Topic 9 - 9.3 - Ores

Question 1

List the 3 steps of the extraction process

Answer 1

1. crush ore into small pieces
2. heat it in air to form a metal oxide
3. Oxygen is then removed through reduction

Question 2

Fill in the blanks

Metals are usually found in[blank word], which are [blank definition].

Answer 2

• ores
• naturally occuring rocks that contain metal compounds

Question 3

Describe the relationship between the reactivity of a metal and the state it can be found in

Answer 3

Metals lower down in reactivity series = more likely to be found uncombined/not in an ore
∴
easier to decompose their oxides and obtain the pure metal because it doesn’t require energy (and vice versa).

Question 4

What is the reduction reaction of metal oxides BELOW copper?

Answer 4

• the oxides of these metals will decompose when heated up
• metal oxide → metal + oxygen

Question 5

What is the reduction reaction of metals ABOVE mercury and BELOW aluminum?

Answer 5

• mixing the oxide with carbon and heat will give you the metal
• metal oxide + carbon → metal + carbon dioxide

Question 6

What is the reduction reaction of metal oxides ABOVE zinc?

Answer 6

By electrolysis of their molten compounds

Question 7

Define the process of electrolysis

Answer 7

• Electricity is used to decompose IONIC COMPOUNDS into simpler substances
• D.C. current must be used so one electrode is able to be +ve and one is able to be -ve

Question 8

1. Describe an oxidation reaction AND a reduction reaction
2. Define a redox reaction

Answer 8

• oxidation - the loss of electrons
• reduction - the gain of electrons
• redox reaction - when reduction and oxidation are happening at the same time