Extraction ( 提煉 ) of Metal

s from Metal Ores ( 礦石 )

Integrated Chemistry Today
 Book 1A, 2nd Edition
10.9 Extraction of metals
(pg 158-161)
10.10 What determines the
reactivity of a metal ?
(pg 161-162)
 Reactivities ( 活潑性 ) and
extraction ( 提煉 ) of Metal
s
 Reactivity Series of metals
Most reactive
Potassium K
Group I metal
Sodium Na
Calcium Ca
Group II metal
Magnesium Mg
Aluminium Al Group III metal
reactivity Zinc Zn
decreases Iron Fe
Lead Pb Transition metal
Copper Cu
Mercury Hg
Silver Ag
Precious metal
Gold Au
Least reactive
 Reactivity Series of metals
 Reactivity of a metal is depending on its readi
ness ( 意願 ) to lose its outermost electrons.
i.e. A more reactive metal loses its electron m
ore readily ( 願意地 ).
 Just the opposite ( 相反 ), the metal ion of a m
ore reactive metal gains electrons less readily.

MdM +e + -
lose e-
gain e-
Extraction ( 提煉 ) of Metals
 Most metals exist only in combined f
orm (i.e. compound) in nature ( 自然
界 ) in form of ions.
 Extraction of pure metals involves th
e reduction ( 還原 ) of metal ions in t
he ore to metal atoms.

MdM +e + -
lose e-
gain e-
in the extracted in the ore
metal
Extraction ( 提煉 ) of Metals
 Thermal decomposition ( 熱分解 ) of
metal oxide – for metals less reactiv
e than Hg
 Reduction ( 還原作用 ) of metal oxide
by carbon – for metals less reactive t
han Zn
 Electrolysis ( 電解 ) of molten salt – f
or all metals
Thermal decomposition of
metal oxide
Thermal decomposition of
metal oxide
 Example
Thermal decomposition of
mercury(II) oxide
Thermal decomposition of
metal oxide
 Thermal decomposition of
metal oxide
 Word equation
mercury(II) oxide 

 Unbalanced chemical equation

 Balanced chemical equation

 Thermal decomposition of
metal oxide
 Word equation
mercury(II) oxide  mercury + oxygen

 Unbalanced chemical equation

 Balanced chemical equation

 Thermal decomposition of
metal oxide
 Word equation
mercury(II) oxide  mercury + oxygen

 Unbalanced chemical equation

HgO(s)  Hg(l) + O2(g)

 Balanced chemical equation

 Thermal decomposition of
metal oxide
 Word equation
mercury(II) oxide  mercury + oxygen

 Unbalanced chemical equation

HgO(s)  Hg(l) + O2(g)

 Balanced chemical equation

2HgO(s)  2Hg(l) + O2(g)
Reduction of metal oxide
by C(graphite), CO(g), H2(g)
 Reduction of metal oxide by
C(graphite), CO(g), H2(g)
 Example
Reduction copper(II) oxide by graphite
 Reduction of metal oxide by
C(graphite), CO(g), H2(g)
 Word equation
copper(II) oxide + carbon


 Unbalanced chemical equation

 Balanced chemical equation

 Reduction of metal oxide by
C(graphite), CO(g), H2(g)
 Word equation
copper(II) oxide + carbon
 copper + carbon dioxide

 Unbalanced chemical equation

 Balanced chemical equation

 Reduction of metal oxide by
C(graphite), CO(g), H2(g)
 Word equation
copper(II) oxide + carbon
 copper + carbon dioxide

 Unbalanced chemical equation

CuO(s) + C(s)  Cu(s) + CO2(g)

 Balanced chemical equation

 Reduction of metal oxide by
C(graphite), CO(g), H2(g)
 Word equation
copper(II) oxide + carbon
 copper + carbon dioxide

 Unbalanced chemical equation

CuO(s) + C(s)  Cu(s) + CO2(g)

 Balanced chemical equation

2CuO(s) + C(s)  2Cu(s) + CO2(g)
Reduction of metal oxide by
C(graphite), CO(g), H2(g)
 Example
Reduction copper(II) oxide by CO
 Town gas consists of mainly H2(g)
and CO(g).
Reduction of copper(II)
oxide by town gas
 Reduction of metal oxide by
C(graphite), CO(g), H2(g)
 Word equation
copper(II) oxide + carbon monoxide


 Unbalanced chemical equation

 Balanced chemical equation

 Reduction of metal oxide by
C(graphite), CO(g), H2(g)
 Word equation
copper(II) oxide + carbon monoxide
 copper + carbon dioxide

 Unbalanced chemical equation

 Balanced chemical equation

 Reduction of metal oxide by
C(graphite), CO(g), H2(g)
 Word equation
copper(II) oxide + carbon monoxide
 copper + carbon dioxide

 Unbalanced chemical equation

CuO(s) + CO(g)  Cu(s) + CO2(g)

 Balanced chemical equation

 Reduction of metal oxide by
C(graphite), CO(g), H2(g)
 Word equation
copper(II) oxide + carbon monoxide
 copper + carbon dioxide

 Unbalanced chemical equation

CuO(s) + CO(g)  Cu(s) + CO2(g)

 Balanced chemical equation

CuO(s) + CO(g)  Cu(s) + CO2(g)
Reduction of metal oxide by
C(graphite), CO(g), H2(g)
 What precautions ( 防範 ) have to be
taken in this experiment ?
 What precautions ( 防範 ) have to
be taken in this experiment ?
 The experiment should be carried out i
n a fume cupboard ( 煙櫃 ).
 The tube should be flushed ( 沖 ) with t
own gas thoroughly ( 透徹地 ) before th
e flame is lighted up.
 At the end of the experiment, the tow
n gas supply should only be cut off aft
er the copper obtained is cooled down.
 Why should these precautio
ns be taken ?
 Why should these precautio
ns be taken ?
 Town gas used is toxic.
 If air is present, the CO and O2
mixture is explosive.
 To prevent re-oxidation of copper to
copper(II) oxide in air when the
copper is hot.
Reduction of metal oxide by
C(graphite), CO(g), H2(g)
 Example
Reduction of copper(II) oxide by
Hydrogen
Reduction of copper(II)
oxide by H2(g)
Reduction of copper(II)
oxide by H2(g)
 Reduction of copper(II)
oxide by H2(g)
 Word equation
copper(II) oxide + hydrogen


 Unbalanced equation

 Balanced equation
 Reduction of copper(II)
oxide by H2(g)
 Word equation
copper(II) oxide + hydrogen
 copper + water

 Unbalanced equation

 Balanced equation
 Reduction of copper(II)
oxide by H2(g)
 Word equation
copper(II) oxide + hydrogen
 copper + water

 Unbalanced equation
CuO(s) + H2(g)  Cu(s) + H2O(g)

 Balanced equation
 Reduction of copper(II)
oxide by H2(g)
 Word equation
copper(II) oxide + hydrogen
 copper + water

 Unbalanced equation
CuO(s) + H2(g)  Cu(s) + H2O(g)

 Balanced equation
CuO(s) + H2(g)  Cu(s) + H2O(g)
 What is observed when town gas is passed over he
ated copper(II) oxide in a combustion tube ? Explai
n your answer and write appropriate equations.
Reduction of metal oxide by
C(graphite), CO(g), H2(g)
 Reduction ( 還原作用 )
- Removal of oxygen
e.g. CuO(s) + H2(g)  Cu(s) + H2O(g)
Black copper(II) oxide is reduced to reddi
sh brown copper by hydrogen.

 Oxidation ( 氧化作用 )
- Addition of oxygen
e.g. 2Cu(s) + O2(g)  2CuO(s)
Reddish brown copper is oxidized to black
copper(II) oxide by oxygen.
 What do graphite, carbon monoxide and
hydrogen gas shared in common in the e
xtraction of metals from metal oxides ?
Reduction of metal oxide by
C(graphite), CO(g), H2(g)
 Reducing power

C(graphite) > CO(g) > H2(g)

Extraction of Iron
(Reduction of iron ore by carbon)
 Write the equations involved in the ex
traction of iron from iron(III) oxide.
Electrolysis of molten ore
Electrolysis of molten ore
The cations in the molten ore will recei
ve electrons from the cathode and bec
ome the metal atom.

Metal ion + electron  Metal

e.g. Na+(l) + e-  Na(l)
Mg2+(l) + 2e-  Mg(l)
Al3+(l) + 3e-  Al(l)
Electrolysis of molten ore
Extraction of aluminium from aluminiu
m oxide (alumina)

2 Al2O3(l )   4 Al(l )  3O2( g )

electrolysis
Extraction of aluminium
Electrolysis of molten ore
Extraction of sodium from sdoium chlo
ride (common salt)

2 NaCl(l )   2 Na( l )  Cl2( g )

electrolysis
Extraction of sodium
Extraction ( 提煉 ) of Metals
 It is more difficult to extract a
reactive metal than a non-reactive
metal from the ore.
 For K, Na, Ca, Mg and Al, they can
only be prepared by electrolysis of
the molten ore.
 Extraction from the ore
Potassium (K)
Sodium (Na)
Calcium (Ca) Electrolysis of molten ore
Magnesium (Mg)
Aluminium (Al)
Zinc (Zn)
Iron (Fe)
Heating with graphite
Lead (Pb)
Copper (Cu)
Mercury (Hg)
Heating alone
Silver (Ag)
Gold (Au) Occurs naturally
Conversion of sulphide ore t
o oxide ore
 Sulphide ore and oxide are the 2 c
ommon metal ores exist in nature
. In the extraction of metal from s
ulphide ore, the metal sulphide is
first roasted ( 燒 ) in air to convert
to oxide and sulphur dioxide first.
Write an equation for the conversi
on of zinc sulphide to zinc oxide.