Where In The World Are Metals?

Textbook pages: 82-90, 102-105, 162-170.

Name: __________
1. Introduction

Your task is to choose one elemental metal to study and then produce a fact sheet about
the metal and write two research paragraphs explaining and analyzing the information you
have found. A display will be made in the corridor of the fact sheets around a world map.
You will mark the map with the main countries where your metal is found as an ore and the
top countries that make use of the metal.

2. Details About The Fact Sheet

The fact sheet should be a maximum of A6 in size ( a quarter of an A4 page.) It should

include the required information and address the key questions below.

a) Required Information

Title that includes metal name, creativity encouraged!

Your name
Copyright free image
Metal name, symbol, number of protons, neutrons, electrons.
Year of discovery.
Price and relative abundance of the metal.
One additional interesting fact about your metal.

b) Key questions:

1. What are the main uses of your metal?

2. Which countries are the top users?
3. What form is your metal in for its different uses? Include whether it is as an element,
mixture or compound.
4. What properties are most important for the uses?
5. Which countries have the largest deposits of your metal?
6. In what form is the metal usually found when native i.e. in the ground?

3. Details About The Research Paragraphs

Paragraph 1: Metal Chemistry

Use the chemistry you have learnt about the physical and chemical properties of metals to
explain the information you have found out about the metal you have studied. For example
why isn’t your metal found native as an element? Has your metal been known about since
ancient times or is it a recent discovery? Why is this? What is the main process used to
extract it and why is this process suitable? Why is the metal mainly used as an element,
mixture or compound? How does the structure (arrangement of particles in the substance)
relate to its uses?

Paragraph 2: Life Cycle of The Metal

Consider the economic, social and environmental impacts of extracting, processing, using
and disposing of your metal. Find out if your metal comes from a conflict mineral. Use the
 price and abundance of the metal as part of your discussion. Consider both the impact on
the countries where your metal is mainly found and where it is used. Include a balanced
equation that is relevant for your metal. This could be connected to the extraction or use of
your metal. Find the atom economy for this equation and use it as part of your discussion.

Citation List

Include your citation list of all the sources used in the factsheet and the paragraphs in the
same document as your research paragraphs.

Rubric

Assessment Excellent Proficient Developin Not yet

g meeting

Fact Sheet 1. The student includes all the required Most of the Some of Few of the
information on the fact sheet indicators at the indicators
(Summative the excellent indicators at the
weighted out 2. The student includes the answers to all level are at the excellent
of 5) the key questions on the fact sheet. met. excellent level are
level are met.
3. The student is able to correctly plot on met.
the map both the countries where the
metal is mainly found and the top user(s.)

4. The information sheet is attractive.

6. It is A6 or less in size.

Research 1. The student incisively relates the Most of the Some of Very
Paragraphs discovery, extraction and use of the metal indicators at the limited
and citations to its properties and reactivity. the excellent indicators analysis is
level are at the shown or
(Summative 2. The student includes a relevant met at a excellent consider-
weighted out balanced chemical equation for their reasonable level are able
of 10) metal and correctly calculates the atom level. . met at a support is
economy for this equation. reasonable needed.
level.
3. The student demonstrates in depth
awareness of the economic, social and
environmental impact of the metal studied
throughout its life cycle.

4. Multiple sources are cited using MLA

or CSE style. The date accessed is
included in each citation.