Programme 11: Industrial Chemistry

Answers to Activity Sheet 1

Activity Sheet 1: Programme Questions

This activity consists of a series of questions that can be answered by students as they watch parts of the programme.

Ammonia

1. Ammonium nitrate contains a high proportion of nitrogen which plants need for strong growth.
2. As quickly as nitrogen and hydrogen molecules react to form ammonia the ammonia molecules begin to break down again into hydrogen and nitrogen.
3. The optimum reaction conditions are 450°C and 250 atmospheres of pressure.
4. A catalyst speeds up the reaction.
5. To manufacture nitric acid ammonia, air and water are used.
6. Ammonium nitrate is a salt produced when nitric acid is neutralised by ammonia.

Plastics and Polymers

1. Oil is the starting material for most plastics.
2. Alkanes contain the elements hydrogen and carbon.
3. The catalyst used in cracking is alumina.
4. The products of cracking must be insoluble as they are collected over water.
5. Alkenes decolourise bromine water.
6. The monomer used to manufacture polystyrene is styrene.

Sulphuric Acid

1. When sulphur burns it combines with oxygen to form sulphur dioxide.
2. When sulphur arrives at the sulphuric acid plant it is a hot liquid.
3. The catalyst used to convert sulphur dioxide into sulphur trioxide is vanadium oxide.
4. The reactor vessel must not get too hot or the reaction will be reversed and the products will break down into reactants again.
5. Sulphuric acid has a great affinity for water and is used as a drying agent in industry.