SCIENCE FORM 3

CHAPTER 6: LAND AND

ITS RESOURCES

6.1 MINERALS IN THE EARTHS CRUST

Minerals are solid elements or

compounds found naturally in the Earths
crust.
o Minerals make up the bulk of the materials
in the Earths crust.
o Gold, silver and platinum are minerals
which are found as natural elements. Most
minerals, however, are found as natural
compounds in the form of oxides,
sulphides and silicates.
o

6.1 MINERALS IN THE EARTHS CRUST

Gold

Silver

Platinum

6.1 MINERALS IN THE EARTHS CRUST

o

Minerals that are found as natural

compounds are made of metallic
elements and non-metallic elements
chemically combined.

Natural compound
Oxide
Carbonate
Sulphide
Silicate

Mineral

Elements

Haematite

Iron, oxygen

Cassiterite

Tin, oxygen

Calcite

Calcium, carbon, oxygen

Malachite

Copper, carbon, oxygen

Iron pyrite

Iron, sulphur

Galena

Lead, sulphur

China clay

Aluminium, silicon, oxygen

Calcium silicate Calcium, silicon, oxygen

Silica

Sand, quartz

Silicon, oxygen

6.1 MINERALS IN THE EARTHS CRUST

Every mineral has its own properties.

o The properties of minerals studied are:
(i) Hardness
(ii) Solubility
(iii) Effect of heat
o Minerals are hard and insoluble in water.
o Most metal oxides are stable and cannot be
broken down by heat.
o

The effect of heat on iron oxide

6.1 MINERALS IN THE EARTHS CRUST

o

When heated, a metal sulphide breaks down

into a metal oxide and releases sulphur
dioxide gas. The sulphur dioxide gas turns
the acidified potassium manganate (VII)
solution from purple to colourless.
Example:
Iron sulphide + oxygen
iron oxide +
sulphur dioxide

The effect of heat on lead sulphide

6.1 MINERALS IN THE EARTHS CRUST

o

When heated, metal carbonates are broken

down into metal oxides and releases
carbon dioxide gas. The carbon dioxide
gas causes the limewater to turn cloudy.
Example:
Calcium carbonate
calcium oxide +
carbon dioxide

The effect of heat on magnesium carbonate

6.2 REACTIONS BETWEEN METALS AND NON-METALS

o

Metals react with non-metals such as oxygen

and sulphur.
When a metal reacts with oxygen, a metal
oxide is formed.
Example:
Magnesium + oxygen
Magnesium oxide
When a metal reacts with sulphur, a metal
sulphide is formed.
Example:
Magnesium + sulphur
Magnesium
sulphide

6.2 REACTIONS BETWEEN METALS AND NON-METALS

Reaction of metal with sulphur

Reaction of metal with oxygen

6.3 SILICON COMPOUNDS

Silicon occurs in the form of natural

compounds in the Earths crust.
o Two types of silicon compounds are:
(i) Silica
- Consists of silicon and oxygen.
(ii) Silicate
- Consists of metal, silicon and
oxygen.
o

Natural compound

Mineral

Silica

Sand, quartz

Silicate

Asbestos, jade, clay,

mica

6.3 SILICON COMPOUNDS

Examples of silica: sand and quartz

6.3 SILICON COMPOUNDS

Examples of silicates: jade, asbestos, clay and mica

6.3 SILICON COMPOUNDS

Silica and silicates are insoluble in water.

o Silica and silicates do not react with acid
and do not break down when heated.
o

Uses of silicon compounds

6.4 CALCIUM COMPOUNDS

Calcium carbonate is an important calcium

compound. It consist of calcium, carbon
and oxygen.
o Calcium carbonate exists in many forms
such as:
(i) Marble
(ii) Animal shell
(iii) Coral
o

6.4 CALCIUM COMPOUNDS

Different forms of calcium carbonate: Marble, animal shell and coral

6.4 CALCIUM COMPOUNDS

o

When heated, calcium carbonate breaks

down into calcium oxide and carbon
dioxide gas is released.
Example:
heat
Calcium
calcium + carbon
carbonate
oxide
dioxide

Action of heat on calcium carbonate

6.4 CALCIUM COMPOUNDS

Video on the action of acid and heat on

calcium carbonate:

6.4 CALCIUM COMPOUNDS

Calcium oxide (quicklime) is formed from

the strong heating of calcium carbonate.
o When a few drops of water is added to
calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide (slaked
lime) is formed.
o When more water is added, it dissolves to
form calcium hydroxide solution
(limewater).
o

6.4 CALCIUM COMPOUNDS

Video on the formation of slaked lime from

quicklime and limewater from slaked lime:

6.4 CALCIUM COMPOUNDS

Calcium compounds have many uses.

o Marble which is hard, insoluble in water,
and can withstand heat is used as floor
slabs and as table surfaces.
o Calcium carbonate can be used to make
antacids.
o The alkaline property of quicklime and
slaked lime is useful in the treatment of
sewage water and acidic soil.
o

6.4 CALCIUM COMPOUNDS

Marble is used as floor slabs

Calcium carbonate is used

to make antacids

6.5 NATURAL FUEL RESOURCES AND THEIR

IMPORTANCE

Fossil fuels include petroleum, natural gas

and coal.
o These fuels consist mainly of hydrocarbons,
which are compounds made up of hydrogen
and carbon.
o Fossil fuels are formed from the remains of
organisms that were buried under layers of
mud at the bottom of the sea millions of
years ago.
o The high pressure and heat changes the
remains into fossil fuels.
o

6.5 NATURAL FUEL RESOURCES AND THEIR

IMPORTANCE
o

Coal is formed from dead plants while

petroleum and natural gas are formed from
dead plants and animals.

Petroleum and natural gas are formed from the remains

of plants and animals buried millions of years ago

6.5 NATURAL FUEL RESOURCES AND THEIR

IMPORTANCE

Formation of coal

6.5 NATURAL FUEL RESOURCES AND THEIR

IMPORTANCE

Crude petroleum is a mixture of

hydrocarbons. The hydrocarbons must be
separated before they can be used.
o The hydrocarbons can be separated into
fractions (components) by fractional
distillation.
o

6.5 NATURAL FUEL RESOURCES AND THEIR

IMPORTANCE

Petroleum fractions and their uses

6.5 NATURAL FUEL RESOURCES AND THEIR

IMPORTANCE
o

Each petroleum fraction (distillate) has

different characteristics depending on its
boiling point.
Fraction becomes
less flammable

Viscosity of fraction
increases

Colour of fraction
becomes darker

Boiling
point
increases

Quantity of soot
increases