extraction of metals
extraction of metals
Most metals are too reactive to exist on their own in the Earth. They are usually found in rocks as
compounds with non-metals and mixed with other substances.
Rocks containing metals or metal compounds from which it is economic to extract the metal are called
ores. To obtain a metal from its ore the first step is to mine and possibly concentrate the ore
The second step is to try to reduce the ore to the metal. There are three ways that a metal ore can be
reduced to the metal.
If the metal is at the bottom of the reactivity series simply heating the ore in air may be sufficient to
separate the metal from the rest of the ore.
More reactive metals need their ores to be converted to the metal oxide and then heated with carbon
or carbon monoxide to remove the oxygen.
The most reactive metals are obtained by electrolysis of the molten ore.
Unreactive metals like gold and silver, occur in the Earth as the metal itself .
Sometimes, these metals exist as sulfide ores . These ores must be converted to oxides before
reduction. This is done by heating the sulfides in air.
2Fe2O3 + 3C -> 4Fe + 3CO2
Fe2O3 +3CO → 2Fe + 3CO2
This is because the temperature needed to reduce their oxides is too high. These metals can be obtained
from their ores using electricity in the process of electrolysis of their molten salts or oxides.
Potassium, sodium, calcium and magnesium are obtained by electrolysis of their molten chlorides.
Aluminium is obtained by electrolysis of its molten oxide.
Metals such as copper and iron are reduced with carbon in a furnace. The extracted metal often
contains impurities.
Copper which comes straight from the furnace contains about 3% impurities. Sheets of this copper are
purified by electrolysis with copper(II) sulfate solution.
Similarly, iron obtained directly from the furnace contains about 7% impurities.
The main impurity in iron is carbon, and this is removed by injecting oxygen into the molten iron
uses of metals
Aluminium – low density, corrosion-resistant, used for aircraft, trains, overhead power cables,
saucepans and cooking foil ● Copper – soft and easily bent, good conductor of electricity, does not
react with water, used for electrical wiring and plumbing ● Iron – from the blast furnace: hard, but too
brittle for most uses, so converted to steel, pure iron: too soft for many uses ● Low carbon steel: 0.25%
carbon, easily shaped, car body panels ● High carbon steel: 2.5% carbon, hard, cutting tools ● Stainless
steel: chromium & nickel, resistant to corrosion, cutlery and sinks
Most metals in everyday uses are alloys. Pure copper, gold, iron and aluminium are all too soft for
everyday uses and so are mixed with small amounts of similar metals to make them harder for
everyday use. o Gold in jewellery is usually an alloy with silver, copper and zinc
Iron ore is converted to iron in special furnaces called blast furnaces, built as towers about 15 metres
tall. The name blast furnace comes from the blasts of hot air that are blown into the bottom of the
furnace.
Blast furnaces work 24 hours a day. Raw materials are continually added at the top of the furnace and
hot air is blasted in at the bottom. At the same time, molten slag and molten iron are tapped off from
time to time as they collect. This process goes on all the time for about two years. After this time,
the furnace has to be closed down so that the brick lining can be replaced.
The iron is extracted by heating iron ore (haematite) with carbon in the form of coke made from coal.
Limestone is added to the blast furnace to remove impurities as a slag.
rusting
Apply a layer of paint - Steel bridges and railings are usually painted.
Apply a layer of oil or grease- Tools and machine parts are coated with grease or oil.
Coat with another metal. Iron is coated with zinc, by dipping it into molten
zinc, for roofing. Steel is electroplated with zinc, for car bodies.
Coating with zinc has a special name: galvanising.
For food tins, steel is coated with tin by electroplating.
Result After several days, the nails in test-tubes 1 and 2 show no signs of
rusting. But the nail in test-tube 3 has rust on it.
Extraction of aluminium
Aluminium is manufactured by the electrolysis of aluminium oxide in molten cryolite. The aluminium
oxide is obtained from bauxite (impure aluminium oxide).This is because the metals are more
reactive than carbon and therefore carbon cannot take the oxygen away from
the metal oxide. Metals above zinc are usually produced by electrolysis.
The aluminium drops to the bottom of the cell as molten metal. This is run off at intervals. Some will
be mixed with other metals to make alloys. Some is run into moulds, to harden into blocks.
uses of metals
Aluminium – low density, corrosion-resistant metal . It is used for building aircraft, trains, overhead
power cables, saucepans and cooking foil
Copper – soft and easily bent, good conductor of electricity, does not react with water. It is used for
making electrical wiring and plumbing
Iron – from the blast furnace: hard, but too brittle for most uses. So it is converted to steel
● Low carbon steel: 0.25% carbon, easily shaped, car body panels , bridges and gates.
● High carbon steel: 2.5% carbon, hard, cutting tools
● Stainless steel: chromium & nickel, resistant to corrosion, cutlery and sinks
• Most metals in everyday uses are alloys. Pure copper, gold, iron and aluminium are all too soft
for everyday uses and so are mixed with small amounts of similar metals to make them harder
for everyday use. Gold in jewellery is usually an alloy with silver, copper and zinc