Extraction and uses of metals

What is a metal ore

A rock which contains enough minerals to make it economically worth extracting the metal

Most metals are found as compounds that require chemical reactions to extract the metal

What things decide whether it is worth extracting a particular metal

• How easy it is to extract a metal out of its ore

• How much metal the ore contains

• The cost of the reducing agent

What is the native state

They are found as elements themselves - this is because they are so unreactive like gold

List some native metals

• Gold

• Platinum

• Silver

• Copper

What can we use to plan how to best extract metals from their ore

The reactivity series

What can we use displacement reactions for when extracting

We can use displacement reactions to displace one from its compound