Skip to main content
Skip to navigation

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

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
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;

Related articles

Resource
Reactant and product substances | Developing understanding | 11–14

By Helen Harden and Neil Goalby

Use these worksheets to secure and deepen your learners’ understanding of reactants and products in chemical changes
Resource
Iron and sulfur reaction | Johnstone’s triangle | 11–14

By Helen Harden

Develop your learners’ understanding of reactants and products at different conceptual levels, using an iron and sulfur reaction as an example
Resource
C, O and Co | Johnstone’s triangle | 11–14 years

By Helen Harden

Develop your learners’ understanding of symbols and formulas at different conceptual levels by comparing the symbolic representations of carbon monoxide and cobalt

More Resources

Question sheet
Condensation polymerisation | Review my learning worksheets | 14–16 years

Identify learning gaps and misconceptions with this set of worksheets offering three levels of support
Resource
Thin-layer chromatography and analgesics | 16–18 years

In this investigation learners use thin-layer chromatography to separate and identify over-the-counter medicines
Resource
Alkenes | Review my learning worksheets | 14–16 years

Identify learning gaps and misconceptions with this set of alkenes worksheets offering three levels of support