The purpose of this investigation is to determine the following question; “What have we learned about the mining for copper that could minimise environment impacts of mining in the future?” Copper is a metal used for jewellery, copper wiring, electrical motors, engines, but mainly used in electrical generators and powers. This is because copper has a high thermal and electrical conductivity. Hence, copper is essential in today’s society. The mining for copper in Queenstown, Tasmania was founded in 1883, but first started in 1896.
Copper mining led to the formation of acid rain because Acid mine drainage (AMG) was formed into the river system by natural processes when the pyrite bedrock was exposed to oxygen and water. This is because
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〖2NO〗_(2(g))+H_2 O_((I))→H〖NO〗_3(aq) +HNO_(2(aq))
Weak acid does not ionise in water completely, but nitric acid is a strong acid and completely ionises in water to form nitrate and hydronium ions, this occurs in the atmosphere.
〖2NO〗_(2(g))+〖2H〗_2 O_((I))→H_3 〖O_((aq))〗^++〖NO_(3(aq))〗^- +HNO_(2(aq))
Both sulfuric and nitric acid ionise in water droplets in the atmosphere to produce hydronium ions, which results in the pH of rainwater below 5.6. This mixture falls onto the Earth’s surface as acid rain. Thus, acid rain is caused when both oxides are released into the atmosphere. (Chemistry Essentials book)
Nitric acid: 〖HNO〗_3(aq) +H_2 O_((I) )→H_3 〖O_((aq))〗^++NO_(3(aq))^-
Sulfuric acid: H_2 SO_4(aq) +2H_2 O_((I))→ 2H_3 O_((aq))^++SO_4(aq)^(2-)
Image 1 illustrates the formation of acid rain. 1) Vehicles produces 〖NO〗_X and fossil fuels emits 〖SO〗_2, which are released in the atmosphere. 2) is when the chemicals are transformed into acid particles that are transported long distances. 3) is when the acid particles fall to the ground in wet and dry forms. 4) these acid particles are harmful to the environment, including soil, forests, lakes and
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A scrubber is used to remove gases and destroys the harmful chemicals in the atmosphere, which prevents the formation of acid rain. Additionally, FDG works by “spraying a wet slurry of limestone into a huge chambers where the calcium in the limestone responds with the sulfur dioxide in the flue gas.” When sulfur produces 〖SO〗_2, the fumes gas goes through the scrubber where a spray mixture of limestone and water reacts with the 〖SO〗_2. It produces calcium sulfate (when 〖SO〗_2 consolidates with limestone), known as synthetic gypsum. Scrubbers reduce the health risks of the local residents and workers. It is extremely important to remove sulfur dioxide because it combines with water in the air to form sulfuric acid (acidic compound) when released into the atmosphere. Thus, scrubbers are utilized to remove acidic gases as it filters out the sulfur dioxide leaving water released as
It is caused by pollutants in the water, when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides combine in the atmosphere. Sulfur dioxide is formed by coal burning power plants and nitrogen oxides are made by car exhaust (1).The precipitation of acid rain occurs in the sulfur cycle, nitrogen cycle, and the carbon cycle. Acid rain can be harmful to plants, animals, can pollutes rivers and streams, and destroys statues and buildings. Acid rain can suck the nutrients out of plants, or release a toxic substance into plant roots. The problem being investigated in this experiment how much acid rain affected building materials.
Copper is a metal that has been used by humans essentially since the beginning of existence as it is said to be only the second metal used by man after gold. Therefore, copper production has been an important part of life for thousands or years and still is today. The copper cycle is an important because it provides a basis for how copper can be recovered from various compounds that it exists in during its so-called “life-cycle” . The life cycle of copper conserves this now scarce metal by allowing the recovery of the pure substance at any point through experimental means. While copper is much more, scare in earths natural environment today it is still an incredibly important product. Copper is used in manufacturing wiring for electricity as
When fossil fuels are burned to create electricity pollutants such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the air. They then mix with oxygen and water in the air to form acid rain. These chemicals can travel long distances in the rain before being deposited. (Epa.gov)
Introduction Copper is thought to be one of the first metals to be use by mankind and has been mined for thousands of years. Copper contains the properties of being very malleable as well as ductile. This makes a very great conductor for electricity and heat. Copper mining has exploded in the last 100 years as about 94% of the mined copper in the world has been mined during this period. The mining and extraction process of copper, although necessary for many of the worlds electronics, cars and water systems have a negative effect on the environment, affecting both animals and humans.
Copper is not renewable. You cannot keep making copper because copper is made from the Earth. We end up using copper
Acid rain is any form of precipitation comprising of acidic components such as sulphuric acid, carbonic acid or nitric acid that falls from the atmosphere as rain, snow, fog, fail or dust. When sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the atmosphere, they are transported by wind and air currents. Hence, the two substances react with water, oxygen and other chemicals to for sulphuric, carbonic and nitric acids. The intense extraction of copper in Queensland is one of the causes of acid rain because the large machines that drill into the ground contributes to the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere in large masses. The roasting, smelting and converting of copper is another factor that contributes to acid rain. The ores are roasted to remove
One positive impact of copper mining is that it has a great impact on the economy, as it is a multi-purpose metal. It can be used for infrastructure, motor vehicle radiators and heating systems as well as electrical generators and motors for electrical wiring. Furthermore, various establishments will purchase the metal. Although it’s not as costly as gold, copper is sought out for its versatility.
Copper is a chemical element that has the symbol Cu and atomic number 29 (Copper Development Association of South Africa, 2017). The element possesses a wide range of properties that make it invaluable for many different applications. It is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity, as well as being very malleable and ductile. Copper also has excellent alloying properties and is resistant to corrosion (Geoscience Australia, 2017). Copper mining is a large industry in Australia, but the industry is under scrutiny for negative impacts on the environments caused by mining.
Sulfur dioxide results when a reaction occurs between the sulfur element and oxygen in the air. The acid occurs in the air in the form of Sulfuric acid mists responsible for the corrosion of various metallic and limestone-rich objects. Usually, acid rain results when air containing traces of sulfur dioxide mixes with water (Revie et al., 2011). The acid rain, owing to its PH leads to the corrosion of monuments statues plus memorial, whose main component is calcium carbonate CaCO3. The chief source of sulfur dioxide, in United States, is from electric power plants (Hewayde et al., 2007). The rest comes from industrial sources, combustion of fuels, automobiles and other sources.
Acid rain is an example of real-life oxidation
Copper is an important material in the electrical industry. In the electrical industry, copper is used as the electrical conductor in wires. It is the most used conductor for wiring because it is the most conductive non-precious metal. Copper is used in most wires for any different types of wiring. Copper mining is a threat to the environment and humans. Copper is dug from mines that are located in Chile, Mexico, and the United States (Reference.com/science). These countries have the largest copper mines in the world. The mining and refining process for copper produces harmful chemicals such as sulfuric acid and sulphur dioxide (Sara Dudgeon, Copper Mining from the Ground Up, 2009). Sulfuric acid and sulphur dioxide are very damaging to the
Not only is it used for electricity conduction, heat conduction and primitive alloys of bronze but also for the production of transportation means like trains and cars. Renewable energy is also produced by things that have lots of copper in them. For example in one single wind turbine with a strength of 3-Watts, there are approximately four tons of copper. This all effects are positive, but what about the negative dark side of copper?
In order to meet societal demands for copper it has historically been mined from the ground. There are many different ways to procure copper from buried ore. The mining process begins with extraction of the ore from the ground. The ore then goes through smeltering and converting and the process ends with the refined ore being made into copper plates ready for sale to the world
Acid rain is a common term for pollution caused when sulfur and nitrogen dioxides combine with atmospheric moisture to produce a rain, snow, or hail of sulfuric and nitric acids. Such pollution may also be suspended in a fog, or the pollutants may be deposited in dry form. Environmental damage from acid rain has been reported in northern Europe and North America. High levels of acid rain have also been detected in other areas of the world, such as above the tropical rain forest of Africa. Acid rain has destroyed plant and animal life in lakes, damaged forests and crops, endangered marine life in coastal waters, eroded structures, and contaminated drinking water.
Acid rain is formed when some compounds like nitrogen oxide and sulphur oxide is withdrawn into the air by cars, factories and anything that gives out fumes. These compounds in a gaseous form travel high in the air to mix with the water vapor high up in the air to make acid rain. These two compounds are very easily soluble therefore it can be taken by the wind very far so it spreads really easily.