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If aluminium cans are not recycled, they can affect the environment by filling up landfill sites.

Metals - Extraction of Metals

How do we get useful metals from rocks, and why do some need electricity? This GCSE Chemistry quiz explores extracting metals, reactivity, and methods like electrolysis and reduction.

Explore the Topic →

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Fascinating Fact:

Some metals, like copper, can be extracted from low-grade ores by phytomining or bioleaching. These methods use plants or bacteria to help concentrate or dissolve metal compounds.

In GCSE Chemistry, extracting metals links reactivity to how a metal is obtained. Less reactive metals may be reduced with carbon, while very reactive metals are extracted by electrolysis of molten compounds. You also consider sustainability, recycling, and the environmental impact of mining.

Key Terms

Ore: A rock that contains enough of a metal compound to make extraction worthwhile.
Reduction: A reaction where oxygen is removed from a metal compound, often using carbon or carbon monoxide.
Electrolysis: Using electricity to break down an ionic compound, usually when it is molten so ions can move.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you decide whether to use carbon reduction or electrolysis to extract a metal?

The method depends on reactivity. Metals less reactive than carbon can often be extracted by reduction with carbon, but metals more reactive than carbon usually need electrolysis of molten compounds.

Why must ionic compounds be molten for electrolysis in GCSE Chemistry?

Ionic compounds must be molten because the ions need to move to the electrodes. In a solid, ions are fixed in place, so they cannot carry charge and electrolysis cannot happen properly.

What are phytomining and bioleaching in metal extraction?

Phytomining uses plants to absorb metal compounds from soil, then the plants are harvested and processed to obtain the metal. Bioleaching uses bacteria to produce solutions that dissolve metal compounds from ores.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

Copper can be obtained from its ore by displacement using scrap iron because...

copper is more reactive than iron

iron is more reactive than copper

scrap iron is cheaper than copper

copper reacts with iron

More reactive elements will displace less reactive metals from their compounds

2 .

Metals can be extracted from low grade ores using plants. This process is called...

Photomining

Phytomining

Bioleaching

Electrolysis

Any scientific word beginning with phyto is something to do with plants (phyto is the ancient Greek word for plant)

3 .

If aluminium cans are not recycled, they can affect the environment by...

producing poisonous gases

causing acid rain

filling up landfill sites

corroding rapidly in rivers and lakes

There are many other benefits to recycling

4 .

Which of the following shows a balanced chemical equation for the reduction of iron ore in the blast furnace?

Fe₂O₃ +3CO → 2Fe +3CO₂

Fe₂O₃ +2CO → Fe +3CO₂

Fe₂O₃ +CO → Fe +CO₂

Fe₂O₃ +3CO → 2Fe +CO₂

Reduction can be defined in several ways, here, it can be defined as the removal of oxygen

5 .

Ores are the starting point for extracting metals because...

ores contain enough metal to make it economically viable

it is easy to extract metals from ores

there are large amounts of metal in ores

ores are found in many locations

That is the definition of an ore

6 .

Which of these metals is found as itself rather than in a compound?

Sodium

Iron

Aluminium

Gold

Gold is an extremely unreactive metal so it is found as the metal itself, rather than combined with any other element

7 .

Which of the following is a disadvantage of extracting copper by bioleaching?

Bioleaching uses low grade ores

Bioleaching is slower

Bioleaching is more economical

Bioleaching uses less energy

As always, there are advantages and disadvantages of any method of mining, in the end, it usually comes down to cost-effectiveness. If the mining company can make a profit, even from a slow method like bioleaching, they will use it

8 .

Why is aluminium extracted using electrolysis?

Aluminium is more reactive than carbon

Electrolysis is a cheap process

Aluminium is less reactive than carbon

Very little energy is required for electrolysis

Aluminium is a very reactive metal but is protected by a tough layer of aluminium oxide, hiding its true reactivity in everyday situations

9 .

One reason for researching new methods to extract copper from low grade ores is...

more copper is being found

less copper is being used

low grade ores contain a large amount of copper

the price of copper has risen significantly

There is still some copper available in the waste heaps from copper mining but it is uneconomical to find ways to recover it until the price of copper becomes high

10 .

Choose the correct order of reactivity for the five metals.

Mg, Al, Zn, Fe, Sn

Al, Zn, Fe, Sn, Mg

Al, Mg, Fe, Zn, Sn

Sn, Zn, Fe, Al, Mg

Remember 'MAZIT'

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Metals and their extraction

Author: Kate Gardiner (Chemistry Educator & GCSE Quiz Writer)

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