Extracting Metals (Edexcel GCSE Chemistry)
Revision Note
Sources of Metals
The Earth’s crust contains metals and metal compounds such as gold, copper, iron oxide and aluminium oxide
Useful metals are often chemically combined with other substances forming ores
A metal ore is a rock that contains enough of the metal to make it worthwhile extracting
They have to be extracted from their ores through processes such as electrolysis, using a blast furnace or by reacting with more reactive material
In many cases the ore is an oxide of the metal, therefore the extraction of these metals is a reduction process since oxygen is being removed
Common examples of oxide ores are iron and aluminium ores which are called haematite and bauxite respectively
Unreactive metals do not have to be extracted chemically as they are often found as the uncombined element
They are known as native metals
This occurs as they do not easily react with other substances due to their chemical stability
Examples include gold and platinum which can both be mined directly from the Earth’s crust
Extracting Metals
Extraction of metals and the reactivity series
The most reactive metals are at the top of the series
The tendency to become oxidised is thus linked to how reactive a metal is and therefore its position on the reactivity series
Metals higher up are therefore less resistant to oxidation than the metals placed lower down which are more resistant to oxidation
The position of the metal on the reactivity series determines the method of extraction
Higher placed metals (above carbon) have to be extracted using electrolysis as they are too reactive and cannot be reduced by carbon
Lower placed metals can be extracted by heating with carbon which reduces them
Metals Extraction Method Table
The extraction method depends on the position of a metal in the reactivity series
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Make sure you can explain why aluminium is extracted by electrolysis while iron is extracted by reduction as it is a question that often comes up.
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