In the content of I/GCSE Chemistry
Advantages of Limestone
- Limestone can be used to produce other useful materials including cement, concrete and glass
- It is
- cheaper and therefore more economically viable than many other building materials such as marble
- Using local stone to
- build new houses makes them aesthetically pleasing next to older, traditional houses
- Limestone is found
- naturally, so it can be quarried easily
- Quarries
create jobs locally for quarry workers and contractors
- Better roads will be built to cope with traffic for the quarry, which will benefit everyone in the local area
- Quarry workers will provide business in the local community for cafes, restaurants and transport networks
- Other industries such as cement makers will be attracted to the area as an exciting business opportunity
Disadvantages of Limestone
- Limestone is known to be susceptible to
- acid rain
- Quarrying of limestone
- is more expensive than using a different building material that requires a less invasive extraction process
- Quarries create permanent disfigurements to the landscape, especially as many valuable sources of the rock lie under national parks and recreational spaces
- Quarries
- destroy the natural habitats of birds and animals
- Increased traffic pollution
caused by travelers to and from the site
- Noise pollution
caused by machinery and large vehicles
- Health problems
could arise from the increased levels of dust in the air, such as asthma
- Quarries are detrimental to the tourism industry in what were formerly beautiful areas of countryside
Evaluation
In the content of I/GCSE Chemistry
- Limestone is a
- cheap and functional material that is resistant to fire and rot, and is also robust and versatile.
- The quarrying of limestone can be seen as economically beneficial, as it
- provides jobs for workers, and brings additional business to an area.
- This is largely cancelled out by the
destruction of tourism in countryside areas, resulting in little economic gain overall.
- It also causes
social issues such as the ugly disfigurement of the landscape, and painful noise pollution for locals who live near to the quarry site, as well as the obvious environmental implications of building a giant hole in the ground that is almost never re-filled and results in the large-scale destruction of habitats.
Conclusion
- Limestone is
- not a good choice of building material, as it's advantages are limited
- Other
building materials are cheaper, safer and more aesthetically pleasing, as well as being resistant to fire and rot, that are potentially more suitable for the job.
Written by Bryant Wong (Chemistry)