Extracting metals

using electrolysis
What is Electrolysis?
Electrolysis is a commonly used method for
decomposing substaces like metal ores or water. It is a
process used in chemistry and manufacturing, where an
electric current is passed through a liquid that conducts
electricty (e.g molten ore, impure water).
Most metals can be extracted from their ores using
electrolysis, but this is not always necessary. Only metals
above iron (Fe) in the Reactivity Series (Al, Mg, Ca, Na, K)
are extracted using this method, because less reactive
metals can be extracted using simpler methods. Its better if
simple reduction is possible, mostly because the process
of electrolysis IS EXPENSIVE.
The Process
Electrolysis consists of different parts. First, it needs two
types of ELECTRODES (electricity conductors): positive (+)
and negative (-). The ore that we want to extract the metal
from should molten and the
liquid
is
called
the
ELECTROLYTE.
This
liquid
consists of both metal and nonmetal atoms. (Most ores are
metal oxides so they contain
oxygen atoms)
Metal atoms are possitevly
charged,
while
non-metal
atoms are negativly charged.
An atom that is possitevly
(amount of protons > amount
electrons) or negativly (electrons > protons) charged are
called IONS.
The possitive metals ions are attracted to the negative
electrodes and when the difference between electrons and

protons is balanced, you get NEUTRAL (electron=proton)

atoms. This is called metal REDUCTION.
The opposite happens to the negative non-metal ions,
and when the result of getting neutral non-metal atoms is
OXIDATION.
One way of showing this is through a word equation.
The process can be written like this:
Metal Ion (Possitive) + Electrons (Negative) >
Metal Atoms (Neutral)
Non-Metal Ion (Negative) Electrons (Possitive)>
Non-Metal Atoms (Neutral)
However, the result can be shown in a simple word
equation:
Metal Oxide >>Electricity>> Metal + Oxygen