Chemistry Test

Metal

a shiny, sturdy material that conducts electricity well and easily gives away electrons

Valence Electrons

The electrons in the outermost ring of an atom, that makes chemical bonds happen

Chemical Stability

How un reactive and comfortable a substance is; low energy means it won’t easily change or break down

Chemical Similarity

When different elements act alike because their outer electrons match. (Same column of table)

Acid Mine Drainage

Acidic, metal-polluted water that leaks out of old or active mines.

Acid Rain

Rain made acidic by air pollution, factories and smelting

Chemical Separation

Sorting and pulling apart different substances using their physical or chemical differences

Electrolysis

Using electricity to force a chemical reaction, like splitting compounds or extracting pure metal

Underground mining

Digging deep tunnels and shafts far beneath surface

Surface mining

Sting away top layers of earth to dig out minerals from a giant open hole.

Aluminum

The final, lightweight, silvery metal we actually use

Alumina

The middle chemical step, aluminum oxide made during processing

Bauxite

The chunky reddish rock ore we dig out of the ground

Gibbsite

The actual crystal mineral inside bauxite that holds the aluminum

Renewable resource

Naturally refills itself quickly (like solar or wind power)

Unrenewable resource

Exists in limited amounts won’t come back on a human timescale (like metal ores)

Galena

A heavy, shiny lead ore mineral made of lead and sulfur

Cobalt

A tough silvery-gray metal used heavily in rechargeable batteries and jet engines.

Cobaltite

A sparkly mineral made of cobalt, arsenic, and sulfur

Rock

A solid lump of one or more minerals stuck together

Mineral

A pure, natural crystalline sold with a strict chemical recipe

Ore

A rock you can mine for profit because it’s rich in valuable metals

Smelting

Melting down ore with extreme heat and chemicals and oxygen to squeeze out the pure Liquid Metal

Strategic metal

A metal that is super important for a country’s tech or military, but risky to run out of

Alloy

A custom metal mix with other elements to make it stronger

Mine tailings

The crushed mud and sand waste left over after you extract valuable metal from the ore

Depletion/diminishing returns

The rule that as the easier, highest quality deposits run out, mining gets harder, more expensive , and takes more energy

Arsenic

A toxic element that naturally hides inside many metal ore minerals

Sulfur

A bright yellow, smelly non metal often found near volcanoes and in suicidal ores