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Extracting Metals and Equilibria

Biological methods of metal extraction

  • 3 things to know
  • Paper 1

Overview

What bioleaching and phytoextraction are, how the metal is recovered from each, their advantages over mining, their lower carbon dioxide output, and why they are slow.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

Describe how phytoextraction obtains a metal from plants and why it cannot supply metal all year round.

Key term

How is the metal obtained from the solution produced by bioleaching?

Key term

What is phytoextraction?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What is bioleaching?

    Model answer

    Bioleaching uses bacteria to produce a solution of metal compounds from a low-grade ore.

  2. 2

    How is the metal obtained from the solution produced by bioleaching?

    Model answer

    The metal is obtained from the solution by displacement using scrap iron, or by electrolysis.

  3. 3

    What is phytoextraction?

    Model answer

    Phytoextraction uses plants grown on low-grade ore or contaminated land to absorb metal compounds through their roots.

  4. 4

    How is the metal recovered from the plants used in phytoextraction?

    Model answer

    The plants are harvested and burned, and the ash left behind contains a high concentration of the metal compound.

  5. 5

    Give two advantages of biological methods of metal extraction over traditional mining.

    Model answer

    They can use low-grade ores that would otherwise be wasted, and they cause far less damage to the landscape.

  6. 6

    Why do biological methods of metal extraction release less carbon dioxide than traditional extraction?

    Model answer

    They need much less heat and electrical energy, so less fossil fuel is burned.

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Key Concepts in Chemistry
States of Matter and Mixtures
Chemical Changes
Extracting Metals and Equilibria

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