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Extracting Metals and Equilibria

Ores, oxidation and reduction

  • 3 things to know
  • Paper 1

Overview

What an ore is and why most metals are found as compounds while gold is found uncombined, oxidation and reduction as the gain and loss of oxygen, identifying what is oxidised and reduced, and why extracting a metal from its oxide is reduction, usually by carbon.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

Define oxidation and reduction in terms of oxygen, using magnesium burning in oxygen and copper(II) oxide reacting with hydrogen as examples.

Key term

Explain why oxidation and reduction always occur together, and why obtaining a metal from its ore counts as reduction.

Key term

What is an ore?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What is an ore?

    Model answer

    An ore is a rock that contains enough of a metal or a metal compound to make extracting the metal worthwhile.

  2. 2

    Where are the ores of most metals found?

    Model answer

    They are found in the Earth’s crust.

  3. 3

    In what form is a metal usually present in its ore?

    Model answer

    It is usually present as a compound, most often an oxide or a sulfide.

  4. 4

    Why are gold and silver found in the Earth’s crust as uncombined elements?

    Model answer

    They are so unreactive that they do not react with other elements to form compounds.

  5. 5

    Name two metals that occur in the Earth’s crust as the uncombined element.

    Model answer

    Gold and platinum occur as uncombined elements.

  6. 6

    Why is aluminium never found in the Earth’s crust as the uncombined element?

    Model answer

    Aluminium is reactive, so it is always found joined to other elements in compounds.

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

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AChlorine is a pale green gas at room temperature.
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