What is a metal ore?

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What is a metal ore?

An ore is any kind of rock or mineral from which a metal can be profitably extracted. Metals are rarely found uncombined (as elements) in nature. They are nearly always present in the forms of compounds, often where the metal is chemically joined with oxygen. Only the most unreactive metals, like silver and gold will be found pure. The most common metals are oxides and sulphides. Ores are rocks from which we extract metals. Metals are found naturally in rocks called ores. They are in compounds, chemically bonded to other elements. However, the unreactive metals are at the bottom of the reactivity series can be found as the elements themselves. We say they are found native. We can find copper, silver, gold and platinum as the metals in nature.

What factors do companies consider when deciding whether to extract a metal from its ore?

There are many different factors that the companies will look for, a few of them are:

- How much will it cost?

- How to extract the metal?

- How much the metal will be worth etc.

What are the three methods of metal extraction?

Given that most metals are only found locked up in their ores, but how do you go about getting them out? For a few metals, such as mercury, heat will do the trick. But for most ores the temperatures needed are far too high to make this a practical possibility. Another approach is needed. There are three methods of extracting metals from their ores, these are:

- Electrolysis

- Heating with carbon monoxide

- Roasting in air

Depending on the reactiveness of the metal, looking at the reactivity series, you can tell how each metal can be extracted.

What is meant by oxidation and reduction in the context of metal extraction?

You can use oxidation and reduction to describe chemical reactions that combine with oxygen or you can use it to describe the electron transfer. At this stage, you probably just need to concentrate on the chemical reactions that combine with oxygen. The word oxidation to describe substances that combine with oxygen - they call this type of reaction, oxidation, and the substance is said to be oxidised. However, if one substance combines with oxygen, then another substance must lose oxygen - in this case the substance is reduced or the reaction is a type of reduction reaction. Oxidation is a loss of electron and reduction is a gain of electron.

What properties of metals make them such useful materials?

Metals are shiny materials. They are shiny because of their delocalised electrons (see below). They also make a ringing sound when struck. They are solids at room temperature (except mercury which is liquid). Many are hard and have high tensile strength. Some can be cut with a blunt knife, like the alkali metals of group one. They are malleable – they can have their shapes changed and ductile – they can be pulled into wires. They are good conductors of heat and electricity. They conduct electricity because of their delocalised electrons (see below again)

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Many of the properties of metals are due to metallic bonding: metal cations are arranged regularly (usually close-packed in hexagonal or face cantered cubic structures) and are held together by delocalised electrons. Metals can be visualized more or less like billiard balls arranged in order, which is why they can move across each other and that is why the metal can deform.

Carbon is important in the extraction of iron. We use a giant blast furnace to get the ...

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The spelling in this essay is fine the grammar could be improved in places, it is important to have good spelling and grammar as it shows that you have a good basis in english as well in scientific principles. The technical terms used are beyond this qulification level which shows the student has a good understanding of the subject, bt be careful not to put terms in just for the sake of ensure that you understand what they mean. The layout and presentation could be improved by not having as many colours and fonts, by the time you are at GCSE you should keep formatting to a minimum as it looks more professional.

The knowledge contained in this essay is comparable to that at A-level, although the wording in some areas does not seem to fit the context of what the student is talking about. The examples used are well reseached and laid out for example the description of how Iron is extracted is well thought out and provides a good basis of the main ideas. It is always important to research anything you are unsure of as this will show that you have initative.

The response is explicit and well laid out the introductory section provides a good insight into metal extraction and the methods and reasoning behind it. This skill is essential especialy when the work is being marked, you must always write your aswer as if the person reading it has no previous knowledge about the subject.