CARBONATES

OBJECTIVES
manufacture of lime (calcium oxide) from calcium carbonate (limestone) in terms of thermal decomposition. uses of lime and slaked lime in treating acidic soil and neutralising acidic industrial waste products, e.g. flue gas desulphurisation uses of calcium carbonate in the manufacture of iron and of cement

Calcium carbonate , CaCO3

Main source of calcium carbonate is limestone Other sources are rocks like chalk , marble. Limestone rock was formed millions of years ago from the remains of shells and skeletons of tiny sea creatures which died and fell to the bottom of the sea.

 Carbonates are insoluble in water . Exception : carbonates of sodium , potassium and ammonium carbonate. On heating, most carbonates break down to an oxide and carbon dioxide (Thermal Decomposition reaction) Exception : sodium and potassium carbonate.

Quicklime or lime
Chemical name: calcium oxide Chemical formula: CaO Appearance : white solid CaO is a base Lime is made by thermal decomposition of limestone ( CaCO3 ). When limestone is heated strongly , it breaks down into calcium oxide and carbon dioxide.

heat calcium carbonate -------- calcium oxide + -------- carbon dioxide. CaCO3 (s) -------- CaO (s) + CO2 (g) -------Reaction is reversible.

Manufacture of quicklime
Quicklime is made in a furnace called a lime kiln. Lumps of limestone are fed at one end of the rotary kiln. Quicklime comes out the other end. The limestone is heated strongly by a current of hot air. The rotation of the kiln helps the limestone mix with the hot air.

 The limestone decomposes to calcium oxide. Although the decomposition reaction is reversible, the lime kiln is not a closed system. The hot air carries the carbon dioxide out of the kiln so that the reverse reaction to form calcium carbonate cannot occur.

Slaked lime
Chemical name: calcium hydroxide Chemical formula: Ca(OH)2 Appearance : white solid Slaked lime is made from quicklime by adding water. The water is added slowly because the reaction is very exothermic.

calcium oxide + water ---- calcium hydroxide. CaO (s) + quicklime H2O (l) ----- Ca(OH)2 (s) slaked lime

A solution of calcium hydroxide in water is limewater. This is used in the test for CO2 gas.

 When CO2 is passed through limewater, it turns milky. Slaked lime is sparingly soluble in water. About 0.2% of slaked lime dissolves in water and the clear solution is called limewater. Ca(OH)2 (s) + H2O(l) ----- Ca(OH)2 (soln.) slaked lime limewater

 Quicklime and slaked lime are used to neutralize acidity in soil and in lakes(caused by acid rain) The optimum pH range for most plants is between 6 and 7.5

Flue gas desuphurisation

Coal, Oil and Natural Gas contain sulfur. When they are burnt in a power station the sulfur oxidises (reacts with oxygen) to form sulfur dioxide gas. This causes acid rain. sulfur + oxygen ---- sulfur dioxide. S(s) + O2(g) SO2(g)

 Sulfur dioxide can be removed from the waste gases (called flue gases)in the power station chimney by wet scrubbing. Calcium oxide (quicklime) or calcium carbonate (limestone) is powdered and mixed with water and sprayed into the chimney. It reacts with the sulfur dioxide to produce calcium sulfite which can then be reacted with oxygen to make calcium sulfate. Calcium sulfate (called gypsum) is used to make plaster.

 CaO (s) + SO2 (g) -----

CaSO3 (s) calcium sulphite

CaSO3 (s) + O2 (g) ------- CaSO4 (s) calcium sulphate

Uses of limestone
Limestone is used in the extraction of iron ore. Iron is extracted from its ore in a blast furnace. main ore of iron is called haematite. Haematite is iron (III) oxide - Fe2O3 The iron ore contains impurities, mainly sand ( silica)

 Silica (silicon dioxide) is solid at the furnace temperature and the furnace would become blocked if it was not removed. Limestone is added to the iron ore which reacts with the silica to form molten calcium silicate The calcium silicate (called slag) which is liquid in the furnace.

 Slag flows to the bottom of the furnace where it floats on the liquid iron and is easily removed. The slag (CaSiO3) is allowed to cool until it becomes a solid and is used for road construction. CaCO3 (s) + SiO2 (s) ---- CaSiO3 (s) + + CO2(g) CO2 comes out at the top of the furnace.

 Limestone is used in the manufacture of cement. Limestone is mixed with clay and heated strongly in a rotary kiln. It is then mixed with gypsum(CaSO4) .The mixture is crushed to make cement. cement is actually an ingredient of concrete. Gypsum is often added to cement and concrete to slow down the drying time. It helps regulate how long the concrete takes to set. Cement dries quickly and retarding that process allows workers to pour the mixture into the various forms or frames needed.