Everything you need to know about Limestone

Limestone is used in 4 ways. These are the 4 ways, in order of the most common.

• Constructing buildings 
• Making concrete and cement 
• Other uses - e.g making glass. 
• Making steel and iron alloys. 

Limestone is removed from the ground at a quarry.

Advantages of quarries

1. Creates jobs
2. Limestone is valuable and can be exported to other countries, helping the UK's economy.

Disadvantages of quarries

1. Ruins attractive areas (the countryside)
2. They are dusty and noisy
3. Damage the tourist industry
4. Heavy lorries cause extra traffic, noise and pollution.
5. Quarries destroy original landscape.

Calcium Carbonate - Thermal Decomposition

Limestone, Chalk and Marble are natural sources of calcium carbonate. When Calcium Carbonate is heated,  it breaks down to form Calcium Oxide and Carbon Dioxide. 

Word equation = Calcium Carbonate ---> Calcium Oxide + Carbon Dioxide

Making Cement and Concrete

Heating Limestone + powdered clay = Cement

Mixing Cement, sand, gravel and water = Concrete

Liquid Glass is made by a chemical reaction which occurs when heating Limestone with sand and sodium carbonate. The liquid glass cools to form the hard, transparent glass used for making windows.