CHEMISTRY NOTES

THE EARTHS CRUST AND PRECIOUS MATERIALS FROM THE EARTH THE EARTHS CRUST
The crust covers the mantle and is the earths hard outer shell, the surface on which we are living. Compared to the other layers, the crust is much thinner. It floats upon the softer, denser mantle. The crust is made up of solid material. There is an oceanic crust and a continental crust. The oceanic crust is about 4-7 miles (6-7km) thick and mainly consists of heavy rocks, like basalt. The continental crust is thicker than the oceanic crust, about 19 miles (30km) thick. It is mainly made up of light material such as granite. ROCKS It is believed that the earth was once molten (i.e. hot liquid) and that when it was cooled, different minerals separated out as crystals. There are three main types of rocks: Igneous rocks- These rocks are formed inside the earth under great pressure and heat. Most of these rocks are crystalline. Some of them cool slowly and contain large crystals. These rocks are not formed in layers and do not have fossils. Rocks of these kinds are either poured out as lava on to the earths surface, during a volcanic eruption or exposed by erosion. Sedimentary rocks- The most common sedimentary rocks are composed of particles of rocks which have been deposited, usually in layers, by water, wind or moving ice. All sedimentary rocks are non-crystalline and contain fossils e.g. gravel and coral. Corals are small organisms that live in the sea. Their calcium carbonate covering accumulates over years to form rocks. Metamorphic rocks- The structure and appearance of these rocks have been changed by great heat, pressure or both. Any rock can be changed into a metamorphic rock. Some examples are marble, graphite and slate.

SAND Sand is loose material consisting of small rock fragments. Sand is derived from the weathering of rocks by exposure to different temperatures, wind, rain, snow and frost. The sand must contain the minerals of which these rocks consist. Some types of sand contain quartz, a crystal identified by its hardness and resistance to decay. In the Caribbean, a common rock is coral. Some islands, like Barbados, are made up almost entirely of coral. Coral sand is found there. Places where there is a lot of volcanic activity would have sand derived from the lava. In Brazil, some areas have black sand.

PRECIOUS MATERIALS FROM THE EARTH

A precious metal is a rare, naturally occurring metallic chemical element of highly economic value. These are found in the earth due to the presence of magnetite, an iron ore. Precious and semi-precious materials are called gems. Chemically, the precious metals are less reactive than most elements, have high lustre, are softer more ductile, and have higher melting points than other metals. Historically, they were important as currency, but are now regarded mainly as investment and industrial commodities. Gold, silver, platinum and palladium each have a currency code. The best known precious metals are the coinage metals, gold and silver. While both have industrial uses, they are better known for their uses in art, jewellery and coinage. Other precious metals include the platinum group metals: ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, and platinum, of which platinum is the most widely traded. GOLD Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au (from Latin: aurum) and an atomic number of 79. This metal occurs as nuggets or grains in rocks, in veins and in alluvial deposits. Two methods used in mining gold are dredging and hydraulics. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny metal and the most malleable and ductile metal known. Pure gold has a bright yellow colour and lustre traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidising in air or water. Chemically, gold is a transition metal and a group 11 element. With the exception of the noble gases, gold is the least reactive chemical element known. It has been a valuable and highly sought-after precious metal for coinage, jewellery and other arts long before the beginning of recorded history. SILVER Silver is a metallic chemical element with the chemical symbol Ag (Latin: argentum) and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it has the highest electrical conductivity of any element and the highest thermal conductivity of any metal. The metal occurs naturally in its pure, free form (native silver), as an alloy with gold and other metals, and in minerals such as argentite and chlorargyrite. Most silver is produced as a by-product of copper, gold, lead, and zinc refining. Silver has long been valued as a precious metal, and it is used to make ornaments, jewellery, high-value tableware, utensils (silverware) and currency coins.

PLATINUM Platinum is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Pt and an atomic number of 78. Its name is derived from the Spanish term platina del Pinto, which is translated into little silver of the Pinto River. As a pure metal, platinum is silvery-white, lustrous, ductile and malleable. It does not oxidize at any temperature, although it is corroded by halogens, cyanides, sulphur and caustic alkalis. Platinum is insoluble in hydrochloric and nitric acid, but dissolves in aqua regia to form chloroplatinic acid, H2PtCl6. Platinums resistance to wear and tarnish is well suited for making fine jewellery. The metal has an excellent resistance to corrosion and high temperature and has stable electrical properties. DIAMOND Diamond is the hardest natural substance known. Diamonds can be obtained by diving. They are found mainly in sand and in the gravel of creeks and rivers. The gravel which contains diamond is said to be diamondiferous.