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Chemistry Quiz - Metals - Problems of Extraction (Questions)

Extracting metals has costs as well as benefits. This GCSE Chemistry quiz explores extraction problems, including energy use, pollution, habitat damage, and how recycling and new methods can help.

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Fascinating Fact:

Bioleaching and phytomining can reduce some environmental impacts, but they are slow. They may also work only for certain metals and certain ore types.

In GCSE Chemistry, the “problems of extraction” topic asks you to weigh up the impact of mining and processing metals. You compare methods such as reduction and electrolysis, consider energy demand, pollution, land use, and why recycling metals is often the most sustainable option.

Key Terms

  • Ore: A rock that contains enough metal compound to make extraction worthwhile.
  • Bioleaching: Using bacteria to dissolve metal compounds from low-grade ores into a solution.
  • Phytomining: Growing plants to absorb metal compounds, then burning the plants to collect metal-rich ash.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main environmental problems caused by metal extraction?

Metal extraction can damage habitats through mining, create dust and noise, and release pollutants. Processing may produce waste rock, acidic runoff, and greenhouse gases, especially when lots of energy is used.

Why is extracting metals by electrolysis seen as expensive and energy intensive?

Electrolysis needs large amounts of electricity to break down molten ionic compounds. If that electricity is generated using fossil fuels, the overall process can be costly and can increase carbon dioxide emissions.

Why is recycling metals better than extracting them from ores?

Recycling metals usually uses less energy than extracting them from ores and reduces mining. It also cuts down on waste, conserves finite resources, and can lower pollution linked to extraction and processing.

Try These Related Quizzes

1. Removing metal ores from the ground usually involves mining. Which of the following is NOT an environmental impact of mining?
[ ] Loss of habitat
[ ] Increase in global warming
[ ] Damage to the ozone layer
[ ] Noise pollution
2. Recycling metals is often thought of as a better way to provide more metals. Which of the following is NOT an advantage of recycling?
[ ] Destruction of habitats
[ ] Preserves natural resources
[ ] Decreases landfill space required
[ ] It is cheaper than extraction from the ore
3. Scientists have been looking for alternative methods to extract copper from the ground. One of these methods is bioleaching. What does bioleaching use to extract copper?
[ ] Plants
[ ] Bacteria
[ ] Animals
[ ] Viruses
4. Which of the following is a disadvantage of bioleaching rather than extracting copper by the traditional method?
[ ] Bioleaching is more economical
[ ] Bioleaching is slower
[ ] Bioleaching uses less energy
[ ] Bioleaching allows us to use low-grade ores
5. A disadvantage of extracting aluminium from aluminium ore is...
[ ] aluminium ore is a limited resource
[ ] aluminium ore contains very small amounts of aluminium
[ ] the aluminium obtained corrodes easily
[ ] the aluminium obtained has a high density
6. Economically, it is more sensible to recycle aluminium, because extracting it from its ore...
[ ] uses much larger amounts of energy
[ ] is a relatively cheap process
[ ] employs more people
[ ] takes a long time
7. If aluminium cans are not recycled, they can have a huge impact on the environment in which of the following ways?
[ ] They produce poisonous gases
[ ] They cause acid rain
[ ] They fill up landfill rubbish tips
[ ] They corrode rapidly in lakes and rivers
8. It is better to recycle aluminium than to extract it from aluminium ore because...
[ ] aluminium ore produces only low grade aluminium
[ ] aluminium ore doesn't contain many impurities
[ ] mining for aluminium ore destroys the local environment
[ ] recycling of aluminium produces ‘smart’ aluminium alloys
9. Some iron is obtained by recycling scrap iron. Why does it take less energy to make iron from scrap iron than to extract the iron from its ore?
[ ] Scrap iron does not have to be reduced using carbon
[ ] Scrap iron contains the element sulfur
[ ] Scrap iron is an alloy
[ ] Corrosion of the scrap iron makes it easier to melt
10. Most titanium is extracted from titanium oxide ore. The oxide is first converted to titanium chloride. The titanium chloride is then reacted with sodium. This method of extracting titanium is very expensive. Recycling titanium would increase if...
[ ] the cost of sodium were to fall
[ ] new high-grade deposits of titanium oxide were discovered
[ ] the cost of titanium were to fall
[ ] more uses of titanium were found

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

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Chemistry Quiz - Metals - Problems of Extraction (Answers)
1. Removing metal ores from the ground usually involves mining. Which of the following is NOT an environmental impact of mining?
[ ] Loss of habitat
[ ] Increase in global warming
[x] Damage to the ozone layer
[ ] Noise pollution
Mining does not release CFCs, which are the leading contributor to damage of the ozone layer
2. Recycling metals is often thought of as a better way to provide more metals. Which of the following is NOT an advantage of recycling?
[x] Destruction of habitats
[ ] Preserves natural resources
[ ] Decreases landfill space required
[ ] It is cheaper than extraction from the ore
Even with the costs of transport, recycling usually requires less energy than starting from an ore which requires a lot of treatment and transport before it can reach the same point as the metal being recycled
3. Scientists have been looking for alternative methods to extract copper from the ground. One of these methods is bioleaching. What does bioleaching use to extract copper?
[ ] Plants
[x] Bacteria
[ ] Animals
[ ] Viruses
Bacteria live in the copper ore and break down the copper compounds. They produce acidic solutions which dissolve the copper compounds and these can be collected
4. Which of the following is a disadvantage of bioleaching rather than extracting copper by the traditional method?
[ ] Bioleaching is more economical
[x] Bioleaching is slower
[ ] Bioleaching uses less energy
[ ] Bioleaching allows us to use low-grade ores
Bioleaching takes longer than traditional mining as you have to wait for the bacteria to 'do its thing'
5. A disadvantage of extracting aluminium from aluminium ore is...
[x] aluminium ore is a limited resource
[ ] aluminium ore contains very small amounts of aluminium
[ ] the aluminium obtained corrodes easily
[ ] the aluminium obtained has a high density
The deposits of aluminium ore are a finite resource, i.e. they will run out eventually
6. Economically, it is more sensible to recycle aluminium, because extracting it from its ore...
[x] uses much larger amounts of energy
[ ] is a relatively cheap process
[ ] employs more people
[ ] takes a long time
Electrolysis uses huge amounts of electrical energy. Generating this electricity has an effect on the environment as well as the extraction process
7. If aluminium cans are not recycled, they can have a huge impact on the environment in which of the following ways?
[ ] They produce poisonous gases
[ ] They cause acid rain
[x] They fill up landfill rubbish tips
[ ] They corrode rapidly in lakes and rivers
It is better to crush cans for recycling as it means that more can be transported in fewer journeys, saving more energy
8. It is better to recycle aluminium than to extract it from aluminium ore because...
[ ] aluminium ore produces only low grade aluminium
[ ] aluminium ore doesn't contain many impurities
[x] mining for aluminium ore destroys the local environment
[ ] recycling of aluminium produces ‘smart’ aluminium alloys
Recycling won't bring back the area destroyed by the mining but it will slow down the amount of damage being done
9. Some iron is obtained by recycling scrap iron. Why does it take less energy to make iron from scrap iron than to extract the iron from its ore?
[x] Scrap iron does not have to be reduced using carbon
[ ] Scrap iron contains the element sulfur
[ ] Scrap iron is an alloy
[ ] Corrosion of the scrap iron makes it easier to melt
To extract iron from haematite requires iron to be heated with carbon. This uses huge amounts of energy and requires other resources to be mined (limestone and coal)
10. Most titanium is extracted from titanium oxide ore. The oxide is first converted to titanium chloride. The titanium chloride is then reacted with sodium. This method of extracting titanium is very expensive. Recycling titanium would increase if...
[ ] the cost of sodium were to fall
[ ] new high-grade deposits of titanium oxide were discovered
[ ] the cost of titanium were to fall
[x] more uses of titanium were found
There would be more of an incentive to recycle
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