3 (a) (i) Name the type of reaction that happens when a metal carbonate is heated - AQA - GCSE Chemistry - Question 3 - 2016 - Paper 1

The solid product formed when copper carbonate is heated is copper oxide.

When potassium carbonate is heated, the mass of the sample did not change, and the limewater did not turn cloudy. This indicates that no carbon dioxide was produced. The reaction did not occur likely due to the temperature not being high enough as potassium carbonate is more thermally stable compared to the other carbonates investigated.

The reactivity series can be used to determine that the less reactive the metal, the less likely its carbonate will decompose or react upon heating. Therefore, metal carbonates of more reactive metals, such as alkaline earth metals and alkali metals, will decompose more easily compared to those of less reactive metals.

Iron ores must contain enough iron to extract the metal effectively.

The balanced equation is:

$ext{Fe}_2 ext{O}_3 + 3 ext{C} → 2 ext{Fe} + 3 ext{CO}$

1. Steel has specific properties such as being strong and flexible, making it more suitable for construction and manufacturing applications.

2. The iron from the blast furnace is brittle, and converting it into steel enhances its structural integrity.

1. Recycling helps conserve resources by reusing materials, thereby reducing the need to extract new raw materials from the environment.

2. It minimizes pollution and the environmental impact associated with mining and production.

3. Recycling steel reduces landfill waste and the associated loss of habitat, thus benefiting ecological balance.