metal extraction Flashcards
where are most metals found?
in the earths crust
how are most metals found?
as compounds with oxygen and sulphur
what elements are too unreactive to have combined with oxygen and sulphur?
gold and silver
what does native mean?
chemically uncombined
why do native metals not have to be chemically extracted?
they already exist on their own
what do you have to use to break down ore compounds in metals if they are more reactive than carbon?
electricity
metals less reactive than carbon…
can be displaced by carbon
what is a redox reaction?
using carbon to displace a metal from its oxide
what is reduction?
loss of oxygen
what is a reducing agent?
takes oxygen away from something else
what is oxidation?
gain of oxygen
what is an oxidising agent?
gives oxygen to something else
what is redox?
reduction and oxidation in the same reaction
