IGCSE Coordinated Science: Extraction of Metals

IGCSE Coordinated Science: Extraction of Metals

Extraction of Metals

Describe the use of carbon in the extraction of some metals from their ores.

• Carbon is oxidised to Carbon Dioxide
• Coke, which consists mostly of carbon, is burned to give off heat.

Describe the essential reactions in the extraction of iron in the blast furnace.

Blast Furnace

By the way, you by no means need to recognize everything in the blast furnace. This is just for visual appeal and to give you some sense of what a blast furnace is.

1. Hot blast from Cowper stoves
2. Melting zone
3. Reduction zone of ferrous oxide
4. Reduction zone of ferric oxide
5. Pre-heating zone
6. Feed of ore, limestone and coke
7. Exhaust gases
8. Column of ore, coke and limestone
9. Removal of slag
10. Tapping of molten pig iron
11. Collection of waste gases

Whats Inside?

Iron Ore

The major component of iron is hematite, which is mainly composed of Iron (III) oxide, mixed with some sand and other compounds

Limestone

Mainly composed of Calcium Carbonate, CaCO3

Coke

Mainly made from coal, and it is composed nearly out of pure carbon.

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Stage 1: The coke is burned, which gives off heat.

The hot air starts burning the coke and allows it to react the oxygen in the air to produce Carbon Dioxide

Carbon + Oxygen → Carbon Dioxide

C (s) + O2 (g) → CO2 (g)

Stage 2: Carbon Monoxide is made

The Carbon Dioxide subsequently reacts with more coke:

Carbon + Carbon Dioxide → Carbon Monoxide

C(s) + CO2 →CO2 (g)

Stage 3: Iron Oxide (III) is reduced.

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Only in this step does extraction actually occur.

The Carbon Monoxide reacts with the iron ore, producing liquid iron, something we actually want.

Iron (III) oxide + Carbon Monoxide → Iron + Carbon Dioxide

Fe2O3 (s) + 3CO (g) → 2Fe (l) + 3CO2 (g)

Limestone

The limestone breaks down in the heat of the furnace

CaCO3 → CaO + CO2

Calcium Carbonate → Calcium Oxide + Carbon Dioxide

The calcium oxide that is formed reacts with sand, which is mainly silicon dioxide.

This reaction forms slag which runs down the furnace and then floats on the iron.

Relate the method of extraction of a metal from its ore to its position in the reactivity series.