4.5 Separating Metals from Metal Oxides

• What is the process of gaining oxygen called?

  Oxidation
• What happens when magnesium is combined with oxygen?

  It forms magnesium oxide, indicating oxidation of magnesium
• What does reduction refer to in terms of oxygen?

  Reduction refers to the loss of oxygen
• If magnesium oxide is broken down into magnesium and oxygen, what process is occurring?

  Reduction
• What is rust commonly known as?

  Iron oxide
• Why do most metals on Earth come into contact with oxygen?

  Because oxygen is abundant in our atmosphere
• Which metals are often found as pure metals due to their unreactivity?

  Gold
• What is the most common bonding element for metals?

  Oxygen
• What is the goal of reduction in the context of metal oxides?

  To remove oxygen and obtain pure metals
• How can metal oxides be reduced to obtain pure metals?

  By using carbon
• What does carbon do in the reduction process of metal oxides?

  It takes oxygen from the metal to form carbon dioxide
• What is the reaction of copper oxide with carbon?

  Copper oxide plus carbon forms copper plus carbon dioxide
• Why can't all metals be reduced using carbon?

  Only metals less reactive than carbon can be reduced this way
• What is the process called that requires a lot of energy to extract more reactive metals?

  Electrolysis
• What is the most common ore of iron?

  Fe$_2$O$_3$
• How do we isolate pure iron from iron oxide?

  By reducing iron oxide with carbon
• What is the balanced equation for reducing Fe$_2$O$_3$ with carbon?


  Fe$_2$O$_3$ + C → Fe + CO$_2$
• What is required to reduce iron oxide to iron?

  Heat
• What happens to carbon during the reduction of metal oxides?

  Carbon is oxidized as it gains oxygen
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