Obtaining And Using Metals

Question 1

What is a metal ore

Answer 1

It is a metal which has reacted with another element to make a compound in the earth
There’s a limited amount of metal ores they’re finite sources

Question 2

What is the reaction that creates a metal ore

Answer 2

Oxidisation, the gain of oxygen

2mg+o2->2mgo

Question 3

How is a metal ore extracted from oxygen

Answer 3

Reduction, loss of oxygen

2CuO+C->2Cu+CO2

Question 4

What is the reactivity series

Answer 4

Potassium 
Sodium
Calcium
Magnesium
Aluminium
Carbon
Zinc 
Iron 
Tin 
Lead

Question 5

how are metals less reactive than carbon extracted

Answer 5

By reduction a displacement reaction occurs where carbon displaces the other elements in the ore to get the metal

Question 6

How are metals more reactive than carbon extracted from its ore

Answer 6

By electrolysis the ores are split up by electricity and they can be collected at the electrodes

Question 7

How is electrolysis used to extract aluminium form it’s ore

Answer 7

Aluminium oxide is melted and used as the electrolyte for the exctraction
The electrolysis decomposes the compound into aluminium and oxygen atoms
The aluminium atoms sink to the bottom of the tank as molten aluminium metal

Question 8

What are the properties of metals

Answer 8

Metals are strong and hard to break but can be bent
They are great at conducting heat
They conduct electricity well

Question 9

What are the properties of aluminium

Answer 9

Low density
Resistant to corrosion
Not strong but forms strong alloys
Used for window frames electricity cables and aircraft

Question 10

What are the properties of copper

Answer 10

Hard and strong
High melting point
Good conductor
Used for pipes

Question 11

What are the properties of gold

Answer 11

It is shiny
Easy to shape
Unreactive

Question 12

Why is iron soft and easily shaped

Answer 12

Because the atoms are arranged in neat layers that can easily slide over each other

Question 13

What is an alloy

Answer 13

A mixture of two or more metals

Question 14

Why are alloys stronger than pure metals

Answer 14

There is more than one type of atom in the layers so the layers can’t slide over each other as easily so the metal can’t bend as easily

Question 15

What are smart alloys

Answer 15

They remember their original shape when heated

It can be used to make stents for blood vessels or non breakable glasses

Question 16

Why is it important to recycle metals

Answer 16

It uses up less resources and conserves the resources
It uses less energy because mining and extracting uses lots of energy which mostly comes from burning fossil fuels recycling takes a fraction of the energy
It is cheaper
It makes less rubbish which reduces landfill

Question 17

What are the benefits of recycling

Answer 17

Mining costs more than recycling the transportation and extraction of the ore costs a lot

For every 1kg of aluminium recycled you save 95% energy and a lot of waster