Chemistry·Metals · NSSCO 9.3
Extraction of metals
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Most metals are locked inside rocks called ores — including Namibia's copper, lead and uranium. Learn how a metal's place in the reactivity series decides how it's extracted: carbon reduction for iron and zinc in the blast furnace, electrolysis for aluminium, and why gold is simply dug up.
What you'll learn in this lesson
By the end you should be able to (NSSCO Chemistry 9.3):
- State that most metals occur combined with other elements in compounds, as part of mixtures known as ores
- Identify ores of copper, zinc, uranium and tin that occur in Namibia and name uses of the metals
- Name metals that occur 'native' (e.g. gold, platinum)
- Explain how the method of extraction depends on the position in the reactivity series
- Name the main ores of aluminium (bauxite) and iron (haematite), and Namibian ores of copper (chalcopyrite), lead (galena) and uranium (uranium oxide)
- Describe the essential reactions in the extraction of iron from haematite in the blast furnace
- Describe conversion of iron into steel (basic oxygen and electric arc furnace)
- Describe the extraction of zinc from zinc blende, aluminium by electrolysis, and copper by reduction/roasting
- Describe metal ores as a finite resource and the need to recycle; discuss advantages and disadvantages of recycling
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