GCSE Chemistry (AQA)

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Extraction of Metals

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Chemical changes Reactivity of metals

Extraction of Metals

4:55 Metal Reactivity, Oxidation, and Extraction
Spec 4.4.1.3 4.4.3.3
Previous Reacting Metals with Water and Acids Next Displacement Reactions of Metals
  • Metals used in everyday objects come from the Earth's crust.
  • Cooking pans are typically made from cast iron for heat conduction.
  • Aluminum is used for drink cans due to its durability.
  • Jewelry is often made from gold and other valuable metals.
  • Mobile phones and devices use rare metals for important components and common metals like aluminum and nickel for circuitry and casings.
  • Unreactive metals like gold are found as uncombined elements in the Earth's crust.
  • Gold, with the chemical symbol Au, is easily extracted and melted into ingots.
  • Most metals are found as compounds, commonly as metal oxides in ores.
  • Iron is typically found as iron oxide (Fe2O3) in the Earth's crust.
  • Chemical reactions are needed to separate metals from their compounds.
  • Metals less reactive than carbon can be extracted from oxides by reduction with carbon.
  • The activity series helps determine which metals can be extracted using carbon reduction.
  • Reduction by carbon is a cost-effective extraction method for metals like zinc, iron, and copper.
  • In carbon reduction, oxygen is removed from the metal compound, allowing metal extraction.
  • Example: Extracting copper from copper oxide involves a reduction reaction where copper oxide loses oxygen.
  • Electrolysis is used to extract metals more reactive than carbon.
  • Electrolysis involves a setup for the electrolysis of metal oxides, such as aluminum oxide.
  • This process separates metal from oxygen, forming metal on one side and oxygen gas on the other.
  • Electrolysis is used when metals are too reactive for carbon reduction or react with carbon.
  • Electrolysis requires large energy amounts, making it expensive.
  • Reduction with carbon is preferred if possible due to lower costs.

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