C1.3 Metals and Their Uses Flashcards
What is a metal ore?
A rock that contains enough metal to make it profitable to extract the metal from it.
Explain why changes in the market price of a metal could affect how much of that metal is extracted from its ores.
If the market price of a metal falls, it might cost more to extract the metal than would be gained from selling it so the amount of metal extracted would fall.
If the market price of a metal increases, then more of the metal might be extracted from its ore, as more money could be made from it.
Name three chemical methods of extracting metals from their ores.
Reduction, electrolysis and occasionally a displacement reaction.
Name the method used to extract a metal if it is above carbon in the reactivity series.
Electrolysis
Name the method used to extract a metal if it is below carbon in the reactivity series.
Reduction
Is an element at the top of the reactivity series more or less reactive than the elements below it?
More reactive
When a metal ore is reduced by carbon, what is removed from it?
Oxygen
Why are other processes of extraction more expensive to carry out than reduction with carbon?
They have more stages and use more energy.
Give two examples of metals that are extracted using electrolysis.
Aluminium / calcium / magnesium / sodium / potassium.
Tin is lower down in the reactivity series than carbon. What process is required to extract it from its metal oxides?
Reduction with carbon
Calcium is higher up in the reactivity series than carbon. What process is required to extract it from its metal oxides?
Electrolysis
Zinc is lower down in the reactivity series than carbon. What process is required to extract it from its metal oxides?
Reduction with carbon
Potassium is higher up in the reactivity series than carbon. What process is required to extract it from its metal oxides?
Electrolysis
What is the name given to the extraction of copper using a furnace?
Smelting
Copper can be purified by electrolysis. At which electrode do copper atoms go into the solution as copper ions? How are the copper ions formed? Which electrode do the copper ions move towards?
Positive electrode (anode).
Electrons are pulled off copper atoms at the positive electrode (anode).
The negative electrode (cathode).
Name two methods of extracting copper from low-grade ores. Give two advantage of these methods over traditional methods.
Bioleaching and phytomining.
The methods are less damaging to the environment and are cheaper.
Copper can be extracted from a solution of copper sulfate by adding scrap iron. What reaction does this involve? Give a benefit of using scrap iron in this reaction. What are the two products in this reaction?
A displacement reaction.
Scrap iron is very cheap.
Iron sulfate and copper.
Give three benefits of mining for metals.
Mining metal provides materials to make useful products.
Mining provides local people with jobs.
Mining brings money into the area which means services such as transport and health can be improved.
Give five environmental impacts of mining.
Noise pollution. Destroys habitats. Scars the landscape. Releases gases such as CO2 and SO2. Contributes to acid rain, global dimming and climate change.
Explain how mining can contribute to acid rain, global dimming and climate change.
Mining requires energy which usually comes from fossil fuels. This releases carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide, which contribute to acid rain and climate change.
