Extraction and uses of metals - IGCSE Edexcel Chemistry

Metals are extracted from.........

............metal ores from the Earth's crust

Unreactive elements like Ag and Au .......

....... are found uncombined

Haematite

A common iron ore

Bauxite

A common aluminium ore

Malachite

A common copper ore

Metals above carbon are extracted by.................

...............Electrolysis. e.g. iron in electrolysis

Metals below carbon are extracted by.............

.............carbon. e.g. iron in the blast furnace

Uses of aluminium

-Airplane manufacture (low density)

-Power cables (low density, good conductor)

-Cooking Pans(resistance to corrosion)

Uses of copper

Electrical wiring and plumbing

Uses of mild steel (low-carbon steel)

Car bodies and machinery

Alloys

mixtures of two or more metals e.g. brass, bronze.

Uses of high carbon steel

Cutting tools, ball bearings

Uses of stainless steel

cutlery,kitchen sinks, pots and pans, surgical instruments

Why are alloys harder?

They have different sized atoms which prevent the layers from sliding over each other

Electrolysis of aluminium

Mainly found in compounds (bauxite - Al2O3)

Aluminium Oxide is disolved in MOLTEN CRYOLITE

Aluminium has melting point of 2000°C - Cryolite lowers the operating temperature at which the reaction occurs to 1000°C

Blast furnace

The huge reaction vessels used in industry to extract iron from its ore