Minerals to Metals Part 1

Question 1

In three molecules of ammonium sulfate, (NH4)2SO4, how many hydrogen atoms are there?

Answer 1

24 hydrogen atoms

Question 2

What are the elements found in group 1 of the periodic table called?

Answer 2

Alkali metals

Question 3

What is the name of the group of elements between groups II and III in the periodic table?

Answer 3

Transition metals

Question 4

What are two other elements with similar properties to chlorine and why is that?

Answer 4

Fluorine and bromine because they are in the same group of the periodic table, therefore they have the same number of valence electrons and similar chemical properties

Question 5

What do fluorine atoms tend to do when they form chemical compounds with metals?

Answer 5

Gain electrons

Question 6

What is the identity of an element determined by>

Answer 6

The number of protons

Question 7

In regards to electrons, what occurs during a REDOX reaction?

Answer 7

Oxidation involves loss of electrons and reduction involves a gain of electrons

Question 8

What will a reactive metal and hydrochloric acid produce?

Answer 8

Metal Salt and Hydrogen Gas

Question 9

As you move downwards in groups of the periodic table, what is the pattern you would observe?

Answer 9

Hardness decreases, melting/boiling points decrease, reactivity increases

Question 10

What will a reactive metal and water produce?

Answer 10

Metal hydroxide + Hydrogen gas

Question 11

In electroplating, what is the electrode which becomes plated with a metal known as?

Answer 11

Cathode

Question 12

During the final stage of iron smelting where the iron metal is separated from its ore, what happens?

Answer 12

Iron oxide is reduced and carbon monoxide is oxidised

Question 13

Why can the process of using heat not be used for all metals to reduce a metal from its oxidised state?

Answer 13

Highly reactive metals easily form oxides, losing their electrons readily and therefore require large amounts of energy to force them back

Question 14

Why will electrolysis not allows us to separate calcium from calcium chloride?

Answer 14

Calcium is highly reactive, and the presence of hydrogen ions in the water means that hydrogen gas will bubble from the negative electrode

Question 15

What is the best way to overcome the problem of separating calcium using electrolysis?

Answer 15

By using molten calcium chloride instead of aqueous calcium chloride to eliminate the source of hydrogen ions

Question 16

What is the composition and properties of the alloy stainless steel?

Answer 16

70% iron, 20% chromium, 10% nickel, does not rust

Question 17

What is the composition and properties of the alloy brass?

Answer 17

70% copper, 30% zinc, harder than copper, attractive colour

Question 18

What is the composition and properties of the alloy solder?

Answer 18

70% tin, 30% lead, very soft, low melting point

Question 19

What is the composition and properties of the alloy bronze?

Answer 19

95% copper, 5% tin, harder than brass, long lasting for outdoor use

Question 20

During electrolysis, at which electrode does reduction and oxidation take place at?

Answer 20

Oxidation = Anode (positive)
Reduction = Cathode (negative)

Question 21

Why does aluminium require electrolysis to reach its pure metal form, whilst copper can be extracted using far less powerful and expensive methods?

Answer 21

Aluminium is much more reactive, found in ores and difficult to separate from its compounds, whereas copper can be found native or extracted by methods such as pyrometallurgy because of its lower reactivity