Unit 10: Occurrence and Extraction of Metals

Vocabulary flashcards covering metal properties, ores, the reactivity series, and extraction processes based on Unit 10 lecture notes.

Aluminium

A metal characterized by high corrosion resistance, low density, non-toxicity, and malleability, commonly used in window frames, aircraft bodies, and kitchen foil.

Titanium

A biocompatible metal featuring high corrosion resistance, low density, and high strength, used for metal implants in the human body.

Bauxite

An ore used for the extraction of aluminium ($Al$).

Haematite

An iron ore containing iron(III) oxide ($Fe_2O_3$) used in the extraction of iron.

Galena

An ore composed of lead(II) sulphide ($PbS$) used to extract lead.

Zinc Blende

An ore consisting of zinc sulphide ($ZnS$) used for extracting zinc.

Cinnabar

An ore used for the extraction of mercury ($Hg$).

Argentite

An ore used for the extraction of silver ($Ag$).

Calcite

A mineral ore containing calcium carbonate ($CaCO_3$).

Reactivity Series

An arrangement of metals ordered from most reactive to least reactive: $K$, $Na$, $Ca$, $Mg$, $Al$, $Zn$, $Fe$, $Sn$, $Pb$, $Cu$, $Hg$, $Ag$, $Pt$, $Au$.

Gold Panning

A physical extraction method used to separate unreactive metals like gold that exist as free elements in the Earth's crust.

Heating Ores Alone

A chemical extraction method used for unreactive metal oxides or sulphides, such as silver ($Ag$) and mercury ($Hg$), to decompose them into free metal and gas.

Reducing Agent

A substance such as carbon ($C$), carbon monoxide ($CO$), or hydrogen ($H_2$) used to remove oxygen from metal oxides during chemical reduction.

Modern Towngas (Hong Kong)

A fuel gas mixture containing approximately $50\%$ $H_2$, $30\%$ $CH_4$, $<5\%$ $CO$, and $10\%$ $N_2$, which serves as a good source of reducing agents ($H_2$ and $CO$).

Blast Furnace

An industrial structure where iron ore ($Fe_2O_3$), coke, and limestone ($CaCO_3$) are heated with hot air to produce molten iron and slag.

Coke

A form of carbon added to a blast furnace that burns in oxygen to form $CO_2$ and reacts further to generate $CO$, acting as a primary reducing agent.

Slag

Calcium silicate ($CaSiO_3$) formed in a blast furnace when quicklime ($CaO$) reacts with silicon dioxide ($SiO_2$) impurities.

Gangue

Waste rock material, such as silicon dioxide ($SiO_2$), present inside raw metal ores.

Electrolysis of Molten Ore

A method using electricity to extract highly reactive metals, such as sodium ($Na$) and aluminium ($Al$), from their molten compound forms.