Extracting metals and equilibria

• Reactivity series

  Potassium , Sodium, Calcium, magnesium highest
• Gold, Silver, Copper, hydrogen lowest
• metals at top of series are less resistant to oxidation so corrode easily
• Potassium, sodium and ammonium salts are soluble
• To maximise yield - low temp, high pressure

  low temp means equilibrium shifts exothermic

  high pressure means equilibrium shifts to fewer molecules
• Pressure

  the molecules will move to the side with the fewest molecules as there is more space.
• Temperature

  A low temperature means that the reaction will want to heat up the space, and go in the exothermic direction. Eg. will make more ammonia
• LeChateliers principle

  If we impose a change on a system, the system will react to oppose the change
• Exothermic - energy out

  Endothermic - energy in
• dynamic equilibrium

  forward and backward reaction are happening at the same time and at the same rate, and the concentrations have reached a balance so wont change.