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Improving processes and products

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Question 20

This question is about the extraction and recycling of lithium.

a.

Lithium is extracted by electrolysis from its ore, spodumene. Use the reactivity series shown below to explain why lithium cannot be extracted from its ore by heating with carbon.

  • Potassium (most reactive)
  • Lithium
  • Sodium
  • Calcium
  • Magnesium
  • Carbon
  • Zinc
  • Copper (least reactive)
[2]
b.

Consider the following data on lithium production:

  • 8.0 kg8.0\text{ kg}8.0 kg of spodumene ore concentrate makes 1.0 kg1.0\text{ kg}1.0 kg of lithium metal.
  • 450,000 kJ450,000\text{ kJ}450,000 kJ of energy is needed to make 1.0 kg1.0\text{ kg}1.0 kg of lithium from the ore concentrate.
  • 8.0 kg8.0\text{ kg}8.0 kg of spent lithium battery scrap makes 6.4 kg6.4\text{ kg}6.4 kg of recycled lithium metal.
  • 18,000 kJ18,000\text{ kJ}18,000 kJ of energy is needed to produce 1.0 kg1.0\text{ kg}1.0 kg of lithium metal from recycled battery scrap.

Calculate how many times more energy is required to extract 1.0 kg1.0\text{ kg}1.0 kg of lithium from ore concentrate compared to recycling it.

[2]
c.

Describe and explain two advantages of recycling lithium. Use the information provided to support your answer.

[4]
Markscheme

Improving processes and products Questions

  1. GCSE
  2. /Chemistry
  3. /Improving processes and products

81 exam-style questions on OCR GCSE Chemistry Improving processes and products. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.

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