a) Extraction and uses of metals

1 explain how the methods of extraction of the

metals in this section are related to their
Extraction and
positions in the reactivity series
uses of metals 2 describe and explain the extraction of aluminium
from purified aluminium oxide by electrolysis,
including:
i the use of molten cryolite as a solvent and to
decrease the required operating temperature
ii the need to replace the positive electrodes
iii the cost of the electricity as a major factor
3 write ionic half-equations for the reactions at the
electrodes in aluminium extraction
4 describe and explain the main reactions involved
in the extraction of iron from iron ore
(haematite), using coke, limestone and air in a
blast furnace
5 explain the uses of aluminium and iron, in terms
of their properties.
 The Reactivity Series of Metals

GOLD IRON

SODIUM Which of these MAGNESIUM

metals is the
most reactive?
 The Reactivity Series of Metals

To help with
GOLD this, we have
the
IRON
REACTIVITY
SERIES

SODIUM MAGNESIUM
 The Reactivity Series of Metals

To help with
GOLD this, we have
the M
IRON
AL
ET IR
S
O F H E
REACTIVITY S
IE G TO T
SE
SERIES R O S T
Y I N M
IV IT CORD ROM
A C T A C Y, F TI VE
RE TALS V IT E AC
E
TH S ME C TI T R
T R EA E AS
LI S AL O L
E R E T
GEN ACTIV
RE
SODIUM MAGNESIUM
 The Reactivity Series of Metals

POTASSIUM K
Very
reactive SODIUM Na
CALCIUM Ca
MAGNESIUM Mg
Fairly ALUMINIUM Al
reactive (CARBON)
ZINC Zn
IRON Fe
Not very LEAD Pb
reactive (HYDROGEN)
COPPER Cu
SILVER Ag
Not at all
GOLD Au
reactive
PLATINUM Pt
 The Reactivity Series of Metals

POTASSIUM K Metals above carbon

Very
SODIUM Na
reactive must be extracted from
CALCIUM Ca
MAGNESIUM Mg their ores by
Fairly ALUMINIUM Al electrolysis
reactive (CARBON)
ZINC Zn
IRON Fe
Not very LEAD Pb
reactive (HYDROGEN)
COPPER Cu
SILVER Ag
Not at all
GOLD Au
reactive
PLATINUM Pt
 The Reactivity Series of Metals

POTASSIUM K Metals above carbon

Very
SODIUM Na
reactive An ORE
CALCIUM Ca
is a type
must of rock
be extracted from
that contains
MAGNESIUM Mg their ores by
minerals
Fairly with important
ALUMINIUM Al electrolysis
elements
reactive (CARBON)
ZINC including
Zn metals.
IRON Fe
Not very LEAD Pb
reactive (HYDROGEN)
COPPER Cu
SILVER Ag
Not at all
GOLD Au
reactive
PLATINUM Pt
 The Reactivity Series of Metals

POTASSIUM K Metals above carbon

Very ELECTROLYSIS
SODIUM Na
is the
reactive process by must be
which extracted from
ionic
CALCIUM Ca
substances
MAGNESIUM their
Mgare broken ores by
down
Fairly into simpler
ALUMINIUM electrolysis
Al substances when
reactive (CARBON)
an electric current is passed
ZINC Zn
through them.
IRON Fe
Not very LEAD Pb
reactive (HYDROGEN)
COPPER Cu
SILVER Ag
Not at all
GOLD Au
reactive
PLATINUM Pt
 The Reactivity Series of Metals

POTASSIUM K Metals above carbon

Very
SODIUM Na
reactive must be extracted from
CALCIUM Ca
MAGNESIUM Mg their ores by
Fairly ALUMINIUM Al electrolysis
reactive (CARBON)
ZINC Zn Metals below carbon can be
IRON Fe extracted from their ores using
Not very LEAD Pb reduction with coke or charcoal
reactive (HYDROGEN)
COPPER Cu
SILVER Ag
Not at all
GOLD Au
reactive
PLATINUM Pt
 The Reactivity Series of Metals

POTASSIUM K Metals above carbon

Very
SODIUM Na
reactive REDUCTION
CALCIUM Ca
must beis aextracted from
chemical
MAGNESIUM Mg reactiontheir
in ores by
Fairly which oxygen
ALUMINIUM Al electrolysis
is removed
reactive (CARBON)
ZINC from
Zn a compound.
Metals below carbon can be
IRON Fe extracted from their ores using
Not very LEAD Pb reduction with coke or charcoal
reactive (HYDROGEN)
COPPER Cu
SILVER Ag
Not at all
GOLD Au
reactive
PLATINUM Pt
 The Reactivity Series of Metals

POTASSIUM K Metals above carbon

Very
SODIUM Na
reactive must be extracted from
CALCIUM Ca
MAGNESIUM Mg their ores by
Fairly ALUMINIUM Al electrolysis
reactive (CARBON)
ZINC Zn Metals below carbon can be
IRON Fe extracted from their ores using
Not very LEAD Pb reduction with coke or charcoal
reactive (HYDROGEN)
COPPER Cu Metals below hydrogen don’t
SILVER Ag react with water or acid.
Not at all
GOLD Au They don’t easily tarnish or
reactive
PLATINUM Pt corrode.
 The Reactivity Series of Metals

POTASSIUM K
Very
reactive SODIUM Na The reactivity series
CALCIUM Ca depends upon three standard
MAGNESIUM Mg reactions. These reactions
Fairly ALUMINIUM Al are with:
reactive (CARBON)
ZINC Zn
IRON Fe
1.AIR
Not very LEAD Pb 2.WATER
reactive (HYDROGEN)
COPPER Cu 3.DILUTE ACID
SILVER Ag
Not at all
GOLD Au
reactive
PLATINUM Pt
 The Reactivity Series of Metals
Reaction with AIR
POTASSIUM K
Very
reactive SODIUM Na Burn very easily with a bright
CALCIUM Ca flame
MAGNESIUM Mg
Fairly ALUMINIUM Al
reactive (CARBON)
ZINC Zn
IRON Fe React slowly with air when heated
Not very LEAD Pb
reactive (HYDROGEN)
COPPER Cu
SILVER Ag
Not at all No reaction
GOLD Au
reactive
PLATINUM Pt
 The Reactivity Series of Metals
Reaction with WATER
POTASSIUM K
Very
reactive SODIUM Na React with cold water
CALCIUM Ca
MAGNESIUM Mg
Fairly ALUMINIUM Al
React with steam
reactive (CARBON)
ZINC Zn
IRON Fe Reacts reversibly with steam
Not very LEAD Pb
reactive (HYDROGEN)
COPPER Cu
No reaction with water or steam
SILVER Ag
Not at all
GOLD Au
reactive
PLATINUM Pt
 The Reactivity Series of Metals
Reaction with DILUTE ACID
POTASSIUM K
Very
reactive SODIUM Na Violent reaction with dilute acids
CALCIUM Ca
MAGNESIUM Mg
Fairly ALUMINIUM Al
React fairly well with dilute acids
reactive (CARBON)
ZINC Zn
IRON Fe
Not very LEAD Pb
reactive (HYDROGEN)
COPPER Cu
No reaction with dilute acids
SILVER Ag
Not at all
GOLD Au
reactive
PLATINUM Pt
 The Reactivity Series of Metals

POTASSIUM K Metals above carbon

Very
SODIUM Na
reactive must be extracted from
CALCIUM Ca
MAGNESIUM Mg their ores by
Fairly ALUMINIUM Al electrolysis
reactive (CARBON)
ZINC Zn Metals below carbon can be
IRON Fe extracted from their ores using
Not very LEAD Pb reduction with coke or charcoal
reactive (HYDROGEN)
COPPER Cu Metals below hydrogen don’t
SILVER Ag react with water or acid.
Not at all
GOLD Au They don’t easily tarnish or
reactive
PLATINUM Pt corrode.
 The Reactivity Series of Metals

POTASSIUM K Metals above carbon

Very
ium
in
SODIUM Na
reactive must be extracted from
CALCIUM Ca
l um
.A
MAGNESIUM Mg their ores by
Fairly
reactive
ALUMINIUM Al eg electrolysis
(CARBON)
ZINC Zn Metals below carbon can be
IRON Fe extracted from their ores using
Not very LEAD Pb reduction with coke or charcoal
reactive (HYDROGEN)
COPPER Cu Metals below hydrogen don’t
SILVER Ag react with water or acid.
Not at all
GOLD Au They don’t easily tarnish or
reactive
PLATINUM Pt corrode.
Extracting Aluminium from Bauxite
Extracting Aluminium from Bauxite

Bauxite is impure aluminium

oxide, Al2O3
Extracting Aluminium from Bauxite

Bauxite is impure aluminium

oxide, Al2O3
Because
aluminium is
high up in the
reactivity
series, a lot
of energy is
needed to
extract it –
this energy
comes from
ELECTRICITY
 Extracting Aluminium from Bauxite

ELECTROLYSIS is the term

Because used for the extraction of a
aluminium is metal from its’ ore. This
high up in the
reactivity technique is used for all
series, a lot metals above CARBON in the
of energy is reactivity series.
needed to
extract it –
this energy
comes from
ELECTRICITY
 Extracting Aluminium from Bauxite

ELECTROLYSIS is the term

Because used for the extraction of a
aluminium is metal from its’ ore. This
high up in the
reactivity technique is used for all
series, a lot metals above CARBON in the
of energy is reactivity series.
needed to
extract it – After mining and purifying
this energy of bauxite, a white powder is
comes from left.
ELECTRICITY
 Extracting Aluminium from Bauxite

ELECTROLYSIS is the term

Because used for the extraction of a
aluminium is metal from its’ ore. This
high up in the
reactivity technique is used for all
series, a lot metals above CARBON in the
of energy is reactivity series.
needed to
extract it – After mining and purifying
this energy of bauxite, a white powder is
comes from left.
ELECTRICITY
This is pure aluminium oxide,
Al2O3, which melts at over
2000oC.
 Extracting Aluminium from Bauxite

For electrolysis to work, the

Because oxide needs to be in a
aluminium is molten state. To achieve
high up in the
reactivity this, the aluminium oxide is
series, a lot dissolved in molten cryolite.
of energy is
needed to
extract it –
this energy
comes from
ELECTRICITY
 Extracting Aluminium from Bauxite

For electrolysis to work, the

Because oxide needs to be in a
aluminium is molten state. To achieve
high up in the
reactivity this, the aluminium oxide is
series, a lot dissolved in molten cryolite.
of energy is
needed to
extract it – This reduces the
this energy temperature down to about
comes from 900oC which makes the
ELECTRICITY
process of electrolysis much
cheaper and easier.
Extracting Aluminium from Bauxite

+ Graphite Anode

-
Graphite Cathode

Steel Case
 Extracting Aluminium from Bauxite

+ Graphite Anode

-
Graphite Cathode

Steel Case

Aluminium oxide dissolved Molten aluminium

in molten cryolite
Extracting Aluminium from Bauxite
+
- The electrodes are made of
graphite (carbon). The graphite
anode reacts with oxygen to
form CO2, so it needs to be
replaced quite often.
Extracting Aluminium from Bauxite
+
- The electrodes are made of
graphite (carbon). The graphite
anode reacts with oxygen to
form CO2, so it needs to be
replaced quite often.

When molten, the Al2O3

dissociates into the
ions, Al3+ and O2-
Extracting Aluminium from Bauxite
+
- The electrodes are made of
graphite (carbon). The graphite
anode reacts with oxygen to
form CO2, so it needs to be
replaced quite often.

When molten, the Al2O3

dissociates into the
The positive ion, Al3+, ions, Al3+ and O2-
will be attracted
towards the negative
cathode.
Extracting Aluminium from Bauxite
+
- The electrodes are made of
graphite (carbon). The graphite
anode reacts with oxygen to
form CO2, so it needs to be
replaced quite often.

When molten, the Al2O3

dissociates into the
The positive ion, Al3+, ions, Al3+ and O2-
will be attracted
towards the negative The negative ion, O2-,
cathode. will be attracted
towards the positive
anode.
 Extracting Aluminium from Bauxite

At the
cathode (-ve)

- - - Al3+
Al3+
- - -
- - - Al3+
- - -
 Extracting Aluminium from Bauxite

At the
cathode (-ve)

- - - Al3+
Al3+ + 3e-
Al3+
- - -  Al
- - - Al3+
- - -
 Extracting Aluminium from Bauxite

At the
cathode (-ve)

- - - Al3+
Al3+ + 3e-
Al3+
- - -  Al
- - - Al3+
- - -
Al
 Extracting Aluminium from Bauxite

At the anode
(+ve)

+ + O2-
O2-
+ +
+ + O2-
+ +
 Extracting Aluminium from Bauxite

At the anode
(+ve)

+ + O2-
2O2- - 4e-
O2-
+ +  O2
+ + O2-
+ +
 Extracting Aluminium from Bauxite

At the anode
(+ve)

O2 O2
+ + O2-
2O2- - 4e-
O2-
+ +  O2
+ + O2-
+ +
 The Reactivity Series of Metals

POTASSIUM K Metals above carbon

Very
SODIUM Na
reactive must be extracted from
CALCIUM Ca
MAGNESIUM Mg their ores by
Fairly ALUMINIUM Al electrolysis
reactive (CARBON)
ZINC Zn
n
Metals below carbon can be
o
. Ir
IRON Fe extracted from their ores using
Not very
reactive
LEAD Pb
(HYDROGEN)
eg
reduction with coke or charcoal

COPPER Cu Metals below hydrogen don’t

SILVER Ag react with water or acid.
Not at all
GOLD Au They don’t easily tarnish or
reactive
PLATINUM Pt corrode.
Extracting Iron in a Blast Furnace
Extracting Iron in a Blast Furnace
Extracting Iron in a Blast Furnace

Because iron
is below
CARBON in
the reactivity
series, it can
be removed
from the ore
by heating
with carbon in
a BLAST
FURNACE.
This is a
REDUCTION
reaction.
Extracting Iron in a Blast Furnace

Because iron
is below
CARBON in
t i o n
du c
the reactivity

a r e
series, it can
ve d
i n m
be removed
e o
h a t r
r t n is
from the ore

b e y g e by heating

m e m o x with carbon in

Re t io n a BLAST
c FURNACE.
rea This is a
REDUCTION
reaction.
 Extracting Iron in a Blast Furnace

Because iron The raw materials in the

is below blast furnace are iron ore,
CARBON in
the reactivity coke and limestone.
series, it can
be removed
from the ore
by heating
with carbon in
a BLAST
FURNACE.
This is a
REDUCTION
reaction.
 Extracting Iron in a Blast Furnace

Because iron The raw materials in the

is below blast furnace are iron ore,
CARBON in
the reactivity coke and limestone.
series, it can
be removed Iron ore is iron oxide, Fe2O3
from the ore
by heating
with carbon in
a BLAST
FURNACE.
This is a
REDUCTION
reaction.
 Extracting Iron in a Blast Furnace

Because iron The raw materials in the

is below blast furnace are iron ore,
CARBON in
the reactivity coke and limestone.
series, it can
be removed Iron ore is iron oxide, Fe2O3
from the ore
by heating
with carbon in Coke is almost pure carbon –
a BLAST
FURNACE.
it will reduce the iron oxide
This is a
REDUCTION
reaction.
 Extracting Iron in a Blast Furnace

Because iron The raw materials in the

is below blast furnace are iron ore,
CARBON in
the reactivity coke and limestone.
series, it can
be removed Iron ore is iron oxide, Fe2O3
from the ore
by heating
with carbon in Coke is almost pure carbon –
a BLAST
FURNACE.
it will reduce the iron oxide
This is a
REDUCTION Limestone is calcium
reaction.
carbonate, CaCO3, and
removes the impurities.
Extracting Iron in a Blast Furnace

Blast furnace
 Extracting Iron in a Blast Furnace

1. Hot air is blasted into

the furnace to make the Iron ore,
coke burn much faster than coke and
limestone
normal and the temperature
rises to about 1500oC.

1500oC

Hot air Hot air

Molten slag
Molten iron
© http://www.micromountain.com
 Extracting Iron in a Blast Furnace

2. The coke burns and

produces carbon dioxide:
Iron ore,
C + O2  CO2 coke and
limestone
3. The carbon dioxide then
reacts with unburnt
coke to form carbon
monoxide. 1500oC

CO2 + C  2CO

Hot air Hot air

Molten slag
Molten iron
© http://www.micromountain.com
 Extracting Iron in a Blast Furnace

4. The carbon monoxide

then reduces the iron
ore to iron:
Iron ore,
coke and
3CO + Fe2O3  3CO2 + 2Fe limestone

5. The iron is molten at this

temperature and it is
also very dense so it 1500oC
runs straight to the
bottom of the furnace
where it is tapped off.
Hot air Hot air

Molten slag
Molten iron
© http://www.micromountain.com
 Extracting Iron in a Blast Furnace
Removing the impurities

1. The main impurity is

sand (silicon dioxide). Iron ore,
This is removed by the coke and
limestone
limestone.
2. Limestone is
decomposed by heat into
calcium oxide and CO2.
1500oC
CaCO3  CaO + CO2

Hot air Hot air

Molten slag
Molten iron
© http://www.micromountain.com
 Extracting Iron in a Blast Furnace
Removing the impurities

3. The calcium oxide reacts

with sand to form Iron ore,
calcium silicate or slag. coke and
limestone
This can be tapped off.

CaO + SiO2  CaSiO3

1500oC
4. The cooled slag is solid
and used for fertiliser
and road building.
Hot air Hot air

Molten slag
Molten iron
© http://www.micromountain.com
 Properties and uses of Aluminium
Property Uses

Strong, malleable

Low density

Resistant to corrosion

Good conductor of heat

and electricity

Can be polished to a
highly reflective surface
 Properties and uses of Aluminium
Property Uses
Low density and strength make it an ideal
Strong, malleable metal for the construction of aircraft,
ladders and lightweight vehicles (alloy
called duralumin often used)
Low density
Easily shaped and corrosion-free makes it
ideal for drinks cans and roofing material.
Resistant to corrosion Greenhouses and window frames.

Heat conduction good for boilers, cookers

Good conductor of heat and cookware
and electricity Overhead power cables (good conductor,
low density)

Can be polished to a Ideal for reflecting surfaces such as

mirrors, and also heat resistant clothing
highly reflective surface for fire fighters.
 Properties and uses of Iron
Most iron is used to manufacture steel.
Carbon is added, along with small amounts of
other elements
 Properties and uses of Iron
Most iron is used to manufacture steel. Carbon is added, along with small
amounts of other elements

Name and Property Uses

melting point
Cast iron Hard skin, softer Parts with complex
1200oC underneath, brittle, shapes can be made
corrodes by rusting by casting
Mild steel Tough, ductile, malleable, General purpose
1600oC good tensile strength, engineering material
corrodes
High carbon Can be heat-treated to Cutting tools, ball
steel 1800oC make it harder and tougher bearings

Stainless steel Hard and tough, resistant to Cutlery, kitchen

1400oC wear and corrosion equipment