Chemistry C2 - Construction materials

The materials used in the construction industry include:

• aluminium and iron - metals obtained from ores
• brick - made from clay
• glass - made from sand
• cement and concrete - made using limestone
• granite, limestone and marble - rocks mined or quarried from the ground.

Limestone and marble are mostly calcium carbonate. This breaks down when heated strongly. The reaction is called thermal decomposition. Here are the equations for the thermal decomposition of calcium…