build plants for
manufacturing sulphuric acid.
(b) 1. Sulphur dioxide is toxic and
acidic. It will cause acid rain.
2. Sulphur trioxide is acidic.
When dissolved in rainwater,
acid rain will be produced.
Acid rain will cause the
corrosion of the buildings.
3. Concentrated sulphuric acid is
highly corrosive, dehydrating,
acidic and oxidizing. If the
acid dissolved in water, it will
change the pH of water and
may kill the water lives.
4. The hot product mixture
endangers the wildlife.
(c) Skilled labour: Operation of
chemical plants needs many skilled
labour. The labour should have
enough experience to operate the
plants.
Energy: Large amounts of electrical
energy are used to operate the
machines. Thus, the cost of
electricity should be acceptable.
Products: Some products may be
corrosive, toxic or gas. They need
special treatment in transportation.
(Any two or other possible answers)

5. (a) Location A is not a suitable place for
building the plant. Since water
current will carry the chemical
waste released to the fish farm, this
will endanger the water lives there.
Location B is not the good place for
building the plant. Location B is
near the railway and the pier, so
these can reduce the transportation
cost, but there are many
environmental problems caused.
Firstly, the prevailing wind will
carry any gas produced to the
residential and industrial area. Since
chlorine is toxic, leakage of this gas
will be vital to human life. Also,
hydrogen gas is explosive, it is very
dangerous. Location B is too near
residential area, so leakage of
chemicals may endanger people
easily and readily. Besides, the cost
of land of B is highest among three
lands, so it is not suitable for
building the plant.
Location C is far away from the
residential area, and the prevailing
wind will carry any gas produced
from the plant away fish farm, so
this can minimize the effect caused
from the leakage of any toxic gas.
Besides, water current will carry the
chemical waste released to the sea
away from the fish farm.
Constructing the pipes to obtain sea
water in this location is also easy
because there are not many
buildings.
(b) 1. The product, hydrogen gas, is
explosive.
2. The product, chlorine, is toxic
and corrosive. If chlorine is
dissolved in water, it decreases
the pH of water and may kill
water lives.
3. The resulting solution, sodium
hydroxide, increases the pH of
water and may kill water lives.
Chapter 28 91
4. The hot product mixture may
endanger people and wildlife.
(c) Skilled labour: Operation of
chemical plants needs many skilled
labour. The labour should have
enough experience to operate the
plants.
Energy: Large amounts of electrical
energy are used to operate the
machines. Thus, the cost of
electricity should be acceptable.
Products: Some products may be
corrosive, toxic or gas. They need
special treatment in transportation.
(Any two or other possible answers)
D. Essay-type Questions
1. Guideline to the essay:
A. Availability of Resources
Manufacture of sulphuric acid
(Contact process)
Sulphur and sulphur ores are
Raw used to produce sulphur dioxide.
materials In Hong Kong, they must be
imported.
A large amount of electrical
energy is used to operate the
Energy
machines. In Hong Kong, the
cost of electricity is high.
Water is used to react with
Water
oleum. In Hong Kong, the water
supply
price is acceptable.
Large areas of land are needed.
Land In Hong Kong, land is very
expensive.
The operation of chemical
plants need much skilled labour.
Skilled
However, the labour in Hong
labour
Kong may not have enough
experience to operate the plants.
Chapter 28 Solutions (EE).doc
92 Part 6
B. Transport
Manufacture of sulphuric acid
(Contact process)
Sulphur and sulphur ores are the
Raw
raw materials. They are easy to
materials
transport.
Concentrated sulphuric acid is
highly corrosive. Special
Products
treatment is needed during
transportation.
C. Environmental Impact
Manufacture of sulphuric acid
(Contact process)
1. Sulphur dioxide is toxic
and acidic. Sulphur trioxde
is acidic. If they are
dissolved in rain water, acid
rain will be producted.
2. Concentrated sulphuric acid
is highly corrosive,
Leakage and
dehydrating, acidic and
emission of
oxidizing.
raw
3. If dissolved in water,
materials
sulphur dioxide, sulphur
and waste
trioxide and sulphuric acid
decrease the pH of water
and may kill the water
lives.
4. The hot product mixture
may endanger people and
wildlife.
The plants must be located far
away from residential areas.
Location of However, Hong Kong is a
plants densely populated city. Leakage
of chemicals may endanger
people.
Chapter 28 Solutions (EE).doc
2. Guideline to the essay:
A. Availability of Resources
Manufacture of chlorine
Concentrated sodium chloride
solution is used to produce
Raw
chlorine by electrolysis. In
materials
Hong Kong, sodium chloride is
usually imported.
A very large amount of
electrical energy is used in
Energy electrolysis and to operate other
machines. In Hong Kong, the
cost of electricity is high.
Water is used to prepare
concentrated sodium chloride
Water solution. It is also consumed to
supply form hydrogen gas during
electrolysis. In Hong Kong, the
water price is acceptable.
Large areas are needed. In
Land Hong Kong, land is very
expensive.
The operation of chemical
plants needs much skilled
Skilled labour. However, the labour in
labour Hong Kong may not have
enough experience to operate
the plants.
B. Transport
Manufacture of chlorine
Concentrated sodium chloride
solution is the raw material. It
Raw
is made from sodium chloride
materials
crystals. They are easy to
transport.
Chlorine is highly toxic and it
is a gas. Hence, chlorine is
Products liquefied and stored in steel
containers during
transportation.
 Chapter 28 93

C. Environmental Impact
Manufacture of chlorine
1. Concentrated sodium
chloride solution as raw
material is safe and not
harmful.
2. The product, hydrogen gas,
is explosive.
3. The product, chlorine, is
Leakage and toxic and corrosive. If
emission of chlorine is dissolved in
raw water, it decreases the pH
materials of water and may kill water
and waste lives.
4. The resulting solution,
sodium hydroxide,
increases the pH of water
and may kill water lives.
5. The hot product mixture
may endanger people and
wildlife.
The plants must be located far
away from residential areas.
Location of However, Hong Kong is a
plants densely populated city. Leakage
of chemicals may endanger
people.

Chapter 28 Solutions (EE).doc