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This lesson covers the extraction of metals from their ores, as specified in the AQA GCSE Chemistry syllabus (4.4.1). You need to understand why different extraction methods are used for different metals, how the reactivity series determines the method of extraction, and the economic and environmental considerations involved. This is a core topic that connects reactivity, reduction, and real-world industrial chemistry.
Most metals are found in the Earth's crust combined with other elements in compounds called ores. An ore is a naturally occurring rock that contains enough metal or metal compound to make extraction economically worthwhile.
| Metal | Ore name | Chemical compound in the ore |
|---|---|---|
| Iron | Haematite | Iron(III) oxide (Fe2O3) |
| Aluminium | Bauxite | Aluminium oxide (Al2O3) |
| Copper | Chalcopyrite | Copper iron sulfide (CuFeS2) |
| Zinc | Sphalerite | Zinc sulfide (ZnS) |
| Tin | Cassiterite | Tin dioxide (SnO2) |
| Lead | Galena | Lead sulfide (PbS) |
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