Extracting metals and equilibria Flashcards
Reactivity series
(lowest to highest) Gold, silver, copper, hydrogen, iron, zinc, aluminium, magnesium, calcium, sodium, potassium.
What happens when a metal reacts with water?
Metal hydroxide and hydrogen is formed.
If a metal reacts slowly with cold water, what happens when it reacts with steam?
A metal may react to hot steam eg: Hot magnesium reacts vigorously. Still makes metal oxide and hydrogen.
How do different metals react to oxidisation?
Lower on reactivity series lower the rate of oxidation, Higher - more oxidation.
Describe displacement
A more reactive metal can displace a less reactive metal from its compounds.
Define ore.
Rock that contains enough of a metal or metal compound to make it worth extracting.
Low grade = Small percentage of metal/compound
High grade = Larger percentage.
Reversible reactions
Reactions that you can get the reactants back from. It is represented by a forwards and backwards arrowhead.
Dynamic Equilibrium
When a reversible reaction happens in a closed containter it can reach dynamic eqilibrium, meaning the forward and backwards reactions occur at the same time and at the same rate.
The Haber process
Ammonia is an important industrial product. The haber process involves a reversible reaction between nitrogen and hydrogen. Nitrogen is extracted from air and hydrogen are pumped through pipes, the gasses are then compressed and heated - An iron catalyst is then used to speed up the reaction. When the product is cooled it forms liquid ammonia
Equilibrium Position changes
If the pressure, temperature or concentration of reactant or product changes it throws off equilibrium. The reaction will balance by equalling the condition that has changed.
