Extraction and uses of metals

where are most metals extracted from?

ores from the Earth’s crust

unreactive metals are often found as the

uncombined element (i.e Silver and Gold)

how is the method of extraction of a metal related to its position in the reactivity series?

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 them with Carbon which reduces them

carbon is between what in the reactivity series

aluminium and zinc

Uses of Aluminium

Aeroplane bodies - high strength to weight ratio

Saucepans - good conductor of heat

Food cans - non=toxic

Uses of Copper

Electrical wires - malleable and good conductor of electricity

Water pipes - easy to work with and non-toxic

Uses of Steel

Mild steel (low carbon) - wires bc malleable

High carbon steel - tools and chisels bc hard

stainless steel - cutlery bc strong and resistant to corrosion

alloy definition

a mixture of a metal and one or more elements, usually other metals or carbon

why are alloys harder than pure metals

contain atoms of different sizes which distorts the regular arrangements of atoms

this makes it more difficult for the layers to slide over each other, making them harder