Getting Metals From Rocks

Question 1

What is a metal ore

Answer 1

A rock containing enough metal to make it worthwhile extracting the metal from it

Question 2

If the market price of a metal drops is it worth extracting it

Answer 2

No

Question 3

If the market price of the ,teal increases is it worth extracting

Answer 3

Yes

Question 4

How are metals extracted from an ore (2)

Answer 4

Reduction

Electrolysis

Question 5

Why do some ores have to be concentrated before the material is extracted

Answer 5

Get rid of unwanted material

Question 6

What else can electrolysis be used for as well as extracting metals from ores

Answer 6

Purify metals

Question 7

How are metals extracted from ores via reduction

Answer 7

Use carbon

Question 8

What happens when an ore is reduced

Answer 8

Oxygen is removed from it

Question 9

How do you know whether s metal in extracted by electrolysis or reduction by carbon

Answer 9

If it is above carbon in the reactivity series them it is electrolysis(more reactive that carbon). If it is under carbon it is reduction by carbon (less reactive than carbon)

Question 10

Why is electrolysis more expensive than reduction with carbon

Answer 10

Uses more energy

Question 11

What metal is purified by electrolysis

Answer 11

Copper

Question 12

How is copper extracted by reduction with carbon

Answer 12

Smelting

Question 13

What is smelting

Answer 13

The ore being heated in a furnace

Question 14

What is the disadvantage of extracting copper by smelting

Answer 14

It is impure meaning it doesn’t conduct electricity

Not useful because copper is used for electrical wiring

Question 15

Why is electrolysis used to purify copper

Answer 15

Because it is impure once it has been extracted via smelting

Question 16

What is electrolysis

Answer 16

Breaking down a substance using electrolysis

Question 17

What is the electrolyte

Answer 17

A liquid to conduct the electricity

Question 18

Explain how electrolysis is used to purify copper

Answer 18

1) The electrons are pulled off copper atoms at the anode (+)causing them to go into solution as Cu2+ ions
2) Cu2+ ions near the cathode(-) gain electrons and turn back into copper atoms
3) The impurities are dropped at the anode (+) whilst pure copper atoms bond to the cathode (-)

Question 19

What is the displacement reaction for extracting copper

Answer 19

Copper sulfate + iron -> iron sulfate + copper

Question 20

Why is it important to recycle copper

Answer 20

The copper-rich ores are limited and the demand for copper is growing

Question 21

What are the two new methods for extracting copper from low percentage ores

Answer 21

Phytomining

Bio leaching

Question 22

What does bio leach use to extract copper for low percentage ores

Answer 22

Bacteria

Question 23

Explain the steps of bio leaching

Answer 23

1 The bacteria get their energy from the bond between copper and sulfur, separating copper from ore in the process
2 The leachate contains copper which can be extracted

Question 24

What does phytomining use to extract copper

Answer 24

Plants

Question 25

Explain the steps of phytomining

Answer 25

1 Grow plants in soil that contains copper
2 The copper builds up in the plants leaves
3 Plants can be harvestested, dried or burned in a furnace
4 The copper can be collected from the ash left in the furnace

Question 26

What is the disadvantage of phytomining and bio leaching

Answer 26

Slower processes

Question 27

What is the advantage to phytomining and bio leaching

Answer 27

Less damaging to environment

Question 28

What is a leachate

Answer 28

The solution produced by Bioleaching

Question 29

What is a disadvantage of using electrolysis over carbon to extract a metal

Answer 29

More expensive as it uses more energy