Aluminium is extracted from aluminium oxide using electrolysis, which requires massive amounts of electrical energy. Copper is traditionally extracted by smelting copper sulfide ores, which releases acidic gases into the atmosphere and depletes high-grade mineral reserves. Both metals can also be obtained by recycling waste materials.
Explain the environmental and economic advantages of recycling aluminium and copper compared to extracting them from their primary ores.
Practise Edexcel GCSE Chemistry Obtaining and using metals with exam-style questions for Foundation and Higher tier. 100 questions, matched to the Edexcel GCSE Chemistry (1CH0) specification and written in Paper 1 and Paper 2 style. Every question includes a full worked solution and mark scheme, so you can see where marks are awarded rather than just whether you got the answer right.