Metal

The composition of earth crust

1. Oxygen and silicon make up nearly three-quarters of the crust. They occur as
compound form such as silicon dioxide and iron(III) oxide.
2. The rest of the metals such as alluminium and potassium made up over onequarter of the crust.
3. All the other metals made up less than 2% of the earth crust such as gold,
silver and platinum that is why they are so expensive due to scarcity.
4. Examples of metal ore:
i.
Rock salt: mostly sodium chloride
ii.
Bauxite: aluminium oxide
iii.
Gold (occurs native)
5. Questions will be asked by the companies before proceeding in mining.
Extraction
Metal
Potassium
Sodium
Calcium Metals
more reactive
Magnesium
Aluminium
Carbon
Zinc
Iron

Method of
extraction
More powerful
Ore more
dif
to
decompose

electrolysis
More expensive

Heating with
reducing
agent- carbon / CO

Lead
Silver
Gold
Ore extraction

Occurs native

1. 3 examples of ore extraction are

a. Iron ore: reduction of iron(III) oxides
Fe2O3 + 3CO 2Fe + 3CO2
b. Aluminium ore: reduction of aluminium oxide.
2Al2O3 4Al + 3O2
c. Zinc blende: mainly zinc sulfide.
Zinc Sulfide
1. Firstly, ZnS is roasted in air giving zinc oxide and sulfur dioxide
2ZnS + 3O2 2ZnO + 2SO2
2. Then, the oxide is reduced by either ways:
i.
Using carbon monoxide
ii.
Using electrolysis
3. Using carbon monoxide ( furnace )
i.
ZnO + CO Zn + CO2
ii.
Final mixture contain zinc and impurities, separated by fractional
distillation ( 907 degree )
4. Using electrolysis: (gives high purity zinc)
i.
The compound is dissolved in dilute sulfuric acid (made from the SO 2)
as the compound has high melting point and zinc oxide is insoluble in
water.
ii.
Zinc oxide become the base neutralizes the sulfuric acid producing zinc
sulfate (electrolyte)
iii.
Undergoes electrolysis, and zinc is deposited at the cathode:
Zn2+ + 2e- Zn
iv.
Scraped of the cathode and melted into bar to sell.

The blast furnace (30 metres)

Process
1. A mixture (charge), containing iron ore is added through the top of the
furnace.
2. Hot air blasted through the bottom.
3. After a series of reaction, liquid iron collected at the bottom.
4. Charge: contain Iron ore (Fe2O3), Limestone (CaCO3) and Coke (pure
carbon).
Reaction
Reactions
Stage 1: The coke burns, giving off
heat
The blast of hot air start the coke
burning.
It reacts with the oxygen in the air,
giving out carbon dioxide.
C(s) + O2(g) CO2(g)

Remarks
- Redox reaction
- Carbon is oxidized
- Exothermic

Stage 2: Carbon monoxide is made

The carbon dioxide reacts with more
coke
C(s) + CO2(g) 2CO(g)
Stage 3: The iron(III) oxide is
reduced
Carbon monoxide reacts with the iron
ore, giving liquid iron:
Fe2O3(s) + 3CO(g) 2Fe (l) + 3CO2(g)
Limestone
Limestone breaks down in the heat:
CaCO3 CaO(s) + CO2(g)
Calcium oxide form reacts with the sand
CaO(s) + SiO2(s) CaSO3(s)
Calcium silicate forms a slag which runs
down the furnace and floats on the iron.
The waste gases: hot CO2 and N
come out from the top of the furnace.
The heat is removed from them to heat
the incoming blast of air

Carbon dioxide is reduced

Endothermic

Carbon monoxide act as reducing

agent,
CO is oxidizes to CO2

Purpose: produce CaO to remove

the sand
Calcium silicate is used for road
building

CO2 is from reaction 3

N is from the air blast.

1. The iron from the blast furnace is known as pig iron. It is impure which
contain mostly sand and carbon.
2. These iron are used to make cast iron(hard but brittle-due to high percentage
of carbon). Eg, canister
3. Most of the iron are used to make steel.
Aluminium Extraction
1. Geologist will analyze the rock on how many bauxite it is.
2. The bauxite is red-brown in colour, the ore is taken to a bauxite plant where
impurities is removed resulting white aluminium oxide or alumina.
3. The alumina is taken to another plant or another country for electrolysis.
4. The extracted metal is made into sheets and blocks.
The electrolysis
1. Alumina is dissolved in molten cryolite, or sodium aluminium fluoride which
has a lowe melting point.
2. Once alumina is dissolves, its aluminium and oxide ions are free to move.
3. Cathode: The aluminium ions gain electrons:
4Al3+(l) + 12e- 4Al (l)
4. The aluminium drop to the bottom as molten metal.
5. Anode: The oxygen ions lose electrons:
6O- (l) 3O2(g) + 12eThe oxygen gas, then react with the anode:
C(s) + O2(g) CO2 (g)
So the carbon block corrode and need to be replaced.
6. The overall reaction:

2Al2O3(l) 4Al (l) + 3O2(g)

Summary of the properties and uses of each metals.

Metals
Aluminium

Uses
Overhead electricity
cable (with a steel core
for strength)

Cooking foil and food

cartons

Drink cans

Coating CDs and DVDs

Copper

Electrical wiring
Saucepans and its base

Zinc

Protecting steel from

rusting
Coating and galvanishing
iron and steel

Properties
- Good conductor of
electricity
- Cheaper and
lighter compare to
copper
- Ductile
- Resist to corrosion
- Non toxic
- Resistant to
corrosion
- Can be rolled to
thin sheet
- Light
- Non toxic
- Resistant to
corrosion
- Can be deposited
as a thin film
- Shiny surface
reflects laser beam
- Good conductor of
electricity
- Ductile
- Malleable
- Conduct heat
- Unreactive
- Tough
- Ofer sacrificial
protection to the
iron in steel
- Resists corrosion
but ofer sacrificial
protection if

For torch batteries

coating cracks
Gives current when
connected.

Alloy
1. Alloy: Mixture of metal and other substance. (eg: brass: molten zinc +
copper)
2. Properties:

Pure metal
Arranged in a
regular lattice

When pressure is
applied, the layers
can slide over each
other easily. That is
why metal are
malleable and
ductile.
3. Besides stronger, alloy is also more resistant to corrosion.
4. Examples of alloy:
Alloy

Made from

Brass

70% Copper
30% zinc

Aluminium alloy

90.25%
Aluminium
6% zinc
2.5% magnesium
1.25% copper
99.7% iron
0.3% carbon

Light but strong

Doesnt corrode

70% iron
20% chromium
10% nickel

Harder
Rust proof

Mild steel

Stainless steel

Special
properties
Harder than
copper, does not
corrode

Harder and
stronger

When metal turn to

alloy, new atoms
enter the lattice
Can no longer slide
easily
That is why alloy is
stronger than metal

Uses
Musical
instrument,
ornament, door
knobs
Aircraft

Building ships,
car bodies and
machinery
Cutlery and
equipment in
chemical
factories.

Making steel
1. Steel is made from the molten iron from the blast furnace which is impure.
2. Firstly, the impurities is removed from the iron:
- The molten iron is poured into an oxygen furnace, a jet of oxygen is turn on.

The oxygen reacts with the carbon, forming carbon monoxide and carbon
dioxide gases which is carried out. The oxygen also react with other
impurities to form acidic oxides.
- Then calcium oxide is added to react with silicon dioxide and other acidic
oxides to give a slag and skimmed of.
3. Some steel are just iron plus carbon because it makes them
stronger. However too much carbon will cause the iron brittle and
hard to shape. Therefore, carbon content is checked continuously.
4. Secondly, other elements may be added
- Material are measure carefully go give steel such as stainless steel.