Copper from deep in the ground. SL M2.
Five stages: Open Pit mining Pit crusher 0.6% Cu Froth floatation 30% Cu Smelting 90.4% Cu Electrolytic refining 99.98% Cu
chalcopyrite azurite malachite
CuFeS 2 = chalcopyrite. % Cu in pure chalcopyrite?
% by mass = mass of element in 1 mole of compound x 100 Mr of compound CuFeS 2 Mr = = 184 % by mass = 64 x 100 = 35% 184
Open Pit mining. Bingham Canyon Low grade copper Quantities huge Shavings tested Dynamite used Waste to tips
Open Pit mining. Noisy Dusty Leaves Open Pits Waste tips.
Pit crusher
0.6% Cu 2.5cm pieces
Froth Floatation
Collector (oil) molecules attach themselves to the chalcopyrite grains. The grains are now water- repellent. Air bubbles attract the grains. Froth produced and is pumped away to smelter. Detergent Oil Water Tailings 0.6% 30% concentrating
Smelting First stage involves –Silica –Oxygen –Concentrate Cu 2 S made Most important stage involves Cu 2 S / air / furnace Cu 2 S(l) + O 2 (g) 2Cu(l) + SO 2 (g)
Cu 2 S + O 2 2Cu + SO O S Cu Oxidised or reduced? reduced oxidised reduced What mass of copper could be obtained by reducing 1kg of copper (I) sulphide?
Cu 2 S + O 2 2Cu + SO 2 What mass of copper could be obtained by reducing 1kg of copper (I) sulphide? Moles in 1kg 1 mol 2 mol Mass in question Mass in Underline 0.800kg
Smelting Sulphur dioxide made. 30%99.4% Acid rain Lakes Trees H 2 SO 4
Electrolytic Refining 99.4%99.98% The copper anodes are already 99.4% copper! The copper cathodes will be 99.98% copper!
e-e- e-e- Cu e-e- e-e- Anode + - Cathode Cu 2+ Cu Cu 2+ Cu Cu 2+
e-e- e-e- Cu e-e- e-e- Anode + - Cathode Cu 2+ Cu Cu 2+ Cu Cu 2+ Describe what is happening at the anode. Write an equation. Is this oxidation or reduction?
e-e- e-e- Cu e-e- e-e- Anode + - Cathode Cu 2+ Cu Cu 2+ Cu Cu 2+ Describe what is happening at the cathode. Write an equation. Is this oxidation or reduction?
e-e- e-e- Cu e-e- e-e- Anode + - Cathode Cu 2+ Cu Cu 2+ Cu Cu 2+ Write an equation. Cu(s) Cu 2+(aq) + 2e - Is this oxidation or reduction? Oxidation
e-e- e-e- Cu e-e- e-e- Anode + - Cathode Cu 2+ Cu Cu 2+ Cu Cu 2+ Write an equation. Cu 2+ (aq) + 2e - Cu(s) Is this oxidation or reduction? Reduction
Five stages: Open Pit mining Pit crusher Froth floatation Smelting Electrolytic refining