Ores Flashcards
What does the way in which a metal is extracted depend on?
It’s reactivity
What is a ore?
A rock which contains enough of a compound to make it worthwhile extracting a metal from it for a profit.
How are unreactive metals found?
An element.
Uncombined - so in pure lumps in he earths crust
How are reactive metals found?
In compounds
What does the ore haemite contain?
Iron oxide
What do metals most have to be separated from?
Their oxides
What is extraction?
The process of getting a metal from a compound in rock (ore) by a chemical reaction.
What is the reactivity series?
A list of metals on order of their reactivity
How are metals less reactive than carbon extracted?
By heating with carbon
What metals are less reactive than carbon in the reactivity series? Least to most reactive
Lead
Tin
Iron
Zinc
Why can only metals less than carbon be extracted from by a reduction reaction with carbon?
More reactive elements form compounds more readily - so carbon can take the oxygen from less reactive metals.
What method of extraction is used for metals that are more reactive than carbon?
Electrolysis
What are in the metals in the reactivity series that are more reactive than carbon? Least to most reactive
Aluminium Magnesium Calcium Sodium Potassium
Why can’t metals more reactive than carbon be reduced by heating with carbon?
Reactive metals form stable ores so it’s difficult to get the metal out of its compound. This means electrolysis has to be used.
Why is electrolysis more expensive than heating with carbon?
The cost of electricity - the more reactive a metal is, the harder and more expensive it is to extract.
