Meldrum Academy
Science Faculty
Higher Chemistry
Unit3 Part 1
The Chemical Industry
Name____________
a) The chemical industry
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X
The chemical industry

The UK chemical industry is a major contributor to both the quality of
our life and our national economy.

Stages in the manufacture of a new product can include research, pilot
study, scaling-up, production and review.

A chemical manufacturing process usually involves a sequence of steps.

A feedstock is a reactant from which other chemicals can be extracted
or synthesised.

The major raw materials in the chemical industry are fossil fuels,
metallic ores and minerals, air and water.

Chemical manufacturing may be organised as a batch or as a continuous
process.

Process conditions are chosen to maximise economic efficiency.

Manufacturing costs include capital costs, fixed costs and variable costs.

The UK chemical industry is, by and large, capital rather than labour
intensive.

Safety and environmental issues are of major importance to the chemical
industry.

Both historical and practical factors affect the location of chemical
industries.

The efficient use of energy is significant in most chemical processes.

Factors influencing the choice of a particular route include cost,
availability and suitability of feedstock(s), yield of product(s),
opportunities for the recycling of reactants and marketability of byproducts.

The UK chemical industry is a major contributor to both the quality of
our life and our national economy.
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X
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X
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X
The chemical industry (cont)

Stages in the manufacture of a new product can include research, pilot
study, scaling-up, production and review.

A chemical manufacturing process usually involves a sequence of steps.

A feedstock is a reactant from which other chemicals can be extracted
or synthesised.

The major raw materials in the chemical industry are fossil fuels,
metallic ores and minerals, air and water.

Chemical manufacturing may be organised as a batch or as a continuous
process.

Process conditions are chosen to maximise economic efficiency.

Manufacturing costs include capital costs, fixed costs and variable
costs.

The UK chemical industry is, by and large, capital rather than labour
intensive.

Safety and environmental issues are of major importance to the
chemical industry.

Both historical and practical factors affect the location of chemical
industries.

The efficient use of energy is significant in most chemical processes.

Factors influencing the choice of a particular route include cost,
availability and suitability of feedstock(s), yield of product(s),
opportunities for the recycling of reactants and marketability of byproducts.
3
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?
X

?
X
A - The Chemical industry – Introduction
1) Read the introduction p122-123. Name 3 everyday products produced by the chemical
industry.
2) Outline the 4 stages in the production of a new chemical and describe briefly what
happens at each stage.
B -Raw Materials and Feedstocks
1) What is meant by the term “Raw Material”?
2) Give 8 examples of raw materials
3) What is meant by the term “feedstock”?
4) In the industrial production of plastics name the
a) raw material
b) feedstock
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5) Give another example where crude oil acts as a raw material.
6) In the industrial production of aluminium name
a) a raw material
b) a feedstock
6) Air is a raw material. Name 2 feedstocks which can be obtained from air and describe how
these feestocks are used commercially.
7) Describe a process in which water is used as a raw material.
C - Choosing a manufacturing route ( ref p126)
1) List 7 factors which are considered when choosing a manufacturing route.
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2) List the advantages and disadvantages of producing ethanoic acid by
a) Direct oxidation of naptha
b) from methanol
D - Batch or continuous process ( ref p 126)
1) Describe the difference between a batch and a continuous process.
2) List some advantages of a batch process
3)List some advantages of a continuous process.
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E – Economic aspects
1) The costs involved in the manufacture of chemicals can be split into 3 catagories. What
are they?
2) Copy table 3 p128
3) List 4 ways which chemical companies try to reduce their energy costs.
F – The location of Chemical Industry (ref p129)
1) Give 5 reasons why the chemical plant at Grangemouth is in a suitable location.
G – Environmental Considerations ( ref p132)
1) Give examples of how chemical companies are committing to protecting the environment.
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GLOSSARY/WORDBANK
Word
Definition/description
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