Seperating Metals from Metal Oxides

Question 1

What is oxidation?

Answer 1

gain of oxygen e.g. magnesium is oxidised to form magnesium oxide

Question 2

what is reduction?

Answer 2

loss of oxygen e.g. copper oxide is reduced to copper

Question 3

How can metals be extracted?

Answer 3

*metals below carbon in the reactivity series can be extracted using carbon. For example, iron oxide is reduced in a blast furnace to make iron. In this reaction the iron is reduced as as oxygen is removed from it but carbon gains oxygen so is oxidised
*metals higher than carbon in the reactivity series have to be separated by electrolysis as carbon can only take away oxygen from metals that are less reactive than carbon itself