Alternative Methods of Extracting Metals Flashcards

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Why are new ways of extracting copper, such as phytomining and bioleaching, being developed?

The Earth's resources of metal ores are limited and copper-rich ores are becoming scarce, so low-grade ores must be used.

What are the steps of extracting copper by phytomining?
e.g. land containing low-grade copper ore

1. Grow plants on the land so they absorb copper compounds
2. Harvest and burn the plants to produce ash containing copper compounds
3. Dissolve the ash in acid, then obtain copper by displacement with scrap iron or by electrolysis

What is bioleaching?

Using bacteria to produce leachate solutions that contain metal compounds (e.g. copper compounds).

What are the two ways of obtaining copper metal from a solution of copper compounds?

Displacement using scrap iron, or electrolysis of the solution.
Iron works because it is more reactive than copper.

True or false? Phytomining and bioleaching avoid digging, moving and disposing of large amounts of rock.

True. That is their main advantage over traditional mining.

Give two reasons why phytomining is not yet widely used to extract copper.

It is very slow, and it needs large areas of land (also, high-grade ores are still available).