C1 Extracting metals and Alloys

Question 1

What is an ore?

Answer 1

A rock from which it is economical viable to extract the metal

Question 2

Give 1 reason why the economics of extracting from ores can change?

Answer 2

If the price of the metal changes then its extraction can become more or less cost effective

Question 3

Give 5 ways mining ores has an impact.

Answer 3

Dust

Noise

Increased traffic

Eyesore

Increase in jobs

Question 4

Why is Gold found in the ground as an element?

Answer 4

Low reactivity

Question 5

How is iron extracted from its ore?

Answer 5

Using carbon in the blast furnace

Question 6

What type of reaction is used to extracted iron from its ore?

Answer 6

Reduction

Question 7

Give a word equation for this reaction.

Answer 7

Iron oxide + Carbon → Iron + carbon dioxide

Question 8

Give a symbol equation for this reaction.

Answer 8

2Fe₂O₃ + 3C → 4Fe + 3CO₂

Question 9

Why is the extraction of iron possible?

Answer 9

Carbon is more reactive than iron

Question 10

How is aluminium extracted from its ore?

Answer 10

electrolysis

Question 11

Why is the extraction of aluminium not the same as iron?

Answer 11

Aluminium is more reactive than carbon

Question 12

Give 2 reasons why the extraction of aluminium is expensive.

Answer 12

Energy needed to melt the aluminium oxide, electricity needed for the electrolysis

Question 13

How is copper extracted from copper-rich ores?

Answer 13

Smelting

Question 14

How is copper purified?

Answer 14

Electrolysis

Question 15

What other method can be used to extract copper from solutions of copper salts?

Answer 15

Displacement

Question 16

New methods of extracting copper are being researched, why?

Answer 16

Running out of high grade ores

Question 17

What is Bioleaching?

Answer 17

Bioleaching uses bacteria to produce leachate solutions that contain metal compounds

Question 18

What is Phytomining?

Answer 18

Phytomining uses plants to absorb metals compounds. The plants are burned to make ash.

Question 19

Give 3 reasons why we should recycle metals?

Answer 19

Less energy is needed

Less harmful emissions like sulphur dioxide

Metals are a limited resource

Question 20

How much iron is found in iron from the blast furnace?

Answer 20

96%

Question 21

What effect do the impurities in the metal have on the properties and uses?

Answer 21

Makes the metal harder

Question 22

Why is pure iron not used?

Answer 22

Too soft

Question 23

What is an alloy?

Answer 23

Mixture of metals

Question 24

Compare the structure of a pure metal and an alloy.

Answer 24

Pure metals is softer and more malleable and ductile since the layers slide over each other. In an alloy the additional elements stop the layers sliding and make it harder

Question 25

What is steel?

Answer 25

Iron mixed with carbon and sometimes other metals

Question 26

Give 1 property and use of low-carbon steel.

Answer 26

Easily shaped used for car bodies

Question 27

Give 1 property and use of high-carbon steel.

Answer 27

Brittle but hard used for drill bits

Question 28

Give 1 property and use of stainless steel.

Answer 28

Resistant to corrosion used in cutlery

Question 29

What type of metals are copper and iron?

Answer 29

Transition metals

Question 30

Give 3 properties of these types of metals.

Answer 30

Conduct electricity and heat, malleable and ductile

Question 31

Give 2 uses of copper.

Answer 31

Electrical wires, pipes

Question 32

Give 2 properties of Aluminium and Titanium that make them useful.

Answer 32

Low density and resistant to corrosion