Research into Iron, its extraction and uses.

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Chemistry GCSE Assessment Task

Iron: In great demand

The transition metals are placed in the centre of the periodic table, between groups 2 and 3. Iron, copper, silver and gold are important transition metals. There are three noteworthy elements in the transition metals family. These elements are iron, cobalt, and nickel, and they are the only elements known to produce a magnetic field. As with all metals, the transition elements are both ductile and malleable, and conduct electricity and heat and less reactive than other alkali metals like sodium. The interesting thing about transition metals is that their valence electrons, or the electrons they use to combine with other elements, are present in more than one shell. This is the reason why they often exhibit several common oxidation states.

Name: Iron

Symbol: Fe

Atomic Number: 26

Atomic Mass: 55.845 amu

Melting Point: 1535.0 °C (1808.15 K, 2795.0 °F)

Boiling Point: 2750.0 °C (3023.15 K, 4982.0 °F)

Number of Protons/Electrons: 26

Number of Neutrons: 30

Classification: Transition Metal

Crystal Structure: Cubic

Density @ 293 K: 7.86 g/cm3

Color: Silvery

Possible impacts of mining iron ore

There are three main mining impacts: Economic, Environmental and social. In each category, there are advantages and disadvantages;

Economic:

Advantages -

- Jobs are created (less local unemployment)

- Boost for the local economy (positive multiplier effect)

- Product is used to support many other industries

- Tax revenue

- Provides valuable resources

Disadvantages:

- Values of houses decrease

- Scares away tourism

Social:

Advantages -

- Noise can potentially be screened

- Quarrying can be screened from view E.g by planting a virtual barrier of trees to surround the mining enclosure

Disadvantages -

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- Noise pollution

- Dust pollution

- Traffic congestion

- production of bacteria, germs and insects around which can be harmful for people

- affects the weather of the surrounding

Environmental:

Advantages -

- Can be reclaimed as an animal sancturay or a tourist attraction/ lake E.g the eden project

Disadvantages:

- Air pollution from machinery

- Disrupts the ecosystem

- Kills wild life

-Scar’s the landscape

Quarrying is necessary exercise in the modern day 21st century, providing much of the vital materials used for everyday life. Such metals that are mined range from; molybdenum, silver, lead, copper, ...

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