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Chapter 21: Problem 31

List the common ores of magnesium and calcium.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Common ores of Magnesium are: Magnesite, Dolomite, Brucite, Carnallite, Talc, and Olivine. Common ores of Calcium are: Calcite, Gypsum, Anhydrite, and Fluorite.

Step by step solution

01

Identify Magnesium Ores

Magnesium primarily occurs in minerals such as magnesite (magnesium carbonate) and dolomite (a type of limestone which is composed of calcium and magnesium carbonate). It can also be found in other minerals like brucite, carnallite, talc, and olivine.
02

Identify Calcium Ores

Calcium primarily occurs in the minerals such as calcite and gypsum. Calcite (calcium carbonate) is one of the most common minerals, and it is the main component of sedimentary rocks such as limestone and marble. Gypsum (calcium sulfate dihydrate) is used to make Plaster of Paris. Calcium can also be found in other minerals such as anhydrite and fluorite.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Magnesite
Magnesite is an important ore of magnesium, chemically known as magnesium carbonate, with the formula \( \text{MgCO}_3 \). This mineral is significant for its role in producing magnesium metal and other magnesium compounds. Magnesite typically forms in sedimentary and metamorphic environments.
  • It appears as white, yellow, grey, or brown earthy masses.
  • Magnesite is often used in the production of refractories, which are materials capable of withstanding high temperatures.
  • The mineral is also a source of magnesium oxide, used as a fire retardant and medicinal remedy.
To extract magnesium, magnesite can be calcined, or heated to remove carbon dioxide, leaving behind magnesium oxide (MgO). This process is essential in the industrial production of magnesium metal.
Dolomite
Dolomite is a unique mineral, serving as an ore for both magnesium and calcium. Its chemical composition is calcium magnesium carbonate, \( \text{CaMg(CO}_3\text{)}_2 \). Found in sedimentary rocks known as dolostone, dolomite is formed mainly from the replacement of limestone through chemical processes.
  • Appearing in pink, white, grey, or brown, dolomite has similar applications to limestone.
  • It is used as an ornamental stone and a concrete aggregate.
  • Dolomite is also a source of magnesium oxide, like magnesite, and serves industrial and agricultural purposes.
Dolomite is often mistaken for limestone but can be differentiated through its reaction to hydrochloric acid; dolomite reacts weakly compared to the vigorous fizz of pure calcite/sample.
Calcite
Calcite, a principal ore of calcium, is a crystalline form of calcium carbonate with the formula \( \text{CaCO}_3 \). Its unique variety of crystal forms and properties make it immensely popular in the natural world. Calcite is the primary component of sedimentary rocks such as limestone and marble.
  • Pure calcite is typically colorless or white, though impurities can introduce shades of green, yellow, or other hues.
  • It is known for its double refraction, making objects viewed through it appear doubled.
  • Calcite has a defining property of vigorous reaction with dilute hydrochloric acid, producing carbon dioxide gas.
Beyond being a significant mineral in geological formations, calcite is used in construction, as a mineral specimen, and in agriculture to adjust soil pH levels.
Gypsum
Gypsum is a widely used ore of calcium, representing the hydrated form of calcium sulfate, \( \text{CaSO}_4 \cdot 2\text{H}_2\text{O} \). This mineral is pivotal in several industries due to its pliability and versatility.
  • Most commonly appearing in flats or granular form, gypsum is often white or slightly tinted.
  • It is primarily used to produce Plaster of Paris, wallboard, and as a soil conditioner.
  • Gypsum's ability to reduce the acidity of soils makes it valuable in agriculture.
The dehydration of gypsum by heating it transforms it into Plaster of Paris, a quick-setting material crucial for moldings and sculptures in the building sector. As one of the softer minerals in the Mohs scale, gypsum can be easily scratched by fingernails.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Describe the main steps involved in the preparation of an ore.

What action renders aluminum inert?

Describe the general characteristics of \(n\) -type and \(p\) -type semiconductors.

Write chemical formulas for the following minerals: (a) calcite, (b) dolomite, (c) fluorite, (d) halite, (e) corundum, (f) magnetite, (g) beryl,(h) galena,(i) epsomite, (i) anhydrite.

Starting with magnesium and concentrated nitric acid, describe how you would prepare magnesium oxide. [Hint: First convert \(\mathrm{Mg}\) to \(\mathrm{Mg}\left(\mathrm{NO}_{3}\right)_{2}\). Next, \(\mathrm{MgO}\) can be obtained by heating \(\mathrm{Mg}\left(\mathrm{NO}_{3}\right)_{2}\).]
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