Metals

Elements found in the Earth’s

Metalscrust
make up a relatively small proportion of
the Earth’s crust and are normally found in rocks
as ores Oxygen 46%
Silicon 28%
Aluminium 8%
Iron 5%
Calcium 4%
Sodium 3%
Magnesium 2%
Potassium 2%
Titanium 0.5%
Hydrogen 0.5%
All other elements1%
 Most metals are found as
Bauxite –
ores Haematite – Malachite –
aluminium oxide iron oxide copper
(Al2O3) (Fe2O3) carbonate
(CuCO3)

In ores, the metal or metal compound is

concentrated enough to make it economic to
extract the metal.
Some unreactive metals such
as gold can be found as the
metal itself – chemical
separation is not needed.
The method used to extract a metal from its
ore depends on the reactivity of the metal.
Most K
reactiv Na Very reactive metals –
e
Ca extracted using electrolysis
Mg
Al
C
Zn
More reactive metals – usually
Fe
extracted by reduction – heating
Sn with carbon to remove oxygen
Pb
H
Cu
Ag Unreactive metals – little
Least Au or no extraction needed
reactiv Pt
e
Sometimes non-metals are included for
reference.
Using the reactivity series, decide which items would be
most corroded.

Gold ring

Iron sword

Copper pin Silver bracelet

The extraction of iron – reduction in the blast
furnace Raw materials
ron ore
I_______
(haematite)
ok
C____
e
imeston
L________ hot waste
e gases
iron oxide + carbon
(coke)

iron + carbon
a reduction (loss of
dioxide
oxygen) – the iron 1500oC
oxide is reduced to
iron metal
hot hot air
air
molten
molten
slag
iron
Blast furnaces (for extracting iron) at Port
Talbot
 Stee
l
Iron from the blast furnace (cast iron) is brittle since it
contains about 4% carbon. It therefore has limited uses.

Similarly pure iron (wrought iron) is too soft for many uses.

Therefore most iron is

converted into steel.

Steel is basically iron with

up to 1.5% carbon.
Many other metals can
be added to make alloy
Iron from the blast
steels with a wide range furnace being
of properties. converted into steel
Low carbon
steel (mild
steel) is
easily
shaped
The Angel of
the North is
made of a steel
alloy – iron
combined with a
small amount of
copper
Stainless steel (iron
with about 15%
chromium) is perfect
for cutlery and razor
blades etc.
Stainless steel
doesn’t rust.
 Metals are malleable
They can be hammered or bent into shape
Most pure metals have their atoms arranged
in a regular pattern and the layers of atoms
can easily slide over one another when a
force is applied.

Force causes layers of

atoms to slide over one
another
 Alloys are harder than pure metals

Alloys are mixtures of metals (or in the case of

some steels iron mixed with carbon). They are
stronger than pure metals.

The different sized atoms of

other metals stop the layers
sliding over one another
Coppe
Malachite – Polished
r copper ore malachite

Copper is a good heat and electrical conductor

and used for saucepans and electrical wire.
Since it is an unreactive metal it is also used
for water pipes and coinage.
The outside of the
Statue of Liberty
is made from
copper.

Over time, the

colour has
changed as the
copper has
weathered.
Why are aluminium alloys used for the
following?
 Aluminium

Aluminium is the most common metal in the

Earth's crust.

Aluminium is extracted
from the ore bauxite

However it is a reactive metal (high in the

reactivity series) and has to be extracted using
electrolysis (passing electricity through the
molten ore).
Because lots of energy is needed and there are
several stages to the process, aluminium is
relatively expensive despite being a common
metal.
Open cast mining of bauxite in Australia
 Open cast mining for metal ores
What effect does this have on
the environment?
 Uses of aluminium
Like most metals, pure aluminium is not
used very much – it is usually made into
alloys.
Alloys of aluminium have low density and
high strength, vital for the aerospace
industry.

Aluminium alloys
were used to make
the external fuel
tanks of the space
shuttle.
Because of its low Although aluminium
density and good is a reactive metal it
electrical conductivity, is normally covered
aluminium is used in with a protective
overhead power oxide layer and
cables. doesn’t corrode
easily.
 Titanium
Titanium ore
Like aluminium, titanium is an
extremely useful metal because
it is light, strong and resists
corrosion.

It was used in the manufacture ….. and is used in artificial hip

of Concorde joints
 The transition These are found in
metals the middle block of
the Periodic Table
   

               

               

    Sc
    Ti   V Cr
  Mn  Fe  Co  Ni
  Cu
   Zn            

                                   

                                   

                                   

They are useful metals and have typical metallic properties:

Good conductors of heat and electricity Strong

High melting point Malleable

Recycling
metals
Six billion aluminium cans are
made each year – this is enough to
reach to the moon and back!
It takes the same amount of energy to make one
new aluminium can as it does to make twenty
recycled cans!
So recycling metals such as
aluminium:
Saves energy
Protects the environment – less rain
forest has to be cut down to dig out
metal ores
Conserves the limited supplies of
metal ores
Reduces the amount of waste sent to
landfill sites
Smart alloys
After they are bent or
deformed, these alloys
regain their original shape –
they have a shape memory.
They have many
uses e.g.
Dental braces
The dental brace pulls
the teeth into the right
position as it warms
up!
Opening up collapsed arteries
Spectacle frames

Spectacle frames made of ‘smart

alloys’ return quickly to their
original shape after being bent.