Topic 4 - Extracting Metals And Equilibria Flashcards
How can you deduce the reactivity of metals by reacting them with acids?
You can place little pieces of various metals of same size into dilute hydrochloric acid.
- Magnesium will make a loud squeaky pop (Most Reactive)
- Aluminium will make a fair squeaky pop
- Zinc will make a quiet squeaky pop
- Iron will make a very quiet squeaky pop
- Copper will not make a sound (Least reactive)
How can you deduce the reactivity of metals by reacting them with water? (6)
Place metal pieces in water
Fast [vigorous] reaction with cold water: Potassium, Sodium
Slow reaction with cold water: Calcium, Magnesium
Usually no reaction: Aluminium, Zinc
Rusts slowly: Iron
Definitely no reaction: Copper, Silver, Gold
How can you deduce the reactivity of metals by reacting them with salt solutions?
A more reactive metal can displace a less reactive metal from its compounds.
For example, magnesium is more reactive than copper. It displaces copper from copper sulfate solution (salt).
magnesium + copper sulfate → magnesium sulfate + copper
Why are displacement reactions known as redox reactions?
Reduction and oxidation happen at the same time, so displacement reactions are called redox reactions.
E.G: Mg(s) + Cu2+(aq) → Mg2+(aq) + Cu(s)
This equation is an example of a balanced ionic equation. It can be split into two half equations:
- Mg(s) → Mg2+(aq) + 2e- (oxidation)
- Cu2+(aq) + 2e- → Cu(s) (reduction)
Notice that: magnesium atoms lose electrons - they are oxidised copper ions gain electrons - they are reduced
What are the most reactive metals likely to form?
Cations as they lose their electrons more easily.
What is a metal ore?
A rock which contains enough metal to make it economically worthwhile extracting metal from it.
In many cases the ore is an oxide of an metal.
Where are most metals obtained from?
Most metals that we use are found in their ores in the Earth’s crust.
The ores are mined and the metals can be extracted.
How are unreactive metals found?
Some unreactive metals, such as gold and platinum, are present in the Earth’s crust as uncombined elements.
These metals can be mined straight out of the ground, but they usually need to be refined before they can be used.
What is oxidation and reduction?
Oxidation is the gain of oxygen by a substance
Reduction is the loss of oxygen by a substance
How are metals higher than carbon in the reactivity series extracted?
Electrolysis - Potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium and aluminium.
How are metals below carbon extracted?
Reduction using carbon.
Iron oxide is reduced in a blast furnace to make iron.
This is because carbon can only take the oxygen away from metals which is less reactive than carbon itself is.
Describe the preparation for the electrolysis of Aluminium oxide to get Aluminium.
Aluminium oxide is insoluble in water, so it must be molten to act as an electrolyte. However, the melting point of aluminium oxide is high.
A lot of energy must be transferred to break its strong ionic bonds, and this is expensive. To reduce costs, powdered aluminium oxide is dissolved in molten cryolite.
This ionic compound melts at a lower temperature than aluminium oxide, reducing costs.
Describe the electrolysis of Aluminium oxide to get Aluminium
At the cathode, aluminium ions gain electrons and form aluminium atoms.
At the anode, oxide ions lose electrons and form oxygen gas.
The oxygen reacts with the carbon anodes, forming carbon dioxide.
So the anodes gradually wear away. They must be replaced frequently, adding to the cost of producing aluminium.
Why is Electrolysis more expensive than reduction with carbon? (3)
Lots of electricity is need which is very expensive.
You have to melt/ dissolve the metal ore so it can conduct electricity.
Whereas carbon is cheap and also acts as a fuel to provide the heat needed for the reduction reaction to happen.
Describe the alternative bacterial method of extracting metals. (4)
Certain bacteria can break down low-grade ores to produce an acidic solution containing metal ions.
The solution is called a leachate [and the metal can be exracted by electrolysis in this way] and the process is called bioleaching. Bioleaching can be used to extract copper metal.
The bacteria get energy from the bonds between atoms in the ore, separating out the metal from the ore in the process.
It does not need high temperatures, but it produces toxic substances, including sulfuric acid, which damage the environment.
Describe the alternative biological method of extracting method - Phytoextraction. (6)
Plants absorb mineral ions through their roots. Phytoextraction makes use of this to extract metals:
1) Plants are grown on a low-grade ore that contains lower amounts of metal
2) The plants absorb metal ions through their roots and concentrate these ions in their cells
3) The plants are harvested and burnt
4) The ash left behind contains a higher concentration of the metal than the original ore
5) The ash is processed to obtain the metal by electrolysis.
How is a metal’s resistance to oxidation related to its position in the reactivity series?
The less reactive metals are more resistant to oxidation than more reactive metals.
What are the advantages of recycling metals? (3)
- More economic
- less energy is needed to produce a metal
- Less damage to the environment
- fewer quarries and mines, less noise and less heavy traffic
- Saves valuable raw materials - reserves of metal ores will last longer
What are the disadvantages of recycling metals? (2)
- The collection and transport of used items needs organisation, workers, vehicles and fuel
- It can be difficult to sort different materials from one another
What is a Life-cycle Assessment and what are its main stages? (5)
A life-cycle assessment or LCA is a ‘cradle to grave’ analysis of the impact of a manufactured product on the environment. The main stages are:
1) obtaining the raw materials needed
2) manufacturing the product
3) using the product
4) disposing of the product at the end of its useful life
Describe the first stage of a Life-cyle Assessment - Raw materials. (3)
All the raw materials we need come from the Earth’s crust, atmosphere or oceans, or are due to living organisms.
Obtaining these materials has an impact on the environment, including:
- using up limited resources such as ores and crude oil
- damaging habitats through quarrying, mining, or felling trees
Describe the second stage of a Life-cycle Assessment - Manufacture. (2)
The manufacture of products has an impact on the environment, including:
- using up land for factories
- the use of machines and people
- pollution, eg. harmful fumes such as CO or HCl
Describe the third stage of a Life-cycle Assessment - Use
The impact of a product on the environment during its use depends on the type of product.
For example, a wooden chair has very little impact, unless it needs cleaning or repair.
On the other hand, a car will have a significant impact - releasing CO2 and SO2 into the atmosphere.
Paint gives off toxic fumes
Fertilisers can leech into streams and rivers and can cause damage into ecosystems.
Describe the fourth stage of a Life-Cycle Assessment - Disposal. (2)
The disposal of old products has an impact on the environment, including:
- using up land for landfill sites - takes up space and can pollute land and water.
- products might be incinerated [burnt] which can cause pollution.
