Chapter 8: Chemicals in Industry

8.1 properties of alloys and their uses in industry

8.1.1 Alloy

1. An alloy is a solid mixture of at least one metallic element melting in it.

2. Examples: steel, pewter, bronze, brass, duralumin and etc.
3. The mixture of metals in alloys follows a specific percentage rate.
4. Alloying produces a new substance which has different properties from the original metal.
5. Alloying is carried out to improve the weakness and structure of pure metals. Pure metals are
a) Soft and weak
b) Rust easily, make it less shinny and dull: metal + oxide = metal oxide
c) Less durable
d) Not suitable for various uses
6. Alloys are better than pure metals because:
a. More harder and stronger
b. More resistant to corrosion
c. Better appearance
7. Pure metals are weaker than alloy because, in pure metals atoms are arranged neatly in rows.
The rows can slide over each other easily when force is applied. This makes the pure metal to
be:
a) Ductile
b) Malleable
c) Easily shaped
8. When another metal is added, its atoms stop the row from sliding over each other. This is
because the added metal has atoms of a different size.
 9. Comparison between a pure metal and an alloy

Pure metal Alloy

Atoms are arranged orderly and closely Other atoms are randomly scattered and are
together filled between pure metal atoms.
The layers of atoms slide easily over one There is no layered structure. The pure metal
another atoms are unable to move because the
addition of foreign atoms hols them in place.
Ductile and malleable. Harder, non-ductile and non-malleable

10. Composition, properties and uses of alloys in daily life.

Type of alloy Composition Properties Uses

Brass 70% copper Hard and malleable Making kitchen
30% zinc Resistant to corrosion appliances and
ornaments
Bronze 88% copper Hard and malleable Making decorative
12% tin Can withstand corrosion ornaments and trophies
better than copper
Shinny
Duralumin 95% aluminium Light and strong Making aircraft bodies,
5% copper Resists corrosion bicycle frames and
modern jets
Stainless steel 74% iron Same as carbon steel but Cutlery like forks, spoons
18% chromium its appearance is shinny and surgical knives
8% nickel Can withstand corrosion Building construction,
better than carbon steel bodies of cars, pipes
Pewter 96% tin Soft, shiny and malleable Making decorative
3% copper ornaments and drinking
1% antimony mugs
High carbon 99% iron Strong, hard Making of cutting tools,
steel 1% carbon High wear resistant hammers and chisels
Withstand great pressure
Cupronickel 75% copper Attractive, silvery Making of silver coins
25% nickel appearance
Hard and tough
Magnalium 70% aluminium Light hard and strong Aircraft body frames and
30% zinc rims of racing car types

8.1.2 The importance of Alloys in Industry

1. Alloys are widely used in industries because they have more desirable properties than pure
metals.
2. One of the main contributions of alloy is in the form of superconductor alloy.
3. Superconductor alloy:
a. Are electrical conductors which do not have electrical resistant to the flow of electricity in
certain temperature.
b. Allow high current to flow through them without producing heat as compared to normal
conductors.
c. Also shows diamagnetic properties which are repelled by magnets.
 d. Superconductor alloys are used to make very light, small and strong magnets in:
i. The medical field- The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine uses
superconductor alloy to produce a strong magnetic field which helps medical
specialist to do diagnosis more accurately before operation or other treatment.
Superconductor alloys such as niobium-titanium and niobium-tin are used in
construction of MRI apparatus.
ii. Bullet trains- The train uses the help of a magnet to move as though it if floating.
iii. The production of electrical energy- A magnetic superconductor alloy in a nuclear
reactor can produce more electrical energy

8.2 Production and Uses of Ammonia in Industry

1. Ammonia is a:
a. Colourless gas with pungent smell
b. Very soluble in water
c. Produces alkali (ammonium hydroxide) in water
2. In industry, ammonia is produced by Haber process
Iron catalyst
Nitrogen + Hydrogen Ammonia
450 C 550 C, 200 atm

3. Ammonia and its compounds are used for:

a. Making nitric acid in large scale through Ostwald process. Ammonia as the raw material.
b. Making ammonium fertilisers which can supply nitrogen to plants

Ammonia + sulphuric acid ammonium sulphate + water

Ammonia + nitric acid ammonium nitrate + water

Ammonia + carbon oxide urea + water

c. As a cooling agent as ammonia gas is easily compressed and has a high heat capacity
d. Making chemical substances such as in dyes, synthetic nylon fibres, pharmaceutics and
refrigerants
e. As a cleaning agent - Ammonia solution reacts with vegetable oil or hydrocarbon to
produce cleaning agents
f. Preventing the coagulations of rubber latex
g. Making explosive substances such as trinitrotoluene (TNT)
 Nictric acid

Household
Fertilisers
cleaners

Uses of
Ammonia
Pharmaceuticals
Nylon
production

Refrigerants Explosives

8.3 Effects of Industrial Waste Disposal on the Environment

1. Without proper disposal, industrial waste can cause environment pollution.

2. Poisonous and harmful industrial wastes in all forms are released from factories and
laboratories into the environment, causing pollution.
3. The two main industrial activities which cause the pollution are:
a) The burning of fossil fuels
b) The direct disposal of industrial wastes from the factories

Sources of pollution Pollutants Effects on the environment

Burning of fossil Air pollutants such a) Irritate the respiratory system, leading to
fuels in electrical as sulphur oxides, asthma or chronic bronchitis
power plants and nitrogen oxides, b) Carbon monoxide reduces the ability of the
other industrial hydrocarbons, blood to transport oxygen, causing headache
facilities carbon oxides and and fatigue, mental impairment or even
soot death.
c) A high-level of carbon dioxide and other
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere can
cause global warming
d) When acidic gases such as sulphur and
nitrogen oxides dissolve in rain water, causes
acid rain. Acid rain can damage the forest
and aquatic ecosystems
Chemical industry Toxic waste such as a) Heavy metals such as mercury can damage
acids, alkali and the brain and kidneys. It also can cause birth
heavy metals, oil defects.
and untreated waste b) Pollute the land and water, making it
matters undrinkable
 c) Aquatic animals and plants are effected by
dissolved oxygen level in water
d) Vapours of benzene and hydrocarbons can
move upwards and are inhaled by humans
can cause cancer in ling term
Mining and Radioactive wastes Exposure to radiation from radioactive wastes
processing of causes serious health problems in living things.
radioactive minerals, These include various types of cancers, mutations,
nuclear power plant, sterility and birth defects
nuclear weapon
industry, medical
and scientific
research facilities
Agricultural industry Excessive artificial a) Long term exposure to pesticides can cause
fertilisers and a variety of cancers and birth defects
pesticides and b) Excessive fertilisers washed to the lakes
organic waste cause eutrophication
c) Open dumps of organic wastes are breeding
grounds for disease vectors such as rats and
flies.
d) Methane gas is released when this organic
waste is decomposed by microorganisms
e) Aquatic animals and plants are effected by
dissolved oxygen level in water

4. The control of industrial waste can be carried out through the following ways:
a) Law enforcement
a) Environmental Quality ( Scheduled Waste) Regulation, 1989
b) Environmental Quality (Clean Air) Regulation, 1978
c) Environmental Quality (Sewage and Industrial Effluents) Regulation, 1979
b) Education
a) Campaigns
b) Mass media
c) Education curriculum
c) Recycling waste
d) The use of technology in treating industrial waste
a) Using an electrostatic precipitator-traps ashes in the smoke
b) Plasma torch- to convert toxic industrial waste to harmless substances
c) Modern landfills
d) Switch from fossil fuels to solar energy
e) Using a scrubber
f) Direct burning- agricultural wastes are directly burned in a heating furnace
g) Disposal drums- to store radioactive wastes
h) Biogas technology- process agricultural wastes naturally through digestion of
anaerobic microorganism.
i) Scrubber- to filter poisonous gases
j) International cooperation
i. Montreal protocol (1987)
ii. Langkawi Declaration (1991)
iii. Kuala Lumpur Declaration (1992)
 iv. Kyoto Protocol (1997)
v. Rio Declaration on Environment and Development

8.4 The need for Preservation and conservation of the environment from Industrial waste
Pollution

1. Preservation: effort to maintain the environment in a good condition.

2. Conservation: management of the environment so as to prevent damage to the environment
3. Uncontrolled and haphazard disposal of industrial waste will pollute the air and water
4. Water pollution causes water source become unsuitable for human consumption and also
threatens aquatic lives.
5. All waste produced by various industries have to be stored, transported and disposed properly.
This is to ensure minimal destruction of the environment.
6. Air pollutants from industries will cause air pollution. When, the air is polluted by smoke, dust
and soot:
a) Haze occurs- respiratory problems, poses danger to road users
b) Acid rain forms- health problems, plants and animals are affected
7. By controlling the disposal of industrial waste, the following can be achieved:
a) Environmental pollution can be reduced. The air will be fresher and the river is cleaner.
b) Guarantee the health and co-existence of humans and other organisms.