2.13.1 Metal Ores and Extraction

Question 1

What is a mineral?

Answer 1

A mineral is an individual chemical compound with a particular crystal structure

Question 2

How many minerals do rocks normally contain?

Answer 2

Most rocks contain a mixture of different minerals

Question 3

What is an ore?

Answer 3

An ore is a rock that contains enough of a certain mineral to make it worth mining

Question 4

When is a rock not an ore?

Answer 4

A rock is not an ore if it costs more to extract the metal from it than the metal is worth

Question 5

What do most ores contain?

Answer 5

Most ores contain metal oxides or sulphides

Question 6

What is roasting?

Answer 6

Roasting is the air method used to convert metal sulphides into metal oxides

Question 7

How is an ore roasted?

Answer 7

The ore is crushed to increase the surface area, then it is heated strongly in a stream of air. The metal oxide and sulfur dioxide is produced

Question 8

What is the equation for the roasting of zinc sulphide?

Answer 8

ZnS + 3/2O2(g) -> ZnO(s) + SO2(g)

Question 9

What is a use for the sulphur dioxide produced in roasting?

Answer 9

Sulphur dioxide from roasting sulphide ores is used as a raw material for making sulphiric acid

Question 10

What is an advantage of using the sulfur dioxide produced in roasting to produce sulfuric acid?

Answer 10

• It reduces the environmental impact

Question 11

What are uses of sulfuric acid?

Answer 11

Fertilisers, explosives, medicines

Question 12

What is the name of the method used to produce sulfuric acid?

Answer 12

The contact method

Question 13

What is the catalyst used to produce sulfuric acid?

Answer 13

Vandium (V) oxide

Question 14

what method is used to extract the most reactive metals?

Answer 14

Electrolysis

Question 15

Why are metals produced by electrolysis likely to be expensive?

Answer 15

The electricity is expensive to produce

Question 16

Why are metals produced by electrolysis likely to be expensive?

Answer 16

The electricity is expensive to produce

Question 17

How can electrolysis be used on metals that are not reactive?

Answer 17

By first reacting it with a more reactive metal, such as magnesium or sodium

Question 18

What is used to extract some of the least reactive metals?

Answer 18

Hydrogen

Question 19

How can hydrogen be manufactured?

Answer 19

It can be manufactured by the electrolysis of sodium hydroxide, or directly from fossil fuels

Question 20

Apart from hydrogen, what else can be used to extract the least reactive metals?

Answer 20

Carbon can also be used to extract the least reactive metals

Question 21

What is a convenient source of carbon?

Answer 21

Coal is a convenient source of carbon

Question 22

How is coke produced?

Answer 22

Usually by heating carbon strongly in the absence of air, producing coke

Question 23

How is coke produced?

Answer 23

Usually by heating carbon strongly in the absence of air, producing coke

Question 24

How is iron extracted from its ores?

Answer 24

Iron is extracted from its ores in a blast furnace

Question 25

What are the raw materials needed to extract iron?

Answer 25

• Iron ore
• Coke (the reducing agent)
• Limestone (a source of calcium carbonate)
• Air (a cheap source of oxygen)

Question 26

How does manganese compare to iron?

Answer 26

Manganese is similar to iron, but harder and more brittle