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Joint Earth Science Education Initiative - limestone chemistry

This activity is most appropriate for students aged 14-16 to illustrate chemical reactions and useful materials made from rocks.

Some of the simple chemical reactions of limestone (calcium carbonate, CaCO₃) and lime (calcium oxide, CaO).

Websites

Limestone chemistry

Level

14-16 years

Use

Category

Specification

Northern Ireland
- A/AS level
  - CCEA Chemistry
    - Unit AS 2: Further Physical and inorganic Chemistry and an Introdution to Organic Chemistry
      - 2.11 Group II elements and their compounds
        2.11.7 recall the use of calcium carbonate to make calcium oxide [quick lime] and calcium hydroxide [slaked lime] and their use in producing cement and concrete;
Wales
- GCSE
  - WJEC Chemistry
    - Unit 1: CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES, REACTIONS and ESSENTIAL RESOURCES
      - 1.6 LIMESTONE
        [b] calcium carbonate, calcium oxide and calcium hydroxide as the chemical names for limestone quicklime and slaked lime respectively
        [c] the cycle of reactions involving limestone and products made from it, including the exothermic reaction of quicklime with water and the reaction oflimewater with carbon dioxide
        (d) the uses of limestone in the production of iron and steel, in road-building, to neutralise soil acidity and to make cement

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