metal extraction

• What substances should you be able to identify in terms of gain or loss of oxygen?

  Which substances are oxidized or reduced
• How are unreactive metals like gold found in the Earth?

  As the metal itself
• Why can gold be found as nuggets in the Earth?

  Because gold is unreactive
• What happens to other metals in the Earth's crust like iron and copper?

  They react with oxygen to form compounds
• What is the challenge in extracting metals from their compounds?

  How to extract the metal from compounds
• What does a more reactive element do to a less reactive element in a compound?

  It pushes out or displaces the less reactive element
• What is the reactivity series?

  A list that orders elements from most reactive to least reactive
• What can any element more reactive than iron do to iron?

  It can displace iron from its compounds
• What happens when magnesium reacts with iron oxide?

  Magnesium removes oxygen from iron, producing magnesium oxide and iron
• What is reduction in terms of oxygen?


  Losing oxygen
• What happens to magnesium atoms in the reaction with iron oxide?

  They are oxidized as they gain oxygen
• What is the role of carbon in metal extraction?

  It is used because it is extremely cheap
• What is the chemical equation for the reaction between carbon and iron oxide?

  Carbon + Iron oxide → Carbon dioxide + Iron
• What happens to iron atoms in the reaction with carbon?

  They are reduced as they lose oxygen
• What happens to carbon in the reaction with iron oxide?

  It is oxidized because it gains oxygen
• What is a blast furnace used for?

  To extract iron
• Are the reactions in a blast furnace simple or complicated?

  They are slightly more complicated
• Which reaction is impossible based on the reactivity series?

  Reaction two, because zinc cannot reduce calcium
• In the first reaction, what happens to magnesium and lithium?

  Magnesium is reduced and lithium is oxidized
• In the third reaction, what happens to copper and carbon?

  Copper is reduced and carbon is oxidized
• What are the key concepts related to the extraction of metals using carbon?

  • Unreactive metals like gold are found as metals.
  • Reactive metals form compounds with oxygen.
  • More reactive elements can displace less reactive elements.
  • Carbon is used for extraction due to its low cost.
  • Reduction involves loss of oxygen, while oxidation involves gain of oxygen.
• What are the steps to identify oxidized and reduced substances in a reaction?

  1. Determine the reactivity of the elements involved.
  2. Identify which element gains oxygen (oxidized).
  3. Identify which element loses oxygen (reduced).
• What is the reactivity series?

  • A list of elements ordered from most reactive to least reactive.
  • Used to predict displacement reactions.