Extraction of metals (environmental aspects of metal extraction)

Question 1

Name the 4 possible methods of reduction

Answer 1

• by heating with carbon (in the form of coke)
• by heating with hydrogen
• by heating with a more reactive metal (active metal)
• by electrolysis

Question 2

Name 5 reasons we must recycle metals

Answer 2

•saves resources (e.g. metal ores)
• creates less waste (e.g. mining waste)
• saves energy resources (less energy to re-cycle than make from ore, e.g.
recycling Al uses 5% of energy used to extract)
•Scrap removed from countryside or from landfill
• reduces air pollution (e.g. CO2 – greenhouse effect, SO2 – acid rain, CO - toxic)

Question 3

Explain why extracting copper using scrap is better compared to the high temperature carbon reduction of
copper oxide

Answer 3

• uses less energy,
•can work with lower grade ores and so is more sustainable
•Would work with low quality scrap iron so saves this being
wasted.

Question 4

Disadvantages of recycling metals?

Answer 4

costs associated
with collecting, sorting and
transporting metals to be recycled
that have to be factored into the
overall financial and energy costs

Question 5

What happens in extracting copper with scrap iron and what is the equation?

Answer 5

Cu2+(aq) + Fe(s) → Cu(s) + Fe2+(aq)

By reacting iron with an aqueous solution that can be made by reacting sulphuric acid with copper ores
The iron displaces the copper by
reducing the copper ions.