[FONT="]Evaluate how environmental issues are addressed in the Solvay Process (7 marks):[/FONT]
how much would you give this? and how could you improve this? thanks
[FONT="]The Solvay Process involves the addition of brine (sodium chloride) with limestone (calcium carbonate) and can be summarised by the following equation:[/FONT]
[FONT="]The disposal of CaCl (aq) is an issue because only some of what is disposed is recycled for use including the de-icing of roads, the use of it as a concrete additive and also as a drying agent. Once CaCl (aq) enters waterways it can result in detrimental effects on freshwater life if the solution is not diluted due to the chloride ions present. The chloride ions increase the salinity of rivers and lakes which negatively impacts on the health of living organisms in such locations.Also, to address excess alkalinity of waters, which affect living organisms, this environmental issue is naturally addressed as hydrogen carbonate ions neutralize it; summarised by the following equation: [/FONT]
[/FONT]
[FONT="]Thermal pollution can arise from the Solvay process due to some of the reactions producing large amounts of heat, some of up to 95-100 degrees Celcius. The heated water cannot be released back to where it was taken from as this would lead to excessive thermal pollution. To address this issue, cooling towers and heat exchangers are used to cool the water and then it is discharged. Although the discharged water is still warm, it does not result in reduced levels of dissolved oxygen or damage to organisms present in freshwaters.
[FONT="]The decomposition of limestone is a vital step in the Solvay process which can be summarised by the following equation: [/FONT]
[FONT="]During the decomposition of limestone in a kiln, some uncalcined limestone is produced as the kilns are not 100% effective. However, to address the problem, these can be sold to farmers which use this uncalcined limestone to treat acid soils. In addition, particle emissions from kilns can be controlled by scrubbers and electrostatic precipitation. [/FONT]
[FONT="]In hindsight, this process uses many natural products thus there are no major environmental issues associated with the chemical pollution of the environment, however, good procedures have been developed to address disposal problems. [/FONT]
how much would you give this? and how could you improve this? thanks
[FONT="]The Solvay Process involves the addition of brine (sodium chloride) with limestone (calcium carbonate) and can be summarised by the following equation:[/FONT]
[FONT="]NaCl(aq) + CaCO3(aq) [/FONT]à[FONT="] Na2CO3 (aq) + CaCl (aq)[/FONT]
[FONT="]The disposal of CaCl (aq) is an issue because only some of what is disposed is recycled for use including the de-icing of roads, the use of it as a concrete additive and also as a drying agent. Once CaCl (aq) enters waterways it can result in detrimental effects on freshwater life if the solution is not diluted due to the chloride ions present. The chloride ions increase the salinity of rivers and lakes which negatively impacts on the health of living organisms in such locations.Also, to address excess alkalinity of waters, which affect living organisms, this environmental issue is naturally addressed as hydrogen carbonate ions neutralize it; summarised by the following equation: [/FONT]
[FONT="]OH-[/FONT][FONT="](aq) + HCO3- (aq) <> H20(l) + CO32-[/FONT]
[FONT="]Thermal pollution can arise from the Solvay process due to some of the reactions producing large amounts of heat, some of up to 95-100 degrees Celcius. The heated water cannot be released back to where it was taken from as this would lead to excessive thermal pollution. To address this issue, cooling towers and heat exchangers are used to cool the water and then it is discharged. Although the discharged water is still warm, it does not result in reduced levels of dissolved oxygen or damage to organisms present in freshwaters.
[FONT="]The decomposition of limestone is a vital step in the Solvay process which can be summarised by the following equation: [/FONT]
[FONT="]CaCO3(aq) [/FONT]à[FONT="] CaO(aq) + CO2 (g)[/FONT]
[FONT="]During the decomposition of limestone in a kiln, some uncalcined limestone is produced as the kilns are not 100% effective. However, to address the problem, these can be sold to farmers which use this uncalcined limestone to treat acid soils. In addition, particle emissions from kilns can be controlled by scrubbers and electrostatic precipitation. [/FONT]
[FONT="]In hindsight, this process uses many natural products thus there are no major environmental issues associated with the chemical pollution of the environment, however, good procedures have been developed to address disposal problems. [/FONT]
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