Using Resources Flashcards
Where are most metals found in the earth and how are they? (EM UR Ch)
the earth’s crust, already reacted with other resources. (e.g Oxygen)
What is the metal Copper used most for? (EM UR Ch)
electronic equiptment - phones
What does a metal ore mean? (EM UR Ch)
A metal ore contains enough metal to make it economical to extract the metal
what does economical mean? (EM UR Ch)
giving good value or return in relation to the money, time, or effortexpended giving
What does the fact that Copper ore is running out mean for the extraction of copper? (EM UR Ch)
We have to resort to lower value ores, meaning that it is harder to extract the copper economically from these ores.
What are the two methods of extracting metals? (EM UR Ch)
- Phytomining (plants)
- Bioleaching (bacteria)
What is the method of Phytomining? (EM UR Ch)
- Plants are grown from soil containing the metal compound in which we need.
- These plants absorb the metal compound and they concentrate it in their tissue
- The plants are harvested
- They are burnt
- The ash contains a relatively high concentration of the metal compound.
- extract the metal from the compound. (see another slide)
What is the method of Bioleaching? (EM UR Ch)
- bacteria are mixed with the low grade ore
- bacteria carry out chemical reactions and they produce a solution called leachate.
- the leachate contains the metal compound that we desire.
- extract the metal from the compound (see another side)
What is the overall of Bioleaching and Phytomining? (EM UR Ch)
Both of the methods allow the metal compound to be extracted from the low-grade ore.
The methods don’t involve transporting or disposing of large amounts of rock like traditional mining methods.
How do you extract the metal from the compound? (EM UR Ch)
- displace it by using a metal higher up in the reactivity scale. (for example copper sidplaced by iron(scrap iron coz cheap))
- use electrolysis
