Extraction of metals

Question 1

Metals that are [ ] reactive than carbon have to be extracted using [ ] of [ ]

Answer 1

more
electrolysis
molten compounds

Question 2

Why is electrolysis more expensive than reduction?

Answer 2

Uses a lot of energy

Question 3

What is purified by electrolysis?

Answer 3

Copper

Question 4

What is smelting?

Answer 4

ore being heated in a furnace

Question 5

What is the issue with extracting copper by reduction with carbon?

Answer 5

Copper produced this way is impure - and therefore doesn’t conduct electricity very well. Not useful because copper is used to make electrical wiring

Question 6

Why is electrolysis used with copper?

Answer 6

Purifies it - much better conductor

Question 7

What is electrolysis?

Answer 7

The breaking down of a substance using electricity

Question 8

What does electrolysis require?

Answer 8

A liquid to conduct the electricity, called the electrolyte.

Question 9

What are electrolytes often made of?

Answer 9

Metal salt solutions made fro the ore or molten metal oxides

Question 10

Why can the electrolyte conduct electricity?

Answer 10

Has free electrons

Question 11

Electrons are taken away by the [ ] electrode and are given away by the [ ] electrode. As ions gain or lose electrons they become [ ] or molecules and are released.

Answer 11

Positive
Negative
Atoms

Question 12

How is electrolysis is used to get copper?

Answer 12

1) Electrons are pulled off copper atoms at the positive electrode (anode) causing them to go into solution as Cu²⁺ ions.
2) Cu²⁺ ions near the negative electrode gain electrons and turn back into copper atoms
3) The impurities are dropped at the positive electrode as a sludge, whilst pure copper atoms bond to the negative electrode

Question 13

What is the positive electrode whilst purifying copper through electrolysis?

Answer 13

Big lump of impure copper, which will disolve

Question 14

What is the negative electrode whilst purifying copper through electrolysis?

Answer 14

Starts as a thin piece of pure copper and more pure copper adds to it.

Question 15

What can be used to EXTRACT copper?

Answer 15

A displacement reaction

Question 16

More reactive metals react more [ ] than less reactive metals

Answer 16

Vigorously

Question 17

What will happen if you put a reactive metal into a solution of a dissolved metal compound? Why?

Answer 17

The reactive metal will displace the less reactive metal in the compound.
Because the more reactive metal bonds more strongly to the non-metal bit of the compound and pushed out the less reactive metal.

Question 18

Scrap iron can be used to displace copper from [ ] - this is really useful because iron is cheap and copper is expensive. If some iron is put in a solution of copper [ ], the more reactive iron will ‘kick out’ the less reactive copper from the solution. You end with [ ] solution and copper metal

Answer 18

solution
sulphate
iron sulphate

Question 19

If a piece of silver metal is put into a solution of copper sulphate… Why?

Answer 19

nothing happens

The more reactive metal (copper) is already in the solution

Question 20

Why is it important to recycle copper?

Answer 20

The supply of copper-rich ores is limited.

Question 21

The demand for copper is [ ] and this may lead to …

Answer 21

Growing

Shortages in the future

Question 22

What 2 things are scientists looking into getting copper from?

Answer 22

Low grade ores (ores that only contain small amounts of copper)
From waste that is currently produced when copper is extracted

Question 23

What are 2 new ways of extracting copper?

Answer 23

Bioleaching and Phytomining

Question 24

What is bioleaching?

Answer 24

This uses bacteria to separate copper from copper sulfide. The bacteria get energy from the bond between copper and sulfur, separating out the copper from the ore in the process. The leachate (The solution produced by the process) contains copper which can be extracted.

Question 25

What is phytomining

Answer 25

Growing plants in soil that contains copper. The plants can’t use or get rid of the copper so its gradually builds up in the leaves. The plants can be harvested, dried, and burned in a furnace. The copper can be collected from the ash left in the furnace.

Question 26

What is 1 advantage to Bioleaching and Phytomining and 1 disadvantage?

Answer 26

Ad: smaller impact on the environment than traditional methods
Dis: They’re slow