Obtaining & Using MetalsEdexcel GCSE Chemistry: Flashcards

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List the reactivity series from potassium to gold.

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List the reactivity series from potassium to gold.: Potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium, (carbon), zinc, iron, (hydrogen), copper, silver, gold.
What does relative reactivity of a metal tell you about its tendency to form ions?: The more reactive a metal, the more readily its atoms form positive ions (cations) by losing electrons.
What is a displacement reaction?: A reaction in which a more reactive metal takes the place of a less reactive metal in a compound.
(Higher) Why are displacement reactions classed as redox reactions?: The more reactive metal loses electrons (oxidation) while the less reactive metal's ions gain electrons (reduction).
Why are very unreactive metals like gold found uncombined in the Earth's crust?: Because they do not readily react to form compounds.
Define oxidation and reduction in terms of oxygen.: Oxidation is the gain of oxygen; reduction is the loss of oxygen.
Why does extracting a metal from its ore involve reduction?: Because metal ores are metal oxides (or convertible to oxides), and the oxygen must be removed to obtain the pure metal.
How is iron extracted from its ore?: By heating with carbon, since iron is less reactive than carbon and carbon displaces it by reduction.
Why is aluminium extracted by electrolysis rather than heating with carbon?: Aluminium is more reactive than carbon, so carbon cannot displace it; electrolysis must be used instead.
What is bioleaching?: Using bacteria to break down ore and release metal ions into solution, from which the metal can be extracted.
What is phytoextraction?: Using plants to absorb metal compounds from soil; the plants are then burned and the metal extracted from the ash.
Give two advantages of recycling metals.: It saves energy compared to extracting new metal, and preserves raw materials and the environment by reducing mining.
What four stages does a life-cycle assessment consider?: Obtaining raw materials, manufacturing the product, using the product, and disposing of the product.
How is a metal's resistance to oxidation related to the reactivity series?: Less reactive metals resist oxidation (corrosion) better than more reactive metals.