Ores

Ores

Definition: rocks containing a metal or metal compounds, from which metal is extracted
1. Main ore of aluminium: bauxite
2. Main ore of iron: haematite
3. Main ore of zinc: Zinc blende (sphalerite)
Things to consider before mining an ore:
1. How much ore is there?
2. How much metal will be obtained?
3. How much will it cost to mine and extract the ore?
4. How much can the metal be sold for and will a decent profit be made?
Reactivity series
1. Potassium
  1. Electrolysis
2. Sodium
  1. Electrolysis
3. Calcium
  1. Electrolysis
4. Magnesium
  1. Electrolysis
5. Aluminium
  1. Electrolysis
6. Carbon
7. Zinc
  1. heat+ reducing agent
8. Iron
  1. heat+ reducing agent
9. Lead
  1. heat+ reducing agent
10. Copper
  1. heat+ reducing agent
11. Silver
  1. no extraction needed, impurities separated
12. Gold
  1. no extraction needed, impurities separated
Extraction: to remove a metal from its ore
1. Metals are reduced, from a metal compound to a metal
  1. More reactive metals require electrolysis to be extracted, less reactive metals can be reduced using a reducing agent
2. Reduction: loss of oxygen, gain of electrons
3. Oxidation: gain of oxygen, loss of electrons

Resource summary

	Created by spicecat98 over 10 years ago