Obtaining and using metals

• Balanced equation for copper oxide + carbon -> copper + carbon dioxide

  2CuO + C -> 2Cu + CO2
• Two definitions for Oxidation:

  -the gain of oxygen

  -the loss of electrons
• Two definitions for Reduction:

  -loss of oxygen

  -gain of electrons
• What is a redox reaction?

  When both oxidation and reduction occurs
• What are alternative methods for extraction?

  -bioleaching

  -phytoextraction
• Bioleaching:

  Bacteria breaks the copper-sulfur bonds to convert the copper compounds into soluble copper ions

  The leachate contains the copper ions formed

  The copper ions can then be extracted by electrolysis or displacement with a more reactive metal
• Phytoextraction:

  It involves growing plants in the soil that contains the metal ions. The plants take up the metal ions from the soil, but the plants can't get rid of the metal so the metal builds up. The plants are then harvested and burned up. The ash formed contains the metal compounds.

  The metal from the ash can be extracted using electrolysis or displacement