10 Occurrence and extraction of

metals Teaching PowerPoint (by sections)

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Metals are used in constructing these commercial buildings and

Chapter preview the Big Wheel.

10.1 Occurrence and uses of metals

10.2 Extraction of metals from their ores
10.3 Relating the discovery of metals with the ease of extraction of metals
10.4 Conserving metals

Prior knowledge &

Quick review
https://e-aristo.hk/
r/cmnmvpq10.e

Prior knowledge & Quick review

(For Chapter 10)
The armour of Iron Man

You probably have watched the Iron Man movies. Iron Man, the main character of these movies, usually
appears wearing an armour as shown in the photo below.

Iron Man is fighting against an enemy.

Iron Man’s armour is strong, lightweight and highly heat resistant. It can return to its original
shape after it is deformed, and thus can protect him from being hurt. Would you expect iron, one of the
highly abundant metals in the Earth’s crust, to be a material suitable for making Iron Man’s armour?

Think about...
1 Can you suggest one common ore of iron?
Haematite
2 How can we obtain iron from this ore?
Haematite contains mainly iron(III) oxide. By heating haematite, coke, limestone and air at high temperatures in a blast furnace,
iron can be extracted from haematite.
3 Why is it important to conserve metals?
This is because the metal ores are in limited amounts in the Earth’s crust and are non-renewable.

After studying this chapter, you should be able to answer the above questions.

armour 盔甲
deformed 變形

10.1 Occurrence and uses of metals
Prior knowledge
In junior secondary science, students
should have learnt:
• the history of the use of metals
• the properties and uses of metals
Occurrence and extraction of metals 10
Uses of metals
Metals have characteristic properties which make them different from
other materials such as wood, rock, glass and plastic. Although all metals
have some physical properties in common (refer to Book 1B, Section 6.1),
each metal has its own properties.

Before we look into the sources of metals, let us relate the uses of
some metals to their properties. See Example 10.1.

Example 10.1

Relating the uses of metals to their properties DSE2020(IA)7

The table below shows some information of aluminium, copper, iron and silver.
DSE2017(IB)2a

Relative strength
Electrical Melting point Density at Corrosion Relative
Metal –3 (1 = lowest; 4 =
conductivity / °C 20°C / g cm resistance price
highest)

Aluminium very good N1 660 2.70 N2 1 high medium

Copper very good 1085 8.96 3 high expensive

Iron good 1538 7.87 4 low cheap

very
Silver very good 962 10.5 2 high
expensive

Note 1
Based on the above information and your general knowledge, select one metal (from the above table)
which would best be used for each of the following tasks. Explain your answer in each case.
(a) Aluminium’s electrical conductivity is about
(a) Making overhead power cables (b) Making footbridge 63% that of copper but it weighs only 30% as
the same volume of copper. This means that
(c) Making water pipes (d) Making jewellery aluminium is more than twice as conductive of
CE2000(I)3b electricity as the same mass of copper.
Solution (b) The electrical conductivity of these four metals
decreases in the order of silver, copper,
(a) Aluminium. This is because it has very good electrical aluminium, iron.
conductivity and has a low density.
Learning tip
(b) Iron. This is because it is very strong and relatively cheap. Steel is an alloy of iron. It is
much stronger than iron. Hence,
(c) Copper. This is because it is non-poisonous, very strong
steel, instead of pure iron, is
and corrosion resistant. used for making a footbridge.
(d) Silver. This is because it has an attractive shiny appearance Note 2
and is corrosion resistant. Besides, it is expensive. (a) Aluminium weighs only 34% as the same volume
of iron.

(b) Aluminium cables are much lighter than copper

cables. Thus, the pylons supporting them can be
steel 鋼 footbridge 行人天橋 less sturdily built, with a saving in cost.
overhead power cable 架空電纜
3
III Metals

Occurrence of metals
The Earth’s crust is made up of many substances. About 24% by mass of
the Earth’s crust are metals. The two most abundant metals in the Earth’s
crust are aluminium and iron. See Figure 10.1.

silicon
oxygen 27.7%
46.6%

CE2002(II)8 aluminium
DSE2012(IA)9 iron 8.1%
DSE2018(IA)7 5.0%

all other elements

1.5%
magnesium
2.1% sodium calcium
potassium 2.8% 3.6%
2.6%

Figure 10.1 Percentage abundance by mass of some elements in the Earth’s crust

Think about it
Why do gold and
platinum occur as free
elements in nature?
Rocks which contain useful minerals are called ores. Most of the metals
we use are extracted from metal ores. Very few metals, such as gold and N3
platinum, are found as free elements in their ores in nature (Figure 10.2(a)
and (b)).

Think about it
Gold and platinum are unreactive.
They seldom combine with other
elements to form compounds.

Note 3
(a) Only those rocks which are
worth mining to extract
metals are called ores. Thus,
a rock is not necessarily an
ore. (a) A gold nugget (b) A platinum nugget
(b) Most ores are mixtures of
substances. For example,
Figure 10.2 (a) Gold and (b) platinum exist as free elements in nature.
bauxite is about 75% Al2O3
and 25% Fe2O3 (hence the
colour of bauxite is brown);
haematite is 85% or more
Fe2O3; galena is only about Most metals occur in nature in the form of compounds (usually
15% PbS. oxides, sulphides or carbonates of the metal). These metal compounds are
found in metal ores.

metal ore 金屬礦石 nugget 小塊

4
 Occurrence and extraction of metals 10
Table 10.1 lists some of these metal ores and the main metal compounds
in these ores.

Main metal compound

Common ore Photo of the ore
present

Bauxite
aluminium oxide (Al2O3)
(an ore of aluminium)

Zinc blende
zinc sulphide (ZnS)
(an ore of zinc)

Haematite
iron(III) oxide (Fe2O3)
(an ore of iron)

Galena
lead(II) sulphide (PbS)
(an ore of lead)

Activity 10.1
Copper pyrite copper(II) iron(II) sulphide
The occurrence and uses (an ore of copper) (CuFeS2)
of metals in daily life
Search the Internet (or
other sources) for
information on the
occurrence and daily uses
of metals. After the Cinnabar mercury(II) sulphide
search, present your (an ore of mercury) (HgS)
findings in a set of
computer presentation
slides.

Activity worksheet 10.1

Argentite
silver sulphide (Ag2S)
(an ore of silver)

Table 10.1 Some common metal ores and the main metal compounds in these ores

argentite 輝銀礦 copper pyrite 黃銅礦 zinc blende 閃鋅礦

bauxite 鋁土礦 galena 方鉛礦
5
cinnabar 硃砂 haematite 赤鐵礦
III Metals

Class practice 10.1 Class practice 10.1

(a) An ore is the type of rock that
contains useful minerals, from Bauxite and zinc blende are common ores for aluminium and zinc
which a metal can be extracted. respectively.
(b) The main metal compounds
present in bauxite and zinc (a) What is the meaning of the term ‘ore’?
blende are aluminium oxide (b) What is the main metal compound present in each of these ores?
and zinc sulphide respectively.

10.2 Extraction of metals from their ores

Prior knowledge
In junior secondary science, students
should have learnt:
• how we extract metals
Metals have a wide range of uses in daily life. Before metals can be used
for different purposes, they have to be separated from their ores. The
process of separating a metal from its ore is called extraction. See Figure
10.3.

making
extraction products

metal ore metal metal product

(bauxite) (aluminium) (aluminium can)

Figure 10.3 Aluminium can for soft drinks is made from aluminium which is extracted from bauxite.

Experiment 10.1 Unreactive metals like gold can be extracted from its ore by physical
Extracting metals from separation (e.g. panning). See Figure 10.4.
metal ores

Experiment video
Extracting metals
from metal ores

Experiment video
https://e-aristo.hk/
r/cmnmvev1001.e

Figure 10.4 Gold panning

Metals that occur in nature in the form of compounds can be extracted

from their ores by using chemical methods. For metal ores in the form of
oxides, three chemical methods are commonly employed to extract the
metals from these oxides.

extraction 提取 panning 淘金
6
 Occurrence and extraction of metals 10
These chemical methods are:

• Heating the metal ore alone

• Heating the metal ore with carbon

• Electrolysis of the molten metal ore

Heating the metal ore alone CE2001(II)38 DSE2018(IA)3

CE2011(II)27 DSE2022(IB)2a

Extraction of silver by heating silver oxide

Unreactive metals can be extracted by heating their metal oxides. For
example, silver oxide decomposes to silver metal and oxygen by strong
heating (Figure 10.5).

heat
silver oxide silver + oxygen
black silvery
2Ag2O 4Ag + O2

glowing
splint oxygen glowing
evolved splint
silver
relighted
oxide

Figure 10.5 Decomposition of silver oxide to silver metal by strong heating. The other product oxygen can be tested by
using a glowing splint. N4
Note 4
(a) If a gas relights a glowing splint,
we usually conclude that the gas
is oxygen. However, another The extraction of metals involves the reduction of their ores. The
possibility would be dinitrogen removal of oxygen from a metal oxide is a reduction.
monoxide (N2O).
(b) In comparison, a burning splint
should be used to test for
hydrogen.
Extraction of mercury from its ore DSE2014(IA)14
DSE2015(IA)2

Mercury exists as mercury(II) sulphide (HgS) in its ore, cinnabar. In the

Note 5
extraction of mercury, cinnabar is heated in the presence of air to give
Mercury and copper have low
reactivity. Therefore, in the controlled mercury(II) oxide first, which upon further heating decomposes to mercury.
heating of their sulphides in air, the
sulphur part will be oxidized to
heat
sulphur dioxide, leaving the metal
mercury(II) sulphide + oxygen mercury + sulphur dioxide N5
behind. For example,
copper(I) sulphide + oxygen HgS + O2 Hg + SO2
copper + sulphur dioxide

electrolysis 電解 molten 熔融的

reduction 還原<作用/反應>
7
III Metals

Heating the metal oxide with carbon (Reduction

with carbon) CE1999(II)31
CE2007(I)6a

Oxides of some metals like zinc, iron and lead are more stable. These metal
oxides do not decompose upon heating. Such metals can be extracted by
heating their metal oxides with carbon.

Since the extraction involves the removal of oxygen from the metal
oxides, the reaction involved is also a reduction. In such reaction, carbon is
a reducing agent as it removes oxygen from the metal oxides.

Extraction of lead from its ore

Lead exists as lead(II) sulphide (PbS) in its ore, galena. The extraction of
lead from galena involves two steps. Firstly, the ore galena is heated
Note 6 strongly in air to form lead(II) oxide: N6
Zinc sulphide and lead(II) sulphide
are converted to their respective heat
oxides first, before reduction by lead(II) sulphide + oxygen lead(II) oxide + sulphur dioxide
carbon. 2PbS + 3O2 2PbO + 2SO2
2ZnS + 3O2 2ZnO + 2SO2
2ZnO + C 2Zn + CO2 The lead(II) oxide is then heated with carbon to give lead. N7
CE2001(II)38
Note 7 DSE2019(IA)17 heat
(a) There is a competition for lead(II) oxide + carbon lead + carbon dioxide
oxygen. At high temperatures, 2PbO + C 2Pb + CO2
carbon attracts oxygen more
strongly than lead does. In the laboratory, we can obtain lead from lead(II) oxide by heating the
Hence, carbon can take
oxide with carbon powder in a crucible (Figure 10.6). At the temperature of
oxygen away from lead(II)
oxide. a Bunsen flame (about 600°C), carbon removes oxygen from lead(II) oxide,
(b) Besides carbon, carbon
monoxide, hydrogen, methane
giving lead metal.
and ammonia can also reduce
oxides of metals a bit low in
the metal reactivity series
mixture of carbon powder
(e.g. lead and copper). For
crucible and lead(II) oxide
example,
pipe-clay crucible
• CuO + CO Cu + CO2 tripod
triangle
• CuO + H2 Cu + H2O
• 4CuO + CH4
4Cu + CO2 + 2H2O mixture of
• 3CuO + 2NH3 carbon powder
3Cu + N2 + 3H2O tripod and lead(II) oxide
heat

pipe-clay
triangle

Figure 10.6 Set-up for extracting lead from lead(II) oxide by heating the oxide with carbon
powder

reducing agent 還原劑

8

Internet resource
Watch the video on the website
below to learn more about
turning iron ore to steel.
https://e-aristo.hk/r/
cmnmvir1001.e
Occurrence and extraction of metals 10
Extraction of iron from its ore
Iron exists as iron(III) oxide (Fe2O3) in its ore, haematite. The extraction of
iron is often carried out inside a blast furnace. In the extraction, a mixture
of iron ore, coke and limestone is added to the blast furnace (Figure 10.7).

Extended learning 10.1 iron ore + coke +

limestone
Why is limestone added to the
blast furnace? hot waste gas
Sand (silicon dioxide) is the major
impurity in haematite. It can be
removed from the ore by using
limestone. In the blast furnace,
limestone (calcium carbonate) 250°C
decomposes by heat to calcium 700°C
oxide and carbon dioxide. furnace gets
calcium carbonate hotter
calcium oxide + carbon dioxide 800°C–1000°C

Then calcium oxide will react

with the silicon dioxide in the
impurity, forming a slag of calcium 1500°C
hot air
silicate (CaSiO3).
calcium oxide + silicon dioxide
hot air
calcium silicate molten slag molten slag
runs off
Solid slag is a useful building
material, especially for building molten iron molten iron
runs off
roads.

Figure 10.7 Extracting iron from its ore in a blast furnace

Learning tip
The temperature of the
hot air blast is between
550°C and 850°C. This air
is hot enough to react
with the coke.
Hot air is blasted (blown strongly) from the lower part of the furnace.
The coke burns in the hot air to form carbon dioxide (CO2). Heat is released
during burning which helps to heat up the furnace.
DSE2013(IB)7c(ii) DSE2017(IA)9
The carbon dioxide formed then reacts with more hot air to form
carbon monoxide (CO). The carbon monoxide removes oxygen from
iron(III) oxide to give iron.

iron(III) oxide + carbon monoxide iron + carbon dioxide N8

Figure 10.8 Molten iron being
collected in a steel-made container
Fe2O3 + 3CO 2Fe + 3CO2
At the temperature of the blast furnace, iron melts. The molten iron
produced sinks and runs off from the bottom of the furnace (Figure 10.8).
Note 8
The main reducing agent in the iron extraction taking place in a blast furnace is carbon monoxide.
But in the some parts (e.g. the hotter parts) of the furnace, carbon also reduces iron(III) oxide:
iron(III) oxide + carbon iron + carbon monoxide

coke 焦炭 limestone 石灰石 blast 吹入 slag 爐渣

calcium silicate 硅酸鈣 sand 砂 blast furnace 鼓風爐
9
impurity 雜質
III Metals

Example 10.2

Understanding the extraction of copper from its ores

Copper can be extracted from its ore, copper pyrite (CuFeS2). The extraction involves two stages.
Stage 1: Heating copper pyrite with air and sand to obtain copper(I) sulphide
Stage 2: Heating the copper(I) sulphide obtained strongly in air at 1200°C to produce copper
(a) Write the formula of copper(I) sulphide.
(b) Write a word equation for the reaction in Stage 2.
(c) Suggest why the extraction of copper from copper pyrite causes air pollution problems.
(d) Copper can also be obtained from copper(II) oxide. CE2009(I)2b(i)
(i) Suggest how copper can be obtained from copper(II) oxide in the school laboratory.
(ii) State an expected observation in this experiment. CE1999(I)2c
(iii) Write a word equation for the formation of copper from copper(II) oxide.

Solution
(a) Cu2S
(b) Copper(I) sulphide + oxygen copper + sulphur dioxide
(c) Copper(I) sulphide reacts with oxygen to produce sulphur dioxide, Learning tip
which is a gas that causes acid rain. Copper can be extracted
by either heating
(d) (i) Mix carbon powder with copper(II) oxide. Then heat the copper(I) sulphide
mixture strongly. strongly in air or heating
copper(II) oxide with
(ii) A reddish brown solid is produced.
carbon.
(iii) Copper(II) oxide + carbon copper + carbon dioxide
CE2011(II)27 DSE2017(IA)9 DSE2019(IA)17

CE2009(I)2b(ii) DSE2022(IB)5c(iii)
DSE2012(IA)9
CE2004(II)16
Electrolysis of the molten metal ore CE2007(I)6c(i)
DSE2017(IA)9
The metal compounds in the ores of reactive metals e.g. sodium,
magnesium and aluminium, are very stable. Thus, these metals cannot be
Learning tip extracted by heating their oxides with carbon. Instead, they are extracted by
The extraction of metals
by electrolysis also
electrolysis. Electrolysis is an expensive but effective method for extracting
involves reduction. reactive metals.

Aluminium can be extracted from bauxite (an ore of aluminium that

contains mainly aluminium oxide) by electrolysis (Figure 10.9). During
electrolysis, purified ore is melted and electricity is then passed through
the ore to extract the aluminium from it. The extraction can be summarized
by the following equation:
electricity
aluminium oxide aluminium + oxygen CE2003(II)5
(from bauxite)
2Al2O3 4Al + 3O2
electrolysis 電解 purified 提純了的
10
 Occurrence and extraction of metals 10
graphite (positive
Learning tip electrode) graphite
Aluminium oxide has a very (negative
high melting point electrode)
(2040°C). Cryolite (sodium
aluminium fluoride,
Na3AlF6) is added to lower
a molten mixture of
the melting point to about purified aluminium
950°C. This helps save ore and cryolite
energy.
molten aluminium
AL2007(II)2a(ii)
tapping hole
steel cell

Figure 10.9 Electrolysis of molten aluminium ore

Key point
Three chemical methods commonly used in extracting metals from
their oxide ores:
• Heating the metal ore alone
• Heating the metal ore with carbon
• Electrolysis of the molten metal ore

Class practice 10.2

(a) Heating the metal ore alone Class practice 10.2
mercury(II) sulphide + oxygen
mercury + sulphur dioxide Propose a method of extraction for each of the following metals. Write the
(b) Heating the metal ore with carbon word equation(s) for the reaction(s) involved in each case.
zinc sulphide + oxygen
zinc oxide + sulphur dioxide (a) Mercury from cinnabar which contains mainly mercury(II) sulphide
zinc oxide + carbon (b) Zinc from zinc blende which contains mainly zinc sulphide
zinc + carbon dioxide
(c) Electrolysis of the molten metal ore (c) Sodium from rock salt which contains mainly sodium chloride
sodium chloride
sodium + chlorine

10.3 Relating the discovery of metals with the

ease of extraction of metals
According to the main types of materials used by humans, there are four
periods in history, namely, The Stone Age, The Copper Age, The Bronze
Age and The Iron Age. In different ages, different materials were used to
make various objects such as tools, weapons, containers, etc. See ‘The Stone
Age to the Iron Age at a glance…’ on p.14.

cryolite 冰晶石 tapping hole 喉管插孔 The Iron Age 鐵器時代

The Bronze Age 青銅器時代 The Stone Age 石器時代
11
The Copper Age 銅器時代
III Metals

The most abundant metal in the Earth’s crust is aluminium. However,

th
it was not widely used until the 20 century. Iron was used earlier than
CE1999(I)7a(i)(1)
CE2000(II)50 aluminium in history. This is because the compounds in iron ores are less
DSE2015(IB)3a
stable than those in aluminium ores. Hence, people discovered and used
iron earlier than aluminium.

If the compounds present in metal ores are more stable, it is more

difficult to extract the metals from these ores. For example, sodium
chloride in rock salt is very stable. It is necessary to use electrolysis to
extract sodium from rock salt. However, electrolysis was not invented until
1800. Sodium metal was only discovered after the invention of electrolysis.
DSE2012(IA)9
Key point
In general, the less stable the compounds present in a metal ore, the
earlier the metal was discovered in history.

In other words, the order of discovery of metals is related to the

ease of the extraction of metals. The years of discovery of some common
metals and the usual methods of their extraction are listed in Table 10.2.

Metal Year of discovery Usual method of extraction

Potassium A.D. 1807 Electrolysis of the molten metal

ore
Sodium A.D. 1807

Calcium A.D. 1808

DSE2013(IA)5 Magnesium A.D. 1808

Aluminium A.D. 1827

CE2000(I)6a(i)(1),(ii) Zinc A.D. 1746 Heating the metal ore with

carbon
Iron 3000 B.C.

CE2008(II)34 Lead

Copper

Mercury Heating the metal ore alone

Silver

Platinum Physical separation

Gold 5000 B.C.

Table 10.2 The years of discovery of some common metals and the usual methods of their extraction

12
 Occurrence and extraction of metals 10
Example 10.3

Understanding factors affecting the availability and price of metals in the market
Calcium is an expensive metal. It can be extracted by the electrolysis of molten calcium chloride.
(a) Write a word equation for the electrolysis.
(b) Suggest why calcium was used much later than copper in human history.
(c) Explain why the extraction of calcium is costly.
(d) Suggest a reason why potassium is more expensive than calcium.

Solution
(a) Calcium chloride calcium + chlorine
(b) Calcium compounds are more stable than copper compounds. It is more difficult to extract
calcium from its ore.
(c) Calcium chloride has a high melting point (775°C). A large
amount of heat/energy is required to melt it and electricity is
required to carry out the electrolysis. This accounts for the Think about it
cost of the extraction. What are the other factors that
may affect the price of a metal?
(d) Potassium is less abundant than calcium in the Earth’s crust.

Think about it
The demand for a metal may also
affect the price of a metal.

Class practice 10.3 Class practice 10.3

1. (a) Q, R, P
(b) Q, R, P; the more easily a metal
can be extracted from its ores,
the earlier it was discovered.
2. (a) Gold is less reactive than iron.
It can be easily extracted from
its ores by physical separation.
(b) This is because gold is very
rare.
1. P, Q and R are three different metals. When the ores of these metals are
heated strongly separately, only the ore of Q leaves a solid with a metallic
lustre. When the ores of P and R are each heated with powdered carbon,
the ore of R leaves a solid with a metallic lustre. P can only be extracted
from its molten ore by electrolysis.
(a) Arrange the above metals in order of the ease of extraction from their
ores, putting the easiest first.
(b) Deduce the order of discovery of the metals, putting the earliest first.
2. Consider the following information about iron and gold:

Metal Year of discovery Relative abundance (%)

Iron 3000 B.C. 5.0

Gold 5000 B.C. 0.0000004

Propose reason(s) for each of the following:

(a) Gold is a rare metal but it was discovered much earlier than iron.
(b) Despite the fact that the extraction of gold involves only a physical
method and that of iron involves both physical and chemical methods,
gold is much more expensive than iron.

13
 The Stone Age to the Iron Age
at a glance…

2 500 000 B.C. The Stone Age

Stones, animal bones, gold and silver were the main materials used.

millstone ivory weapon silver plate gold bowl

5000 B.C.
The Copper Age
Copper was the main material used.

copper vessel copper pot copper sword

3300 B.C.
The Bronze Age
Bronze (an alloy formed from copper and tin) was the main material used.

bronze helmet bronze ritual vessel

1000 B.C. and

onwards The Iron Age
Iron, steel, aluminium and many other metals were the main materials used.

iron scissors steel bicycle spoke wheel aluminium soft drink cans

bicycle spoke wheel 單車輪輻 millstone 石磨

14 bronze ritual vessel 青銅鼎 sword 劍
helmet 頭盔 vessel 器皿
ivory 象牙的
 Occurrence and extraction of metals 10
STSE issue 10.1
Extracting copper by bioleaching
Copper-rich ores are running out. Copper is now extracted from ores that contain a low percentage (only 1–2%)
of copper by mass. Using traditional large-scale extraction methods are not economical and inefficient.
Moreover, these methods also lead to a lot of waste rocks.

Scientists have developed a method for extracting copper

from its ores. They found that a kind of bacteria can break down
copper ores and produce an aqueous solution containing
dissolved copper compounds. They then use scrap iron or
electrolysis to extract copper from the solution. This extraction
method is called bioleaching. This kind of bacteria can be found
in nature and is not harmful to us. However, the bacteria used in
bioleaching only works in the temperature ranging from 35°C to
40°C. And the time needed for the extraction is quite long.
 he copper-containing solution produced by
T
STSE issue 10.1 the action of bacteria is collected in a pond.
Questions
1. A very large area of land is needed for traditional extraction methods of copper. Exploiting the natural habitats of animals
1. Suggest why traditional extraction methods of copper are considered as environmentally unfriendly.
2. Suggest why bioleaching is considered a less polluting method.
and plants would threaten their lives. Moreover, very large holes would leave on the ground after the ores are extracted.
Furthermore, traditional extraction methods of copper would produce a lot of waste rocks and waste gases. It also
requires burning fuels to provide high-temperature conditions. But combustion of fuels produces air pollutants.
2. It does not require burning fuels to provide high-temperature conditions. Hence less air pollutants would be produced.

10.4 Conserving metals

Limited reserves of metals

Internet resource
Read the US Geological Metal ores are limited in amount in the Earth’s crust and are non-
Survey Mineral Commodity renewable. If we go on using metals at the same rate as today, the supply
Summaries on the website
below to learn about the latest of many metals will run out within 100 years. Table 10.3 shows the
reserve of each mineral in
reserves of several metals in China and some other countries.
China and in other countries.
https://e-aristo.hk/r/
cmnmvir1002.e
Zinc Lead Nickel Copper Gold Silver

China 44 000 18 000 2800 26 000 2 41

United States 11 000 5000 100 48 000 3 26

Australia 68 000 36 000 20 000 88 000 10 88

Russia 22 000 4000 6900 61 000 7.5 45

Table 10.3 Reserves of several metals in China and some other countries (Source of information: US
Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 2021; the reserves are all measured in thousand
tonnes.)

bioleaching 生物淋濾法 scrap 廢棄的

thousand tonne 千公噸
15
III Metals

Conserving metals is important. We should use metals wisely so that

metal reserves can last longer.

Three common ways to conserve metals are:

Learning tip
‘Reuse’, ‘reduce’ and 1. Reusing metal articles — many metal articles can be reused e.g.
‘recycle’ are regarded
barbecue forks, metal containers, etc.
as 3Rs.
2. Reducing the use of metals — we should reduce the use of metals
Prior knowledge
whenever possible.
In junior secondary science,
students should have learnt: 3. Recycling metals
• the 3Rs principle of
conservation
Recycling of metals
Think about it Recycling metals is the processing of used metals to make new metal
Aluminium cans are
products. It is done by melting down used metals and purifying them.
usually mixed with steel
cans in the collection Currently, metals such as aluminium, lead, iron, copper, tin, zinc, silver
bins. How do we separate and gold are widely recycled. Figure 10.10 shows how aluminium can be
them?
recycled from used soft drink cans.
Think about it
We can separate steel cans
from aluminium cans by using
magnets.

1 Collect used aluminium

cans.

2 Separate the collected aluminium cans

5 Make new aluminium cans Recycling of
from other wastes. Then crush them
using the aluminium ingots. into blocks for easy transportation.
aluminium cans

3 Shred the aluminium cans

Figure 10.10 Stages 4 Purify the molten aluminium and into small pieces and melt
involved in the recycling them in furnace.
mould it into aluminium ingots.
of aluminium cans

recycling 循環再造 reusing 重用 ingot 鑄塊 shred 切碎

16 reducing 減少 mould 塑造
 Occurrence and extraction of metals 10
Evaluating the recycling of metals from social,
economic and environmental perspectives
Benefits of recycling AL2007(II)4a(iii)

Recycling of metals brings us the following benefits:

1. It conserves metal ore resources. For example, recycling one tonne

of aluminium saves four tonnes of bauxite.

2. It saves energy and other resources such as electricity, water and

Note 9
fuels. For example, the amount of energy required for recycling
Steel can be recycled infinitely aluminium is just 5% of that required for extracting aluminium from
and is completely recyclable
without loss of quality. Recycling
bauxite. N9
one tonne of steel saves 1400 kg
of iron ore, 740 kg of coal and 3. It reduces metal wastes and land used for waste disposal. N10
120 kg of limestone on average.
4. It reduces pollution. Recycling reduces the need to mine metal ores
Note 10
Mining would produce a lot of and extract metals. This reduces land pollution, air pollution and water
harmful chemicals, rocks, mud, pollution arising from mining and extraction of metals, and the
dust and noise at the same time.
The extraction of metals would damages made on the habitats of wildlife.
also produce pollutants.
5. Recycling activities promote public awareness of conserving metals.

Problems associated with recycling

Activity 10.2 However, there are problems associated with the recycling of metals.
Metal-recycling industry 1. It is difficult and time-consuming to sort out metal wastes from
of Hong Kong
other materials in the rubbish.
Search the Internet (or
other sources) for
information on the metal-
2. The cost of collecting, sorting and transporting metal wastes is
recycling industry of high.
Hong Kong. After the
search, answer the 3. The cost of melting and purifying metals is high.
questions in an Activity
worksheet. 4. Many people still have not got into the habit of recycling.
Activity worksheet 10.2

Class practice 10.4 Class practice 10.4

(a) Aluminium has a low density.
Besides, it is corrosion resistant Aluminium is used in making soft drink cans. Used aluminium cans are often
and malleable. collected for recycling. CE2001(II)36 DSE2019(IB)9b(iii)
(b) Recycling metals is the processing
of used metals to make new metal
(a) Suggest why aluminium is a material suitable for making soft drink cans.
products. (b) What is the meaning of ‘recycling metals’?
(c) Any TWO of the following:
(c) Aluminium is the most abundant metal in the Earth’s crust. Suggest TWO
• It conserves metal ore resources.
• It reduces metal wastes and land reasons why it is important to recycle used aluminium objects.
used for waste disposal.
• Less energy and other resources such as electricity, water and fuels are required for recycling a metal than for extracting a metal from its ores.
• It reduces the need to mine a metal ore and extracting the metal. This reduces pollution arising from mining and extraction of the metal
mine 開採
as well as the damages made on the habitats of wildlife.
public awareness 公眾意識
17
III Metals

National security issue

Activity 10.3
Metal resource security in China Activity worksheet 10.3

Metals and alloys are widely used for construction, infrastructure and manufacturing products. The
development of green technology such as electric vehicles and equipment for renewable energy further
increases metal demands. However, metal resources are of limited amounts in the Earth’s crust and are not
evenly distributed among different countries.
China consumed over 800 million tonnes of steel in 2020. It needs huge amounts of iron ore for making
steel. China’s domestic iron ore is relatively low-grade (i.e. has low iron content) and is expensive to extract and
process. So the iron ore it used is imported mainly from Australia, Brazil and India. However, various reasons
such as fluctuating prices of imported iron ore and political relations between countries may affect the steady
supply of iron ore to China. Hence, China is now trying to secure its iron ore supply by using more scrap steel,
investing new mines overseas, exploring new import sources and increasing domestic production of iron ore,
etc.
China, as well as other countries, needs to develop strategies to ensure that the supply of resources (e.g.
metals) can meet its demands so that its manufacturing activities and the life of its people can be protected.
Strategies of this kind are known as national resource security.

Iron ore reserve /

Country
China thousand tonnes
56.5%
Australia 50 000

Others Brazil 34 000

22.3%
Russia 25 000

China 20 000

Ukraine 6500
South
Korea India 5500
Russia India
3.6% USA Japan
3.9% 5.3%
3.9% 4.5%
R
 eserves of iron ore in some countries in
 ercentages of crude steel produced by some countries
P 2020. (Source of information: U.S.
in 2020. The global crude steel production was 1864.0 Geological Survey Mineral Commodity
million tonnes in 2020. (Source of information: World Summaries, January 2021)
Steel Association, 2020 crude steel production)
Tasks
Form groups of four to answer the following questions.
1. Search, the Internet or other sources, for information on the reserves and production of each of the
following minerals in China and other countries.
(a) Copper (b) Lead (c) Zinc (d) Nickel
(e) Bauxite (f) Tin (g) Silver (h) Gold
2. Search, the Internet or other sources, for information on the metal recycling in China and other countries
such as the United States and Japan. (Hint: what metals are recycled in these places and their amounts?)
th
3. In the 20 century, most of the products ended up to be wastes after use. Nowadays, the government of
China is switching to the strategy of ‘resources’ ‘products’ ‘recycled resources’ with view to
maintaining its resource security. Discuss both the benefits and difficulties in implementing this strategy.
4. Search, the Internet or other sources, for the meaning of the terms ‘resource security’ and ‘sustainable
development’. Hence, suggest why resource security is important for the sustainable development of the
world.

resource security 資源安全 domestic 本國的；國內的 mine 礦場

18 sustainable development 可持續發展 fluctuating 波動的 reserve 藴藏量
green technology 綠色科技 scrap steel 廢棄鋼材
 Occurrence and extraction of metals 10

Chapter review
Progress check

Chapter review
After studying this chapter, you should be able to:
state the sources of metals and their occurrence in nature
explain why extraction of metals is needed
understand that the extraction of metals involves reduction of their ores
describe and explain the major methods of extraction of metals from their ores
write word equations for the extraction of metals
relate the ease of obtaining metals from their ores to the stability of the metal compounds
deduce the order of discovery of some metals from their relative ease of extraction
describe metal ores as a finite resource and hence the need to recycle metals
evaluate the recycling of metals from social, economic and environmental perspectives
discuss the importance and problems of recycling metals

e-Dictionary
https://e-aristo.hk/
r/cmnmvedict.e

e-Dictionary
Key terms (For Chapter 10)
Page Page
1. electrolysis 電解 10 5. reducing 減少 16
2. extraction 提取 6 6. reducing agent 還原劑 8
3. metal ore 金屬礦石 4 7. reduction 還原<作用/反應> 7
4. recycling 循環再造 16 8. reusing 重用 16

19
 III Metals

Key concepts
10.1 Occurrence and uses of metals
Chapter review

1. Only very few metals (e.g. gold and platinum) can be found in a free state in nature. Most
metals exist as compounds in ores. The following table lists some common metal ores and the
main metal compounds present in these ores.

Metal Common ore Main metal compound present

Aluminium bauxite aluminium oxide (Al2O3)

Zinc zinc blende zinc sulphide (ZnS)

Iron haematite iron(III) oxide (Fe2O3)

Lead galena lead(II) sulphide (PbS)

copper(II) iron(II) sulphide

Copper copper pyrite
(CuFeS2)

Mercury cinnabar mercury(II) sulphide (HgS)

Silver argentite silver sulphide (Ag2S)

10.2 Extraction of metals from their ores

2. Metals can be obtained from their ores through extraction.

3. Metals can be extracted from their oxide ores by

(a) heating the metal ore alone
(b) heating the metal ore with carbon (reduction with carbon)
(c) electrolysis of the molten metal ore

10.3 Relating the discovery of metals with the ease of extraction of metals

4. Different metals were discovered at different times in human history. In general, the less stable
the compounds present in a metal ore, the earlier the metal was discovered in history.

10.4 Conserving metals

5. Metal ores are limited in amount in the Earth’s crust and are non-renewable. There is a need for
conservation.

6. Three common ways to conserve metals are:

(a) Reusing metal articles
(b) Reducing the use of metals
(c) Recycling metals

7. Recycling metals is the processing of used metals to make new metal products. It is done by
melting down used metals and purifying them.

20
 Occurrence and extraction of metals 10
Concept map e-Concept map (Padlet)

Complete the concept map by filling in the items listed below:

Chapter review
aluminium, carbon, compounds, electrolysis, extraction, recycle, silver

(a)
Reuse Reduce Recycle

Ways of conservation

METALS

Extraction methods
exist as

(b) (f)
Compounds Physical Heating the Heating the Electrolysis
separation metal ore alone metal ore with
(e.g. aluminium oxide) (e)
or elements (e.g. gold) carbon

discovery
of metals example example example example
affected by

(d) (g)
Ease of Gold Silver Iron Aluminium
(c)
extraction
of metals

21
 III Metals

Chapter exercise Book exercise (e-Quiz, Microsoft Forms, Google Forms)

A. Fill in the blanks

Section 10.1 Section 10.3
1. Very few metals are found as free elements 3. The order of discovery of metals is related to the ease
in their ores in nature. Most metals exist as of extraction of metals.
compounds in their ores.
4. The less stable the compounds present in a metal
Chapter exercise

Section 10.2 ore, the easier to extract the metal

2. Metals can be chemically extracted from their oxide from the ore, the earlier the metal was
ores by: discovered in history.
(a) Heating the metal ore alone Section 10.4
(b) Heating the metal ore with carbon
5. Metal ores are limited in amount in the Earth’s
(c) Electrolysis of the molten metal ore crust and are non-renewable . There is
a need for conserving metals.

B. Practice questions
Section 10.2
Direction: Questions 6–8 are about the extraction of zinc, iron and aluminium from their ores. Complete the sentences
with suitable words.

6. (a) The most common ore of zinc is zinc blende , in which zinc exists as zinc sulphide.

(b) In the extraction of zinc from its ore, the ore is heated strongly in air to form zinc oxide . Then
carbon is used for reduction.

(c) The reactions involved can be represented by the following word equations:

zinc sulphide + oxygen zinc oxide + sulphur dioxide

zinc oxide + carbon zinc + carbon dioxide

7. (a) Haematite is a common ore of iron. Iron is extracted from this ore in a blast furnace.

(b) In the extraction, a mixture of iron ore, coke and limestone is added from the top of
the furnace.

(c) Then hot air is blasted from the lower part of a furnace. After a series of reactions, carbon monoxide

is produced.

(d) Carbon monoxide reduces iron(III) oxide in the ore to iron. The reaction can be represented by
the following word equation:
iron(III) oxide + carbon monoxide iron + carbon dioxide

8. (a) The most common ore of aluminium is bauxite . It consists mainly of aluminium oxide .

(b) Aluminium can be extracted from this ore by electrolysis

. In the extraction, the purified ore is
melted and electricity is then passed through the ore to extract the aluminium from it.

(c) The reaction involved in the extraction can be represented by the following word equation:
aluminium oxide oxygen + aluminium
22
 Occurrence and extraction of metals 10
C. Multiple-choice questions
Section 10.1 Section 10.3
9. Which of the following metals is/are found as a free 12. X, Y and Z are three different metals. X exists as a free
element in nature? element in nature. Z can be extracted from its ore by
(1) Gold heating with coke. Y can be obtained by electrolysis
(2) Copper Explanation on p.T1 of its molten ore. Which of the following correctly
(3) Platinum shows the discovery sequence of these metals (the
first metal being discovered is put first)?
A. (1) only
B. (2) only A. Z, Y, X

Chapter exercise
C. (1) and (3) only B. X, Z, Y Explanation on p.T1
C C. Z, X, Y
D. (2) and (3) only
B
D. X, Y, Z
10. Which of the following is the major compound
present in haematite? Section 10.4

A. FeO 13. Which of the following are problems associated with

B. Fe2O3 metal recycling?
C. Fe3O4 (1) Separating metal wastes from other wastes is
B
D. FeCl2 difficult.
(2) The cost of sorting and transporting metal
Section 10.2
wastes is high.
11. Which of the following methods is commonly used (3) The cost of melting and purifying of used metals
for extracting mercury from mercury(II) oxide? is high.
A. Heating mercury(II) oxide strongly A. (1) and (2) only
B. Heating mercury(II) oxide with carbon B. (1) and (3) only
C. Heating mercury(II) oxide with carbon monoxide C. (2) and (3) only
D. Electrolysis of the molten mercury(II) oxide D
D. (1), (2) and (3)
Explanation on p.T1 A

D. Structured questions
Section 10.1
14. Consider the following matter from which metals can be extracted. Answers on p.T1

bauxite haematite cinnabar galena

(a) What do we call this kind of matter? (1 mark)

(b) Where could we find the above matter in nature? (1 mark)
(c) Lead can be extracted from one of the above matter.
(i) Name this matter.
(ii) Name the major compound that can be found in this matter.
(2 marks)

23
 III Metals

Section 10.2
15. A mixture of lead(II) oxide and carbon powder is strongly heated in a boiling tube as shown below. Grey beads form
in the boiling tube and gas bubbles evolve which turns limewater milky. Answers on p.T1

a mixture of lead(II) oxide

and carbon powder
heat

limewater
Chapter exercise

(a) What are the grey beads produced? (1 mark)

(b) What is the gas evolved during the reaction? (1 mark)
(c) Write the word equation for the reaction between lead(II) oxide and carbon. (1 mark)
(d) Will there be any reaction if lead(II) oxide is replaced by
(i) copper(II) oxide?
(ii) magnesium oxide?
For each of the above, write the word equation for the reaction if applicable.
(2 marks)
16. The extraction methods of mercury and copper are summarized in the following table. Answers on p.T1

Metal ore Extraction method

Cinnabar
Heating the metal ore in the presence of air
(consisting of mercury(II) sulphide)

Copper pyrite Stage 1: Heating the metal ore with sand and air
(consisting of copper(II) iron(II) sulphide) Stage 2: Heating the copper(I) sulphide formed strongly in air

(a) Write the word equation(s) for the reaction(s) involved in the extraction of mercury and that of copper (for
stage 2 only). (2 marks)
(b) Arrange aluminium, mercury and copper in order of the increasing ease of extraction. (1 mark)
(c) Arrange the three metals mentioned in (b) according to their order of discovery, putting the earliest discovered
metal first. Explain your arrangement. (2 marks)

Learn more: Building a better answer (see p.153–154)

24
 Occurrence and extraction of metals 10

Exam practice Book exercise (e-Quiz, Microsoft Forms, Google Forms)

A. Multiple-choice questions
Section 10.2 3. A certain mass of a sample of Ag2O(s) is strongly
1. Which of the following processes would produce heated in a test tube. Which of the following shows
oxygen? the relationship of the mass of the contents (m) in
the test tube with time (t) from the start of heating?
A. Heating silver oxide
Explanation on p.T5
B. Heating copper(II) oxide A. B.
C. Heating sodium oxide with carbon
D. Heating iron(III) oxide with carbon monoxide
m m
A

2. Which of the following processes would produce a

metal? t t
A. Heating zinc oxide strongly
C. D. (78%)
B. Heating aluminium oxide with carbon

Exam practice
C. Electrolysis of solid sodium chloride
D. Heating iron(III) oxide with carbon monoxide m m

t t

(HKDSE 2018 Paper 1A Q3)

B. Structured questions
Section 10.3
4. The extraction methods of gold, iron, aluminium and silver are shown in the table below. Answers on p.T5

Metal Extraction method

Gold Physical separation
Iron Heating the metal ore with carbon
Aluminium Electrolysis of the molten metal ore
Silver Heating the metal ore alone

(a) Arrange these metals in order of the ease of extraction from their ores, putting the metal which is the easiest
to be extracted first. (1 mark)
(b) What is the relationship between the ease of extraction and the reactivity of metals? (1 mark)
(c) Arrange these metals in ascending order of reactivity. (1 mark)
(d) Deduce the order of discovery of these metals, putting the metal that was discovered earliest first. (1 mark)
(e) Aluminium was discovered after the invention of electricity. Why? (1 mark)

25
 III Metals

Section 10.4
5. The table below shows some information about four metals. Answers on p.T5

Percentage Relative strength

Corrosion
Metal abundance by mass in (1 = lowest; 4 = Relative price
resistance
the Earth’s crust highest)

Aluminium 8.1 1 high medium

Copper 0.0068 2 high high

Platinum 0.00004 3 very high very high

Iron 5.0 4 low low

(a) Even though platinum is the least abundant among the four metals, it was the first discovered in human
history. Suggest why. (2 marks)
(b) Suggest a reason why platinum is the most expensive among the four metals. (1 mark)
(c) Most copper ores now contain only 2% of copper by mass. Suggest why it is still worth to get copper from
Exam practice

these ores. (2 marks)

(d) Based on the above information, select one metal which would best be used for making each of the following
objects. Explain your choice in each case.
(i) Window frames
(ii) Ship bodies
(iii) Necklaces
(6 marks)

26