1. Starter
1. The following metals were reacted with water. Put them in order of reactivity, with the least reactive metal first. Lithium, potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium.
Magnesium, calcium, lithium, sodium and potassium.
2. Write the three general equations for metals reacting with oxygen, acids and water.

2. Aim:
To discuss how metals can be extracted from their natural compounds (called ores) by the following processes:
Heating metal oxide
Heating metal oxide with carbon
Electrolysis of the metal oxide

3. Extracting Metals from their Ores
Unreactive metals such as gold and silver are found uncombined in the earth’s crust. (due to their unreactivity)
Most other metals are found combined in ores. Ores are naturally-occurring compounds of metals.
To obtain the pure metal a process of EXTRACTION is used. This involves separating the metals from the other elements with which they have combined.

4. The first metals to be discovered were the least reactive ones: gold and silver.
This is because the less reactive the metal, the easier it is to extract from its ore.
Some metals can be obtained from their metals oxides by: 1. Heating metal oxide
2. Heating metal oxide with carbon
3. Electrolysis of the metal oxide

5. 1. Extracting the Metal from the Metal Oxide by Heating
Glowing splint
Pyrex test tube
Compound
Observation
Copper oxide
Silver oxide
No change
Silver metal formed, glowing splint relit

6. Conclusion;
Oxides of more reactive metals are more difficult to decompose (breakdown).
Oxides of metals below copper in the reactivity series decompose when heated to give the metal and oxygen.
Metal oxide  Metal Oxygen
Silveroxide  silver oxygen
2(Ag+)2O2-(s)  4Ag(s) O2(g)
Ag e-  Ag REDUCTION

7. 2. Extracting the Metal from the Metal Oxide by Heating with Carbon
Pyrex test tube
Metal oxide + carbon powder
Heat
Compound
Observation
Copper oxide
Magnesium oxide
Brown powder formed
No change

8. Conclusion:
Metals below aluminium in the reactivity series can be extracted from their oxides by heating with carbon. The carbon and oxygen join to give carbon dioxide.
Metal oxide + carbon Metal + carbon dioxide

9. 3. Extracting the Metal from the Metal Oxide by Electrolysis
The most reactive metals are extracted by electrolysis of their molten ores.
Metal oxide  Metal
The positive metal ions are attracted to the negative electrode where it accepts electrons. The metal ion in the compound gains electrons.
The extraction of the metal from its ore is an example of reduction.