10 Occurrence and Extraction of Metals (Teacher)

Unit 10: Occurrence and Extraction of Metals
HKDSE Chemistry
Topic 3: Metals
Unit : Occurrence and Extraction of Metals
Name: __________________________ Class: F. 4________ (______)

Occurrence and Use of Metals
⚫ Metals find extensive use in your daily life.
⚫ The choice of one metal over another depends on
three main factors.
◼ Physical Properties
◆ Melting Point
◆ Strength
◆ Density
◆ Thermal Conductivities
◆ Electrical Conductivities
◼ Chemical Properties e.g. Reaction with Air
◼ Cost
Example: Aluminium (Al)
Al alloy is used to make the bodies of high-speed trains as it is lightweight, quite strong and can resist the
attack of air and water as Al is coated with a protective oxide layer.
Uses of Some Common Metals and Reasons for Their Uses
⚫ 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, 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.
Major Reasons for Their Uses
Metal Examples of Uses
(Properties that make it suitable)
Maybe alloying with Magnesium Mg ⚫ low density
⚫ Aeroplanes (Aircraft Body) ⚫ strong in the form of alloy
⚫ Bicycles (light but strong)
⚫ Trains ⚫ resistant to corrosion
⚫ Window Frames ⚫ malleable
⚫ Ladders
⚫ Overhead Power Cables ⚫ very good conductor of electricity
Aluminium (Al) ⚫ low density (light)
⚫ ductile
⚫ resistant to corrosion
⚫ cheaper than copper
⚫ Foil ⚫ low density
⚫ Food packaging ⚫ resistant to corrosion
⚫ Cans ⚫ malleable
⚫ Saucepans ⚫ non-toxic
⚫ Electrical wires ⚫ excellent conductor of electricity
⚫ very ductile
⚫ corrosion resistant
⚫ Water pipes ⚫ non-poisonous
⚫ Roofing ⚫ strong
⚫ Coins with nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn) ⚫ malleable and ductile
Copper (Cu)
⚫ Jewellery ⚫ corrosion resistant
⚫ Cooking utensils ⚫ good conductor of heat
⚫ malleable
⚫ strong
⚫ non-toxic
10.1
Major Reasons for Their Uses

Metal Examples of Uses
(Properties that make it suitable)
⚫ Building materials, e.g. bridges ⚫ hard
Iron (Fe) in the form
⚫ Cars ⚫ strong
of steel /
⚫ Hulls of ships ⚫ malleable
stainless steel
⚫ ductile
Alloying with
⚫ cheap
Chromium (Cr),
⚫ Cutlery ⚫ strong
Manganese (Mn),
⚫ Kitchen utensils ⚫ malleable
Nickel (Ni)
⚫ Kitchen sinks ⚫ resistant to corrosion
⚫ Making jewellery and coins ⚫ attractive yellow colour (Au) /
shiny silvery colour (Ag, Pt, Pd)
⚫ malleable
Gold (Au) ⚫ ductile
Silver (Ag) Au: extremely malleable and ductile
Platinum (Pt) ⚫ Making electric and electronic ⚫ very good conductor of electricity
Palladium (Pd) components Ag: best electrical conductor
⚫ malleable
⚫ ductile
⚫ Au: extremely malleable and ductile
⚫ Adding to soldering materials ⚫ soft: malleable & ductile
⚫ low melting point:
lowering the melting point of
soldering materials
⚫ Pb is toxic
2015 HK Pb Water Pipe Incident
Replacing with less toxic tin (Sn),
Lead (Pb) antimony (Sb), bismuth (Bi), zinc (Zn)
⚫ Making protective shielding ⚫ high atomic number Z = 82:

around nuclear reactors and absorbing radiation of short
X-ray equipment wavelengths
Bi (Z = 83) can be used but rarer than
Pb.
⚫ Making supersonic aircraft and ⚫ low density
space vehicles ⚫ very strong but light
with Zirconium (Zr) and Hafnium (Hf) ⚫ very high melting point
⚫ very resistant to corrosion
⚫ malleable
Titanium (Ti) ⚫ Making tooth implants and ⚫ low density
replacement hip joints ⚫ very strong
⚫ malleable
⚫ biocompatible (non-poisonous and
not rejected by the body)
⚫ Making light bulb filaments ⚫ very high melting point
⚫ gets ‘white hot’ without melting
Tungsten (W)
Molybdenum (Mo) ⚫ making objects working at high ⚫ very high melting point
Rhenium (Re) temperature, e.g. mechanical ⚫ resistant to corrosion
parts in aircraft engines
10.2
Practice 1
1. Look at the six articles made of metals shown in the diagram below.
⚫ Suggest the metal used for making each article.
⚫ List the properties of each suggested metal that make it suitable for the use.
10.3
Article Metal used Properties that make it suitable

⚫ good conductor of heat
⚫ high melting point
(1) cooking pot aluminium / copper ⚫ malleable
⚫ strong resistance to corrosion
⚫ non-toxic
⚫ attractive yellow / shiny colour
(2) ring gold / silver / platinum
⚫ malleable
⚫ ductile
⚫ very good conductor of electricity
(better than Al)
(3) electric wire copper ⚫ resistant to corrosion
⚫ ductile
⚫ cheaper than silver (Ag)
⚫ low density
(4) soft drink cans aluminium
⚫ malleable
⚫ non-toxic
⚫ strong
⚫ malleable
(5) bridge iron
⚫ ductile
⚫ cheap
⚫ low density
⚫ strong in the form of alloy
(6) aeroplane aluminium
⚫ malleable
2. Suggest a metal which is suitable for each of the following purposes. Explain your choice in each
case.
(a) Making water pipes
Copper.
This is because it is non-poisonous, strong, malleable, ductile and corrosion resistant.
(b) Making window frames

Aluminium.
This is because it is strong and corrosion resistant.
(c) Making thermometers

Mercury.
This is because it is a liquid under room conditions.
It expands on heating.
10.4
Occurrence of Metals
⚫ The major source of metals is the Earth’s crust.
Percentage Abundance by Mass of Some Elements in the Earth’s Crust
◼ Oxygen is the most abundant element in the Earth’s crust.

◼ Silicon is the next most abundant element followed by aluminium and iron.
⚫ 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.
Forms of Some Abundant Elements That Are Found in the Earth’s Crust
Element Forms in which the element is found
⚫ as the gaseous element
⚫ in the compound water
◼ in the sea, river, lake and underground water as liquid
◼ in the glaciers and icebergs as solid
◼ in the atmosphere as water vapour
Oxygen O ⚫ in various solid compounds such as
◼ oxides of metals (e.g. iron, aluminium, titanium)
◼ carbonates, sulphates and nitrates of metals, e.g. limestone (calcium
carbonate), gypsum (calcium sulphate), saltpetre (potassium nitrate)
◼ silica (quartz, sand), silicates (e.g. mica, asbestos) and aluminosilicates
(clays)
as solid compounds:
⚫ silica (silicon dioxide) as quartz and sand
⚫ silicates (compounds of silicon, oxygen and metal ions) which make up the
Silicon Si
bulk of Earth’s rocks and minerals
⚫ aluminosilicates (compounds of aluminium, silicon, oxygen and metal ions)
which are the major constituents of clays and soils
as solid compounds:
Aluminium Al ⚫ aluminosilicates (compounds of aluminium, silicon, oxygen and metal ions)
⚫ bauxite (a mixture of aluminium oxide, iron(III) oxide and dirt)
as solid compounds:
⚫ iron(II) silicates, iron(III) aluminosilicates (in igneous rocks)
Iron Fe ⚫ sulphides such as pyrites
⚫ haematite (an oxide of iron)
⚫ siderite (a carbonate of iron)
⚫ as solid compounds such as limestone (calcium carbonate), rock phosphate
Calcium Ca (calcium phosphate) and gypsum (calcium sulphate)
⚫ as calcium ions in oceans, rivers and ground water
as sodium chloride in sea water
Sodium Na ⚫ as solids, rock salt (sodium chloride) and Chile saltpetre (sodium nitrate) and
as sodium ions in many aluminosilicates
⚫ solids such as magnesite (magnesium carbonate), silicates (e.g. talc, asbestos)
Magnesium Mg and carnallite (magnesium and potassium chlorides)
⚫ as magnesium ions in sea water and ground water
10.5
⚫ Rocks which contain useful minerals are called ores.

◼ Ores 礦石 are rocks containing minerals in concentrations that are high enough for economical
extraction.
◼ Only those rocks which are worth mining to extract metals are called ores.
◼ Thus, a rock is not necessarily an ore.
⚫ Most of the metals we use are extracted from metal ores.
◼ Most ores are mixtures of substances.
Example
◆ 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 15% PbS.
⚫ Very few metals, such as gold and platinum, exist as free elements in their ores in nature.
◼ Metals have different reactivities.
◼ Very unreactive metals like gold, silver, platinum and palladium Pd are found often in free state
while others are found combined with other elements as compounds.
◆ Gold and platinum are unreactive.
◆ They seldom combine with other
elements to form compounds.
Metal Nuggets
⚫ Most metals occur in nature in the form of

compounds (usually oxides, sulphides or
carbonates of the metal).
⚫ These metal compounds are found in metal ores.
◼ These compounds containing metals are
called minerals 礦物.
Typical Mineral Type
◼ Carbonates CO32–
◼ Oxides O2–
◼ Chalcogenides (Gp VI Chalcogens)
◆ Oxides O2–
◆ Sulphides S2–
◆ Selenides Se2– (less common)
◆ Tellurides Te2– (less common)
◼ Halides (Gp VII Halogens)
◆ Fluorides F–
◆ Chlorides Cl–
◆ Bromides Br–
◆ Iodides I–
⚫ The rocks are materials which make up the Earth’s
crust.
⚫ It is in rocks that minerals are found.
Some common ores:
10.6
Types and the Main Metal Compounds in Some Common Ores

Type of Ore Ore Main Metal Compound in the Ore
bauxite hydrated aluminium oxide Al2O3•2H2O
Oxide ore
haematite iron(III) oxide Fe2O3
copper pyrite copper(II) iron(II) sulphide CuFeS2
Sulphide ore cinnabar mercury(II) sulphide HgS
(Chalcogenide ore) galena lead(II) suphide PbS
zinc blende zinc sulphide ZnS
calamine zinc carbonate ZnCO3
Carbonate ore
magnesite magnesium carbonate MgCO3
Halide ore rock salt sodium chloride NaCl
Practice 2
Bauxite and zinc blende are common ores for aluminium and zinc respectively.
(a) What is the meaning of the term ‘ore’?
An ore is the type of rock that contains useful minerals, from which a metal can be extracted.
(b) What is the main metal compound present in each of these ores?
The main metal compounds present in bauxite and zinc blende are aluminium oxide and zinc
sulphide respectively.
Extraction of Metals from Their Ores

⚫ 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 提取.
Aluminium can for soft drinks is made from aluminium which is extracted from bauxite.
⚫ The method used to extract metals form ores depends on the reactivity of metal to be extracted.
⚫ Extraction of a metal from its ore involves the following steps:
◼ Concentration of Ore
◼ Conversion of Ore to Oxide
◼ Extraction of Metal
◼ Purification of Metal
Concentration of Ore
⚫ Ores are generally associated with unwanted materials, such as clay, sand and silicates.
⚫ In the first step of processing of an ore, it is essential to remove them.
⚫ The process of removing unwanted materials from an ore is called concentration of ore.
10.7
Determining whether it is worth to extract the metal from an ore

⚫ Ores contain metallic compounds in a concentrated form.
⚫ However, it does not necessarily mean that it is worth the cost and effort to extract the metal.
⚫ The value will depend on:
◼ How concentrated the ore is
◼ How easy it is to get the ore out of the ground
◼ How easy it is to extract the metal from the ore
◼ What price a company gets for the metal extracted
◼ The long-term environmental clean-up costs.
⚫ The economics of the extraction process depend on the price of the metal and the demand for it as
large-scale metal extraction processes involve both costs and benefits.
◼ Companies choose metal extraction methods that use as little energy as possible due to that
using less energy reduces both cost to the company and the cost to the environment.
◆ Cost to company: saves or uses less fuel / electricity
◆ Cost to environment:
⚫ energy comes from fossil fuels that are non-renewable
⚫ reduces pollutants / emissions
⚫ named environmental effect of pollutants (e.g. acid rain / greenhouse effect /
climate change)
◼ Local people are benefitted from having metal extraction plants in their area due to following
reasons:
◆ Jobs
◆ Benefit to the local economy
◆ Advantages of large scale metal extraction processes
⚫ more economic to extract on a large scale
⚫ lower energy costs on a large scale
⚫ Unreactive metals like gold can be extracted from its ore by physical
separation.
◼ Gold Panning
10.8
Conversion of Ore to Oxide

⚫ Metals that occur in nature in the form of compounds can be extracted from their ores by using
chemical methods.
⚫ It is easier to obtain a metal from its oxide form than from its sulphide, carbonate or any other form.
⚫ Hence the concentrated ore is usually converted to an oxide before extraction.
⚫ 2 Major Conversion Methods:
◼ Roasting 焙燒 for Chalcogenides, i.e. Sulphides
◼ Calcination 煅燒 for Carbonates
Roasting With air

◼ Roasting is the process in which the concentrated ore is heated strongly in the presence of
excess air.
◼ This process is commonly used for chalcogenides, i.e. sulphide ores.
Example:
Zinc Blende: Zinc exists as zinc sulphide in its ore of zinc blende.
◼ Mercury and copper have low reactivity.

◆ Therefore, in the controlled heating of their sulphides in air, the sulphur part will be
oxidized to sulphur dioxide, leaving the metal behind.
copper(I) sulphide + oxygen copper + sulphur dioxide
Calcination No air
◼ Calcination is the process in which the concentrated ore is heated strongly in the absence or
limited supply of air.
◼ This process is commonly used for carbonate ores.
Example: Calamine
Extraction of Metal
⚫ For metal ores in the form of oxides, three chemical methods are commonly employed to extract the
metals from these oxides.
⚫ The ease of extracting a metal depends on the reactivity of the metal.
⚫ The more reactive a metal is, the more difficult it is to extract the metal from its oxide.
⚫ The removal of oxygen from a metal oxide is called reduction.
By Heating the Metal Ore Alone
◼ This is the cheapest way to extract metals.
◼ The unreactive metal oxides are heated strongly and are decomposed to form metal and
oxygen.
◆ Unreactive metals can be extracted by heating their metal oxides.
◼ The extraction of metals involves the reduction of their ores.
◆ The removal of oxygen from a metal oxide is a reduction .
10.9
Examples:
◆ Extraction of Silver Ag
⚫ Silver oxide decomposes to silver metal and oxygen by strong heating.
◆ Decomposition of Silver Oxide to Silver Metal by Strong Heating
⚫ The other product oxygen can be tested by using a glowing splint.

- If a gas relights a glowing splint, we usually conclude that the gas is oxygen.
◆ However, another possibility would be dinitrogen monoxide N2O.
- In comparison, a burning splint should be used to test for hydrogen.
◆ Extraction of Mercury Hg
⚫ Mercury occurs in nature as the sulphide ore, cinnabar (containing mercury(II) sulphide).
- Mercury exists as mercury(II) sulphide (HgS) in its ore, cinnabar.
⚫ In the extraction of mercury, cinnabar is heated in the presence of air to give mercury(II) oxide
first, which upon further heating decomposes to mercury.
- Once the mercury(II) sulphide is converted to mercury(II) oxide during the process of
roasting, further heating will convert mercury(II) oxide to mercury.
By Heating the Metal Ore Using Carbon or Carbon Monoxide (Carbon Reduction)
◼ Moderately reactive metals are extracted by reduction of their oxides.
◆ Oxides of some metals like zinc, iron and lead are more stable.
◆ These metal oxides do not decompose upon heating.
◼ Oxides of moderately reactive metals are reduced to the corresponding metals by heating with a
suitable reducing agent 還原劑, such as carbon or carbon monoxide.
◆ Such metals can be extracted by heating their metal oxides with carbon.
◆ In such reaction, carbon is a reducing agent as it removes oxygen from the metal oxides.
10.10
◼ The removal of oxygen from metal oxide is called reduction. Carbon is a reducing agent.
◆ Since the extraction involves the removal of oxygen from the metal oxides, the reaction
involved is also a reduction.
◼ This method can be used for extraction of oxides of metal in the middle of reactivity series, i.e.
zinc Zn, iron Fe, nickel Ni, lead Pb, copper Cu
◆ Zinc sulphide and lead(II) sulphide are converted to their respective oxides first, before
reduction by carbon.
Examples:
Extraction of Lead Pb 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 strongly in air to form lead(II) oxide:
⚫ The lead(II) oxide is then heated with carbon to give lead.
◼ There is a competition for oxygen.

◼ At high temperatures, carbon attracts oxygen more strongly than lead does.
◼ Hence, carbon can take oxygen away from lead(II) oxide.
⚫ In the laboratory, we can obtain lead from lead(II) oxide by heating the oxide with carbon powder in a
crucible.
◼ At the temperature of a Bunsen flame (about 600°C), carbon removes oxygen from lead(II)
oxide, giving lead metal.
Set-up for Extracting Lead from
Lead(II) Oxide by Heating the
Oxide with Carbon Powder
Extraction of Zinc Zn from Its Ore

⚫ Zinc blende is a common ore of
zinc.
⚫ It contains mainly zinc sulphide.
⚫ Similarto the case of the extraction of lead, the extraction of zinc from zinc sulphide involves two
steps.
⚫ Word equations involved in these steps.
2 ZnS + 3 O2 → 2 ZnO + 2 SO2

2 ZnO + C → 2 Zn + CO2
OR zinc oxide + carbon monoxide → zinc + carbon dioxide
10.11
◼ Remark:
◆ Besides carbon, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, methane and ammonia can also reduce
oxides of metals a bit low in the metal reactivity series (e.g. lead and copper).
⚫ Hydrogen gas can be used as well for some metals.
Copper Cu
copper(II) oxide + hydrogen → copper + water vapour CuO + H2 → Cu + H2O
CuO + CO → Cu + CO2
4 CuO + CH4 → 4 Cu + CO2 + 2 H2O
3 CuO + 2 NH3 → 3 Cu + N2 + 3 H2O
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 鼓風爐.
◼ Iron is extracted from its ore using a large reaction container called a blast
furnace.
◼ In the extraction, a mixture of iron ore, coke and limestone is added to the blast
furnace.
⚫ Modern blast furnaces can be around 30 metres high and produce about 10 000 tonnes of iron per
day.
⚫ The following materials are added through the top of
the blast furnace:
◼ iron ore, such as haematite, which contains
iron(III) oxide
◼ coke, which is mostly carbon
◼ limestone, which is used to purify the iron
⚫ In addition, hot air is blasted in near the bottom of
the furnace.
◼ 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. carbon + oxygen → carbon dioxide
⚫ Heat is released during burning which helps to heat
up the furnace.
⚫ The carbon dioxide formed then reacts with more hot coke and hot air higher up in the furnace,
forming carbon monoxide CO.
carbon dioxide + carbon → carbon monoxide
⚫ Carbon monoxide is a reducing agent.
◼ It rises up the furnace and reduces the iron(III) oxide.
◼ The carbon monoxide removes oxygen from iron(III) oxide to give iron.
iron(III) oxide + carbon monoxide → iron + carbon dioxide
(haematite) Fe2O3 + 3 CO → 2 Fe + 3 CO2
10.12
◼ 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
⚫ The high temperature inside the furnace melts the iron.
◼ At the temperature of the blast furnace, iron melts.
◼ The molten iron produced sinks and runs off from the bottom of the
furnace.
Molten iron being collected in a steel-made container
⚫ Reason for Limestone Added to the Blast Furnace
◼ Sand (silicon dioxide) is the major impurity in haematite.
◼ The molten iron, which contains impurities from the iron ore, trickles downwards in the blast
furnace.
◼ The impurities can be removed from the ore by using limestone, which is mostly calcium
carbonate.
◼ In the blast furnace, limestone (calcium carbonate) decomposes by heat to calcium oxide and
carbon dioxide.
◆ The calcium carbonate decomposes under high temperature. (Calcination)
calcium carbonate → calcium oxide + carbon dioxide
◼ The calcium oxide formed will react with the impurities, which is mainly silicon dioxide,
forming calcium silicate.
calcium oxide + silicon dioxide → calcium silicate
◼ The calcium silicate forms a slag 爐渣 which runs down the furnace and floats on top of the
molten iron.
◼ Solid slag is a useful building material, especially for building roads.
⚫ Both the molten iron and slag are removed separately at the bottom of the furnace.
⚫ The waste gases, mainly nitrogen and oxides of carbon, escape from the top of the furnace.
10.13
Example: Understanding the Extraction of Copper from Its Ores
By Electrolysis of the Molten Metal Ore

◼ The metal compounds in the ores of reactive metals e.g. sodium, magnesium and aluminium,
are very stable.
◆ Reactive Metals:
- Potassium K - Magnesium Mg
- Sodium Na - Aluminium Al
- Barium Ba - Manganese Mn
- Calcium Ca - Chromium Cr
◼ Reactive metals hold on to the element(s) they have combined with.
◆ Hence they are usually difficult to extract.
Example: Sodium Na
◆ Sodium chloride, as rock salt is an ionic compound with the sodium
ions and chloride ions strongly bonded to one another.
◆ The separation of these ions and the subsequent isolation of the
sodium metal is therefore difficult.
◼ Thus, these metals cannot be extracted by heating their oxides with
carbon.
◆ Oxides of more reactive metals such as CANNOT be reduced by carbon because they have
more affinity for oxygen than carbon does.
◆ Carbon cannot extract these metals from their ores.
◼ Instead, they are extracted by electrolysis.
◼ Electrolysis is an expensive but effective method for extracting reactive metals
◆ Electrolysis of the molten ore is the method used in these cases.
10.14
Aluminium is a reactive metal, and can be separated from its ore only by electrolysis.
aluminium oxide → aluminium + oxygen
The oxide of sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium can
also be extracted by this method.
◼ However, extraction of a metal by electrolysis is
expensive.
Extraction of Aluminium (Electrolysis of Molten Aluminium Ore)
⚫ Aluminium is the most abundant metal in the Earth’s crust.
⚫ Aluminium cannot be extracted by heating aluminium oxide with carbon.
◼ It must be extracted by electrolysis. A Bauxite Mine in Queensland, Australia
⚫ Aluminium can be extracted from bauxite (an ore of
aluminium that contains mainly aluminium oxide) by
electrolysis.
⚫ Its main ore is bauxite, which is aluminium oxide mixed
with impurities such as sand and iron(III) oxide.
◼ The impurities make the ore reddish brown in
colour.
⚫ 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:
⚫ The electrolysis is carried out in a large steel tank.

◼ The tank is lined with carbon, which acts as the negative electrode.
◼ Big blocks of carbon are hung in the middle of the tank and act as the positive electrode.
⚫ The melting point of aluminium oxide is over 2 000 °C.
◼ Aluminium oxide has a very high melting point (2040°C).
◼ It would be very expensive to heat aluminium oxide to this temperature.
◼ To get around this problem, aluminium oxide is dissolved in molten cryolite 冰晶石.
◼ Cryolite has a much lower melting point than aluminium oxide, and allows electrolysis to
happen at about 950 °C.
◆ Cryolite (sodium aluminium fluoride Na3AlF6) is added to lower the melting point to about
950°C.
◆ This helps save energy.
⚫ During electrolysis, aluminium is produced in molten form at the negative electrode.
aluminium ions + electrons → aluminium atoms
⚫ The molten aluminium sinks to the bottom of the tank and runs off at intervals.
⚫ Oxygen is produced at the positive electrode.
oxide ions → oxygen molecules + electrons
⚫ The oxygen reacts with the carbon electrodes to form carbon dioxide.
⚫ This reaction wears away the carbon electrodes and they need to be replaced periodically.
10.15
Purification of Metal
⚫ Except in the extraction using electrolysis, metals produced by any other method are generally
impure.
⚫ Many metals like copper and zinc are purified by electrolysis.
Summary of the Different Extraction Methods for Metals of Different Reactivities
⚫ 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
10.16
Example:
Practice 3
1. A student heated a mixture of powdered carbon and lead(II) oxide in the set-up shown below.
(a) A reaction takes place.

(i) What could be observed inside the crucible at the end of the reaction?
Shiny silvery globules of lead
(ii) Write the word equation for the reaction that occurred.
lead(II) oxide + carbon → lead + carbon monoxide (or carbon dioxide)
(b) Name another substance that can reduce lead(II) oxide to lead.
Carbon monoxide
(c) The student repeated the experiment by using the following metal compounds instead of lead(II)
oxide. State and explain the expected result.
(i) Aluminium oxide
No reaction occurs.
Carbon cannot remove oxygen from aluminium oxide.
10.17
(ii) Nickel(II) chloride

No reaction occurs.
Carbon cannot remove chlorine from nickel(II) chloride.
It must first be converted to nickel(II) oxide before the reduction.
2. Propose a method of extraction for each of the following metals. Write the word equation(s) for the
reaction(s) involved in each case.
(a) Palladium from palladium nuggets
Physical separation
(b) Bismuth (more reactive than copper) from bismuthinite which contains mainly bismuth(III)
sulphide
Heating the metal ore with carbon/ carbon reduction
bismuth(III) sulphide + oxygen → bismuth(III) oxide + sulphur dioxide
bismuth(III) oxide + carbon → bismuth + carbon dioxide
(c) Silver from argentite which consists of mainly silver sulphide

Heating the metal ore alone
heat
silver sulphide + oxygen → silver + sulphur oxide
(d) Sodium from rock salt which contains mainly sodium chloride
Electrolysis of the molten metal ore
electricity
sodium chloride → sodium + chlorine
3. Iron and aluminium are two important metals extracted from their ores on a large scale.
In the extraction of iron, three different raw materials — coke, iron ore and limestone are added
through the top of a blast furnace.
(a) What is the name of the ore of iron which consists mainly of iron(III) oxide?
Haematite
(b) Iron is extracted from iron(III) oxide by using carbon monoxide in a blast furnace.
(i) Describe the main way in which the carbon monoxide is produced in the blast furnace.
The coke burns in air to form carbon dioxide.
The carbon dioxide reacts with more coke to form carbon monoxide.
10.18
(ii) Write the word equation for the reduction of iron(III) oxide in the blast furnace.
Iron(III) oxide + carbon monoxide → iron + carbon dioxide
(c) Aluminium is extracted from its ore by electrolysis. This is a more expensive process than
using a blast furnace.
(i) Why is a different method used for aluminium?
Aluminium is more reactive than iron. /
Aluminium oxide cannot be reduced by carbon monoxide.
(ii) Name the ore from which most aluminium is extracted.

Bauxite
(iii) Suggest why the cost of extracting aluminium is high.

High cost of electricity
Relating the Order of Discovery of Metals and Their Relative Ease of Extraction
⚫ The ancient world passed from the Stone Age through the Bronze and Iron Ages to our modern
developed society — a society that is dependent on metals and alloys for its very existence.
◼ 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.
The Timeline of Discovery of Some Common Metals
⚫ In general, the less stable the compounds present in a metal ore, the earlier the metal was discovered
in history.
◼ The most abundant metal in the Earth’s crust is aluminium.
◆ However, it was not widely used until the 20th century.
◼ Iron was used earlier than aluminium in history.
◆ This is because the compounds in iron ores are less 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.
Eample: 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.
10.19
⚫ In other words, the order of discovery of metals is related to the ease of the extraction of metals.
◼ The lower the reactivity of the metal → the easier the extraction → the earlier the discovery
The Years of Discovery of Some Common Metals and the Usual Methods of Their Extraction
10.20
Example: 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.
Calcium chloride → calcium + chlorine
(b) Suggest why calcium was used much later than copper in human history.
Calcium compounds are more stable than copper compounds.
It is more difficult to extract calcium from its ore.
10.21
(c) Explain why the extraction of calcium is costly.

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 cost of the extraction.
(d) Suggest a reason why potassium is more expensive than calcium.
Potassium is less abundant than calcium in the Earth’s crust.
(e) What are the other factors that may affect the price of a metal?
The demand for a metal may also affect the price of a metal.
Practice 4
1. Order of discovery of the metals is related to their relative ease of extraction.
(a) 4 common metal extraction methods are listed below. For each metal listed below, suggest a
common extraction method.
P: Physical Method C: Reduction by Heating with C(s) or CO(g)
H: Reduction by Heating E: Reduction by Electrolysis
Metal Common Extraction Method
Gold P
Copper C
Silver P/H
Lead C
Iron C
Zinc C
Sodium E
Magnesium E
Aluminium E
(b) Suggest how the order of discovery of the metals is related to their relative ease of extraction.
⚫ The order of discovery of various metals relates closely with the ease of extracting the
metal from their ores.
⚫ Metals that are difficult to extract were discovered later.
(c) Aluminium and iron are commonly used construction materials. Suggest why iron was used
earlier than aluminium in history.
Iron is less reactive than aluminium.
10.22
2. 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.
Q, R, P
(b) Deduce the order of discovery of the metals, putting the earliest first. Explain your answer
briefly.
⚫ Q, R, P
⚫ The more easily a metal can be extracted from its ores, the earlier it was discovered.
3. 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.
⚫ Gold is less reactive than iron.
⚫ It can be easily extracted from its ores by physical separation.
(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.
This is because gold is very rare.
4. Read the following article and answer the questions.

Green Methods of Extracting Metals
Scientists are developing new methods to extract metals from old mining waste heaps, which
contain ores with low metal contents. These ores cannot be economically processed with
chemical methods discussed above.
The new methods are ‘green’ because they make use of waste material and have much lower
energy costs than traditional mining. They also have less negative impact on the environment.
Bioleaching 生物濾化
Bioleaching is a method of metal extraction from ores through the use of bacteria. For example,
in the case of copper, an acidic solution containing bacteria is applied and allowed to pass
through the heaps. The run-off from the heaps containing copper(II) sulphate is carefully
collected. Copper can be extracted from this by using iron or by electrolysis.
10.23
Copper(II) sulphate deposits form in this bioleaching bath:
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.
The copper-containing solution produced by the action of bacteria is
collected in a pond.
Phytoextraction 植物萃取
Phytoextraction uses plants to take metal ions from soils or mining waste. Phytoextraction is
very useful for taking toxic metals out of soil to ‘clean up’ the environment around old mines as
it removes toxic metals from soil. Although the metals are toxic even to the plants, some types
of plant have a very high tolerance for toxic metals and can remove huge amounts of these
metals from the soil. They store the metals in their leaves.
10.24
Key Features of 3 Possible Methods of Extracting Copper from Its Sulphide Ore
Method Key Feature
⚫ take in energy
Heating in Air
⚫ fast reaction
⚫ uses bacteria to produce a copper(II)
sulphate solution
Bioleaching ⚫ uses only 30–50% of the energy needed
in the heating with air method
⚫ slow
⚫ plants absorb copper compounds when
they grow
Phytoextraction
⚫ plants are burnt and copper is extracted
from the ash
(a) The tradition extraction method of copper involves heating its sulphide ore containing copper(I)
sulphide in air. Extraction using this method has a major environmental impact. Suggest why
traditional extraction methods of copper are considered as environmentally unfriendly..
⚫ A very large area of land is needed for traditional extraction methods of copper.
⚫ Exploiting the natural habitats of animals 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.
◼ Air pollution from sulphur dioxide
(b) Large areas of land, where the sulphide ore of copper was once quarried, are contaminated with low
percentages of copper(I) sulphide. Copper would be too expensive to extract from this contaminated
land using the traditional method of heating in a furnace.
(i) Explain why it would be too expensive to extract copper from this land by using the traditional
method.
A large amount of energy would be needed to extract the copper.
(ii) Which method, bioleaching or phytoextraction, would you choose so that it causes less air
pollution? Explain your choice.
Bioleaching
Phytoextraction releases carbon dioxide from burning of plants.
10.25
(c) Suggest why bioleaching is considered a less polluting method.

⚫ It does not require burning fuels to provide high-temperature conditions.
⚫ Hence less air pollutants would be produced.
Conserving Metals: How Long Metal Reserves Will Last

Limited Reserves of Metals
⚫ Metal ores are limited in amount in the Earth’s crust and are non-renewable.
⚫ If we go on using metals at the same rate as today, the supply of many metals will run out within 100
years.
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.)
⚫ Supplies of metal ores will not last forever as indicated from the given information.
⚫ Some metals are likely to last for about 10 – 30 years.
⚫ Reserves of some metals will last longer than others.
⚫ However, it is obvious that if the use of these metals is not taken very cautiously, all natural reserves
of different metals will eventually run out.
⚫ Conserving valuable metal reserves are very important.
Numbers of Years Remaining of Global Metal Reserves
(Source: 2018 Mineral Commodity Summary, the US Geological Survey)
10.26
⚫ Conserving metals is important.

⚫ We should use metals wisely so that metal reserves can last longer.
⚫ Three common ways to conserve metals are:
◼ Reusing metal articles — many metal articles can be reused e.g. barbecue forks, metal
containers, etc.
◼ Reducing the use of metals — we should reduce the use of metals whenever possible.
◼ Recycling metals
⚫ ‘Reuse’, ‘reduce’ and ‘recycle’ are regarded as 3Rs.
Recycling of Metals 循環再造
⚫ Each year, Hong Kong households and corporates
throw away more than 70 000 tonnes of waste
computers and electrical and electronic equipment.
⚫ Some of these items are still in good working condition
and could be put to second-hand use.
⚫ All of them contain components and materials such as
metals which could be reused or recycled.
⚫ Recycling metals is the processing of used metals to make new metal products.
◼ It is done by melting down used metals and purifying them.
⚫ Currently, metals such as aluminium, lead, iron, copper, tin, zinc, silver and gold are widely
recycled.
Evaluating the Recycling of Metals from Social, Economic and Environmental Perspectives
Main Advantages and Benefits of Recycling Metals
Recycling of metals brings us the following benefits:
⚫ It conserves metal ore resources.
◼ Natural reserves of metal ores will last longer.
◼ For example, recycling one tonne of aluminium saves four tonnes of bauxite.
⚫ It saves energy and other resources such as electricity, water and fuels.
◼ Many metals need less energy to recycle them than to extract new metals from the ores.
Examples:
◆ The amount of energy required for recycling aluminium is just 5% of that required for extracting
aluminium from bauxite.
◆ Steel can be recycled infinitely and is completely recyclable without loss of quality.
➢ Recycling one tonne of steel saves 1400 kg of iron ore, 740 kg of coal and 120 kg of limestone
on average.
Energy Required for the Production of 1 kg of Some Metals
Energy Required (in 106 J)
Metal
From Ores From Recycled Material
Aluminium 200 7
Copper 70 4
Mild Steel 40 8
⚫ It reduces metal wastes and land used for waste disposal.
◼ Less waste metal ends up in landfill sites.
⚫ It reduces pollution.
◼ Recycling reduces the need to mine metal ores and extract metals.
◆ The need to mine ores is reduced.
◆ Mining can damage the landscape as well as create noise and dust pollution.
➢ Mining would produce a lot of harmful chemicals, rocks, mud, dust and noise at the
same time.
10.27
◼ The extraction of metals would also produce pollutants.

◆ Fewer pollutants may be produced.
◆ For example, sulphur dioxide is formed when some metals are extracted from metal sulphide ores.
◼ This reduces land pollution, air pollution and water pollution arising from mining and
extraction of metals, and the damages made on the habitats of wildlife.
⚫ Recycling activities promote public awareness of conserving metals.
Problems Associated with Recycling
However, there are problems associated with the
recycling of metals.
⚫ The cost of collecting, sorting and transporting
metal wastes is high.
◼ Metals are only recycled if it is
economical to do so.
◼ The cost of recycling a cheap metal is
often more expensive than extracting new
metal from the Earth.
⚫ The cost of melting and purifying metals is high.
◼ The cost of separating metals from waste can be high.
◼ Alloys are not always recycled, as it is difficult to separate the metals in the alloys.
⚫ Other problems include transport costs for collecting scrap metals 碎料 and the difficulty of
persuading people to dump waste materials into recycle bins.
◼ It is difficult and time-consuming to sort out metal wastes from other materials in the rubbish.
◼ Many people still have not got into the habit of recycling.
The Life Cycle of Metals
⚫ Mining, mineral processing and metal extraction produce many valuable metals for making products,
but these activities can also have a serious impact on the environment.
Life Cycle of a Metal Article
⚫ Mining
◼ There are basically two main types of mining: surface mining and underground mining.
◼ Mining produces large volumes of waste rock and can leave very large holes in the ground.
⚫ Concentration of Ore
◼ All metal ore processing produces waste.
◼ Waste tips may contain poisonous metals, such as copper and lead, that dissolve in rainwater
and enter the soil.
10.28
⚫ Metal Extraction
◼ The metal extraction processes consume energy and water.
◼ Some air pollutants, such as sulphur dioxide, are given off during the processes.
⚫ Metals in Use
◼ Careful choice of metals can reduce the environmental impact of mining.
Example:
◆ Lighter cars mean less fuel consumption and emission of harmful gases, as well as less wear and
tear on roads.
◆ Manufacturers can design lighter cars by replacing steel with lighter metals such as aluminium or
with plastics and other new materials.
⚫ Recycling
◼ Recycling of metals means melting down used and scrap metals, and using them again.
◼ Scrap metals are generated by metalworking industries due to processes such as cutting and
boring, etc.
Recycling of Aluminium Cans

⚫ Aluminium cans are the most recycled consumer product in the world.
⚫ Recycled aluminium cans are used again for the production of new cans or for the production of
other valuable aluminium products, such as engine blocks 汽缸本體 or bicycles.
Major stages and steps involved in how aluminium can be recycled from used soft drink cans
⚫ Aluminium cans are usually mixed with steel cans in the collection bins.
⚫ We can separate steel cans from aluminium cans by using magnets.
10.29
⚫ Recycling aluminium helps to conserve the Earth’s reserves of aluminium ore.

⚫ Aluminium is extracted from molten aluminium oxide at high temperatures using electrolysis.
⚫ The process requires huge amounts of electrical energy.
⚫ However, recycling saves energy, and hence money, since recycling aluminium does not involve
electrolysis.
⚫ When comparing recycled aluminium with aluminium extracted from its ore, there is a 95% energy
saving.
⚫ In addition to that, aluminium experiences no loss of quality during the recycling process.
Waste Problems in Hong Kong and 3’R’s
⚫ Hong Kong generates over 18 000 tonnes of municipal solid waste a day.
⚫ At this rate, existing landfills will be exhausted one by one soon.
⚫ Small changes in one’s habits will help, including to reduce, reuse and recycle.
⚫ Reduce
◼ Reducing the quantity and types of waste at source level
◼ This is the most desirable.
⚫ Reuse
◼ Putting materials and products back into use before they become waste, although not everything
can be reused.
Practice 5
1. Aluminium is commonly used in making soft drink cans. Used aluminium cans are often collected
for recycling.
(a) Suggest why aluminium is a usual material suitable for making soft drink cans.
⚫ Aluminium has a low density.
⚫ Besides, it is corrosion resistant and malleable.
10.30
(b) What is the meaning of ‘recycling metals’?

Recycling metals is the processing of used metals to make new metal products.
(c) Aluminium is the most abundant metal in the Earth’s crust. Suggest TWO reasons why it is still
important to recycle used aluminium objects
Any TWO of the following:
⚫ It conserves metal ore resources.
⚫ It reduces metal wastes and land 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 as well as the damages made on the
habitats of wildlife.
2. List a few ways of how we can help solving the waste problem in Hong Kong.
⚫ Reducing waste by reusing paper grocery and lunch bags or eliminate waste by using cloth
bags.
⚫ Donating old toys, clothes, furniture, cars and other items to organisations such as the
Salvation Army rather than throwing them in the garbage.
⚫ Closing the recycling loop by purchasing recycled-content products and packaging.
10.31

10 Occurrence and Extraction of Metals (Teacher)

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Unit 10: Occurrence and Extraction of Metals

Name: __________________________ Class: F. 4________ (______)

Major Reasons for Their Uses

⚫ Making protective shielding ⚫ high atomic number Z = 82:

Article Metal used Properties that make it suitable

(b) Making window frames

(c) Making thermometers

◼ Oxygen is the most abundant element in the Earth’s crust.

⚫ Rocks which contain useful minerals are called ores.

⚫ Most metals occur in nature in the form of

Types and the Main Metal Compounds in Some Common Ores

Extraction of Metals from Their Ores

Determining whether it is worth to extract the metal from an ore

Conversion of Ore to Oxide

Roasting With air

◼ Mercury and copper have low reactivity.

◆ Decomposition of Silver Oxide to Silver Metal by Strong Heating

⚫ The other product oxygen can be tested by using a glowing splint.

⚫ The lead(II) oxide is then heated with carbon to give lead.

◼ There is a competition for oxygen.

Extraction of Zinc Zn from Its Ore

2 ZnS + 3 O2 → 2 ZnO + 2 SO2

Example: Understanding the Extraction of Copper from Its Ores

By Electrolysis of the Molten Metal Ore

⚫ The electrolysis is carried out in a large steel tank.

(a) A reaction takes place.

(ii) Nickel(II) chloride

(c) Silver from argentite which consists of mainly silver sulphide

(ii) Name the ore from which most aluminium is extracted.

(iii) Suggest why the cost of extracting aluminium is high.

(c) Explain why the extraction of calcium is costly.

3. Consider the following information about iron and gold:

4. Read the following article and answer the questions.

Copper(II) sulphate deposits form in this bioleaching bath:

Extracting Copper by Bioleaching

(c) Suggest why bioleaching is considered a less polluting method.

Conserving Metals: How Long Metal Reserves Will Last

⚫ Conserving metals is important.

◼ The extraction of metals would also produce pollutants.

Recycling of Aluminium Cans

⚫ Recycling aluminium helps to conserve the Earth’s reserves of aluminium ore.

(b) What is the meaning of ‘recycling metals’?

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Name: ____________________ Class: F. 4 ()