Metals and their extractions

• Metal ores


  Ores are found in the earth's crust and contain metal compounds from which metals can be extracted
• Transition metals


  Used to make alloys
• Less reactive metals


  Can be chemically reduced
• Oxidation


  Gain of oxygen
• Reduction

  Loss of oxygen
• Steel is much harder and stronger than iron and is therefore more useful
• Properties of iron


  Malleable

  Steel can be found within iron
• Properties of aluminium


  Low density

  Light weight

  Resists corrosion
• Properties of copper


  Good conductor of electricity and heat

  Soft

  Very unreactive
• Properties of titanium


  Low density

  Light weight

  Resists corrosion
• Blast furnace process

  1. Coke reacts with oxygen in the air to form carbon dioxide
  2. Carbon dioxide then forms with more coke to form carbon monoxide
  3. The iron oxide then reacts with coke or carbon monoxide and is reduced to form molten iron
• Impurities within the Blast Furnace


  Removed with limestone

  1. Limestone decomposes thermally to form calcium oxide
  2. Calcium oxide reacts with silicon dioxide (sand) to form calcium silicate (slag)
• Electrolysis


  The process of using electricity to drive a chemical reaction
• Anode


  • Where oxidation occurs
• Cathode


  • Where reduction occurs
• Graphite is used as the anode in the electrolysis of aluminium oxide
• Aluminium is produced by the electrolysis of aluminium oxide