Metals and their Uses Flashcards
What is a metal ore?
A mineral or mixture of minerals from which economically viable amounts of pure metal can be extracted
What is a mineral?
Naturally occurring elements and compounds in the earth’s crust
How are unreactive metals obtained?
Through physical processes such as panning
They exist as the metal itself
How is a metal extracted for its oxide?
Heating it with another metal in a chemical reaction called REDUCTION
How are metals less reactive than carbon extracted?
Heating them with carbon
Carbon is more reactive so it will displace the metal and form a compound with the oxygen
How are metals more reactive than carbon extracted?
Electrolysis
Ore is heated until its a liquid before it is extracted
Why is electrolysis expensive?
Requires large amounts of energy
What are the properties of the transition metals?
Hard
Strong
High melting points
Good conductors
What properties make copper good for use as electrical wiring and plumbing?
Good conductor of heat and electricity (good for wires)
Malleable but hard enough to make pipes
Doesn’t react with water (good for water pipes)
Can be drawn into wires (ductile)
How can copper be extracted from copper-rich ores?
Using a furnace (smelting)
Result purified by electrolysis
Why are new ways of extracting copper from its ore being developed?
Copper is very versatile so is being used up very quickly
There are only a limited number of copper-rich ores
What new methods of extraction if copper are being researched?
Phytomining
Bioleaching
What is phytomining?
Uses plants to absorb metal compounds which are then burned
Metal can be separated from ash produced
What is bioleaching
Uses bacteria to produce leachate solutions which contain metal compounds
Metal extracted from solution
Why are aluminium and titanium useful metals?
Low density
Resistant to corrosion
