9.6.1

Extraction of Metals

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Extraction of Metals

Most metals are only found as compounds because the metal has reacted with other elements in the past. Because of this, the metal has to be extracted from the ore (rock) where the metal compound is found.

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Why is carbon used to extract metals?

  • Reducing a metal with carbon will result in the extraction of the metal if the metal is lower in the reactivity series than carbon.
  • Carbon is used because it is cheap and abundant.
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Carbon - how

  • In the reduction, the metal oxide loses oxygen to form a pure metal.
  • Reduction with carbon normally involves heating the metal oxide in the presence of the carbon, which is often used in the form of coal.

Jump to other topics

1States of Matter

2Atoms, Elements & Compounds

3Stoichometry

4Electrochemistry

5Chemical Energetics

6Chemical Reactions

7Acids, Bases & Salts

8The Periodic Table

9Metals

10Chemistry of the Environment

11Organic Chemistry

11.1Formulae, Functional Groups & Terminology

11.2Naming Organic Compounds

11.3Fuels

11.4Alkanes

11.5Alkenes

11.6Alcohols

11.7Carboxylic Acids

11.8Polymers

12Experimental Techniques & Chemical Analysis

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