Most metals are extracted from ores found in the Earth's crust.
The table shows how three metals are obtained.
| Metal | How the metal is obtained |
|---|---|
| aluminium | electrolysis |
| iron | heating the ore with carbon |
| gold | found as the uncombined metal |
State what is meant by an ore.
Explain why gold is found as the uncombined metal.
Iron is extracted from iron oxide in this reaction: iron oxide + carbon → \rightarrow\,→ iron + carbon dioxide
State what is meant by reduction.
Name the substance that is reduced in this reaction.
Explain why aluminium cannot be extracted by heating aluminium oxide with carbon.
Give one reason why extracting a metal by electrolysis is expensive.
45 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Chemistry 5.1 Obtaining and using metals, covering 5.1.1 The reactivity series of metals, 5.1.2 Displacement reactions as redox reactions, 5.1.3 Extracting metals from ores by reduction, 5.1.4 Biological methods of metal extraction, 5.1.5 Resistance to oxidation and recycling metals, and 5.1.6 Life cycle assessment. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.