Obtaining & Using Metals Practice Questions

Which of these metals is most likely to be found in the Earth's crust as the uncombined element?

• A potassium
• B iron
• C gold
• D aluminium

Explain why gold is found as the uncombined element but zinc is found as an ore.

Zinc is extracted by heating zinc oxide with carbon.

Explain why the zinc oxide is reduced in this reaction.

Describe two changes the student would see in the test tube after one hour.

Write the word equation for the reaction that takes place.

State what this reaction shows about the reactivity of copper and silver.

Which one of these metals can be extracted from its oxide by heating the oxide with carbon?

• A calcium
• B iron
• C magnesium
• D sodium

Name the method used to extract sodium from its ore.

Explain why the extraction of sodium costs more than the extraction of iron.

A life-cycle assessment (LCA) is carried out on a metal saucepan.

State the four stages of the life of the saucepan that must be considered in the LCA.

Old saucepans made from steel can be recycled.

Give two reasons why recycling steel is better for the environment than extracting new iron from iron ore.

Use the results to place the three metals in order of reactivity, from the most reactive to the least reactive.

Explain, in terms of the formation of ions, why metal C displaces the other two metals from their solutions.

The three metals are copper, magnesium and zinc.

Identify metals A, B and C.

Write the ionic equation for this reaction. Include state symbols.

Write the two half equations for this reaction.

State which species is reduced in this reaction and explain your answer in terms of electrons.

Write the balanced equation for the reaction of lead(II) oxide with carbon to form lead and carbon dioxide.

Identify the substance that is oxidised in this reaction and give a reason for your answer.

Tin is also extracted by heating with carbon. Tin(IV) oxide, $\mathrm{SnO_2}$, is heated with carbon to form tin and carbon monoxide.

Write the balanced equation for this reaction.

Describe how bioleaching is used to obtain copper from a low-grade copper ore.

Give one advantage and one disadvantage of using bioleaching instead of traditional mining and smelting.

Calculate the percentage of the energy that is saved by recycling one tonne of aluminium instead of extracting it from bauxite.

Other than the saving of energy, give two advantages of recycling aluminium.

Suggest one reason why not all aluminium cans in the UK are recycled.

Calculate the total energy used per 1000 cans for each type of can, and state which type of can uses less energy over its whole life.

Explain, using the reactivity series, why obtaining the raw materials for aluminium cans uses much more energy than obtaining the raw materials for steel cans.

Give two reasons why a conclusion about which can is 'better for the environment' should not be based only on the data in the table.

Use the observations to place the four metals in order of reactivity, from the most reactive to the least reactive.

Calcium reacts with water to form calcium hydroxide and hydrogen.

Write the balanced equation for this reaction.

Explain, in terms of the tendency of atoms to form cations, why copper does not react with dilute hydrochloric acid but zinc does.

Water pipes are made from copper rather than from zinc or magnesium.

Explain, in terms of oxidation, why copper is suitable for this use.

In phytoextraction, plants are grown on the land and then harvested.

Describe how copper metal is obtained from the harvested plants.

Evaluate, using the data in the table, whether the company should use phytoextraction instead of mining and smelting on this land.