Chemistry of the Earth
Eyemouth High School
S3 Chemistry
Unit 1
Chemistry of the earth
 At the end of the topic you should be able to answer
questions on any of the facts and be able to carry out all of
the skills. You will be assessed using your coursework,
homework and an exam.
 You will be given a printed copy of these facts and skills
during the topic.
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In this unit you will cover the following Es & Os. (the KU and skill sheet will explain these
further)
SCN 4-17a I have explored how different materials can be derived from crude oil and their
uses. I can explain the importance of carbon compounds in our lives.
SCN 4-19a I can collect and analyse experimental data on chemical reactions that result in
an obvious change in energy. I can apply my findings to explain the significance of the energy
changes associated with chemical reactions.
SCN 4-05b Through exploring the carbon cycle, I can describe the processes involved in
maintaining the balance of gases in the air, considering causes and implications of changes
in the balance.
SCN 4-18a I can monitor the environment by collecting and analysing samples. I can
interpret the results to inform others about levels of pollution and express a considered
opinion on how science can help to protect our environment.
SCN 4-16a I have carried out research into novel materials and can begin to explain the
scientific basis of their properties and discuss the possible impacts they may have on society.
SCN 3-17a Through evaluation of a range of data, I can describe the formation,
characteristics and uses of soils, minerals and basic types of rocks. (this will be covered in
your Geography course)
SCN 3-19b I have helped to design and carry out practical activities to develop my
understanding of chemical reactions involving the Earth’s materials. I can explain how we
apply knowledge of these reactions in practical ways.
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Chemicals from the Earth:
1. Many useful substances can be removed from the Earth. We will study two main
types.
 Crude oil, chemicals made from it, and some of their uses.
 Metals from rocks, how to separate them and their uses.
2. There are also some new materials being developed, and we will study some of these,
looking at the properties of them.
Part 1 Crude oil
Copy
Origin of Fossil Fuels
Watch
“As old as the Hills”. (on Clickview)
Research
Use books etc to find out the following
o When was Oil formed?
o Where was it formed?
o What was it formed from?
o How was it formed.
Report
Write a report which would help a younger student answer these questions.
Success?
Work in a group. Look at a group members work. As a group, write one
positive comment on it. Pass to teacher for checking.
Copy and complete:
The three fossil fuels are _________ , ________ and _________ .
They are finite resources, which means _____________________ .
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Refining
Copy
Watch
Copy and complete:
“Refining”.
The 3 things done in an Oil Refinery are:
1. ____________. 2. ______________. 3. ______________ .
Separation: Crude oil is a mixture of many chemicals. It is separated into
groups called __________ by fractional ___________ of crude oil.
The separation happens because the fractions have different ________
_________ .
Conversion: Some crude oils have a lot of very useful sizes of molecules.
The less useful sizes are converted into more useful ones by _________
with a __________. (Which makes the reaction go faster)
Purification: There are some impurities in Crude Oil, one of these is
Sulphur, which makes compounds which are very _______. Sometimes
___________ are added to cover it up. Even more of a problem is that
when sulphur burns it makes _____________ __________ which makes
an acid when dissolved in water, and is one of the main causes of _______
_________. This is why the sulphur is removed. This Sulphur can then be
sold to make into useful chemicals such as sulphuric acid.
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Watch
You teacher will now demonstrate a classroom version of fractional
distillation.
Copy
Fractional Distillation of Crude Oil.
Write
Write a note including:
 A description of anything you saw.
 Any safety precautions
 A labelled diagram (you must use your ruler)
Copy and complete
Fraction boiling
range
Flammability
Viscosity
1
2
3
4
Write
Write down the definitions of the following words



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Fraction
Flammability
Viscosity
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Oil fractions and their uses.
Collect:
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A copy of the diagram “oil fractions and their uses”. Use text books, and
jotter notes to complete it. Then stick into jotter.
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Fuels
Watch:
Your teacher will demonstrate some fuels.
Air
Chemical
Coal
Combustion
Electricity
Energy
Copy and complete:
lime water
extinguishes
gas
glowing
heat
kinetic
smoking
liquids
oxygen
radiator
relights
slows down
speeds up
storage
20
50
80
Use the table above to complete the note below.
Fuels can be solids, _______ or gases. They produce a lot of _______
when they burn. (all are exothermic reactions)
Another name for burning is ____________.
Fuels need a good supply of _________. Rockets often carry liquid
_______ to burn the fuel.
The test for oxygen is that it _________ a ________ splint. Air which is
__% oxygen, does not have enough oxygen in it to give a positive result to
the test. Air can be thought as a dilute mixture of oxygen in nitrogen. Air
also contains carbon dioxide. This concentration is far too low to turn
______ _____ chalky, unless a large volume of air is used.
Write:
Write the definitions of the following words





Success?
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Exothermic reaction
Combustion
Finite
Dilute
Concentration
Did you follow all the instructions carefully? Get teacher to check your work
so far. Add an improvement target for chemistry into your homework diary.
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Products of combustion
Watch:
This experiment will be set up.
Write:
Write a note on the experiment.
Include:
 A labelled diagram of the experiment (use a ruler)
 What happened in the two test tubes.
 What did the appearance for the clear liquid means.
 What gas would have affected the lime water.
Now finish the following word equation

Incomplete Combustion
Copy
Do
Fuel + oxygen  _______ _________ + _________ .
Take a clean gauze, a Bunsen burner , tongs & heat proof mat.

Look at the gauze.

Light the Bunsen and open the air hole to make a blue flame.

Hold the gauze in the flame for a minute.

Look at the gauze.

Leave to cool on the heat proof mat for a minute.

Now close the Bunsen air hole to make a yellow flame.

Observe the gauze this time.
Discuss with your group what you saw and write down a short note.
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Copy and complete:
Eyemouth High School
Copy and complete the following word equations – use the text books to
help.
Complete combustion:
Natural gas + oxygen
CH4
Noisy blue flame

Noisy blue flame
O2
_________ + __________

_________ + __________
Quiet yellow flame
_________ + __________
Incomplete Combustion:
Natural gas + oxygen
CH4
Write:
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Quiet yellow flame

O2
_________ + __________
Write the definitions of the following words


Research

Combustion
Fuel.
In your group find out about Carbon monoxide and make a presentation in
a format of your choice.
Include
 How it is made.
 The chemical formula
 The effect on the body
 Reactions of carbon monoxide.
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Copy:
Other pollutants from combustion.
Research:
Find out about the formation of nitrogen oxides and write a short note about
them.
Include:
Is there only one type?
How are they made?
What problems can they cause?
Research:
Find out about the Carbon Cycle. Discuss with group and be prepared to
explain to the teacher. Then ask teacher for a task.
Copy and complete:
Summary of pollutants
Pollutant
Carbon monoxide
(CO)
Sulphur dioxide
(SO2)
Unburnt petrol
Main source
Effect/problem
Prevention/cure
Nitrogen oxides
(NOx)
Success?:
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You were asked to place an improvement target in your homework diary –
now take it to your teacher with your notes for checking.
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Polymers and Plastics.
Read
Not all substances separated from crude oil are used to burn as fuels;
many of them are made into other chemicals. Detergent in shampoo and
washing-up liquid are made from crude oil chemicals.
In this section we will look at Plastics and Polymers.
There are two main ways polymers can be made. They are Addition
Polymerisation and Condensation polymerisation.
Copy and complete:
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Watch:
How addition polymerisation happens: You will watch some video clips
(insert link) showing how addition polymers are made.
Write:
Make a note explaining how addition polymerisation works.
Copy and complete:
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Copy and complete the following tables.
Object and
use
Child’s toy
Name of plastic
polyethene
Properties of
plastic
Soft, tough,
cheap, rot
proof.
Possible
replacement
Wood, metal
Advantage/Disadvantage
of replacement
+ look better
- hard, may rust, may rot.
Polypropylene
PVC
PTFE
polystyrene
Different fibres, different job
(Look at labels of clothes or furniture to help fill this in.)
Article of
Name of fabric
Natural synthetic
clothing/furniture
Copy:
Research and report:
Desired properties
Novel materials
Use any resources to find out about new materials which have been
developed recently.
In the report include
 Name
 Who, when, where discovered.
 What use it has.
 If it replaces another materials – of if the use in new.
Some help to start: d3O, quantum tunnelling composite, thermochromic
paints. BUT try to find new ones!
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Part 2 Metals
Copy:
Metals and how we extract them.
Collect:
A copy of the periodic table.
Copy and complete:
Properties and uses of metals.
Copy and complete:
Research:
Metal
Property
Find the definitions of:






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Use
Density
Malleability
Ductile
Thermal conductivity
Electrical conductivity
Corrosion resistance.
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Copy:
The Blast Furnace
Watch:
Video on the blast furnace. (Clickview)
Collect:
A copy of the blast furnace - complete it and stick into notes.
Do:
Extracting Copper from its ore.
You will be given instruction on how to carry out this experiment.
Carry it out then write a short report.
Do:
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You teacher will issue a series of experiments to show how metals react.
Your group will demonstrate one to the rest of the class. (se expt 11.1
WC11.1)
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Review:
Eyemouth High School
You were asked earlier to write down a target in your homework jotter.
Take this target to you teacher and discuss if you have achieved it, or how
you could still achieve it.
Look at the summary sheet –
are you able to do all that is there?
if not, what do you need to do to be successful?
With you teacher, pick one new target for the next month.
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Cut out sheets
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