10.1.5

Metal Ore Extraction & the Properties of Copper

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Metal Ore Extraction

Metal ores are a finite resource and the availability of metal ores is rapidly decreasing. Mining is the traditional method used to extract ores from the ground, but this process causes significant environmental damage:

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Habitat destruction

  • Habitats are destroyed by mining.
  • The destruction of habitats threatens biodiversity.
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Pollution

  • Mining creates a lot of noise and air pollution.
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Landscape scars

  • Large mounds of rock are left behind, scarring the landscape.

Properties of Copper

Copper has some properties that give it many important uses:

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Malleable

  • Copper is malleable, meaning it can bend into a desired shape.
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Unreactive

  • No reaction happens when copper and water are combined. This means that copper has a long useful lifespan.

Jump to other topics

1Atomic Structure

2Chemical Bonding

3Quantitative Chemistry

4Chemical Changes

5Energy Changes

6The Rate & Extent of Chemical Change

7Organic Chemistry

8Chemical Analysis

9Chemistry of the Atmosphere

10Using Resources

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