In this I/GCSE Chemistry blog post, we will be focusing on the extraction of the metal, copper.
Copper can be extracted from copper-rich ores by heating the ores in a furnace (smelting).
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- The copper can be purified by electrolysis.
- The supply of copper-rich ores is limited and is being depleted. Traditional mining and extraction have major environmental impacts.
Smelting processes
![broken image](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/4979856/669702_465357.png)
New ways of extracting copper from low-grade ores are being researched to limit the environmental impact of traditional mining. Copper can be extracted by phytomining, or by bioleaching.
Candidates should know and understand that:
- Phytomining
uses plants to absorb metal compounds and that the plants are burned to produce ash that contains the metal compounds
![broken image](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/4979856/699113_649477.png)
- Bioleaching
uses bacteria to produce leachate solutions that contain metal compounds.
![broken image](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/4979856/519139_650725.png)
Copper can be obtained from solutions of copper salts by electrolysis.
- Copper can be obtained from solutions of copper salts by displacement using scrap iron.
- We should recycle metals because extracting them uses limited resources, and is expensive in terms of energy and in terms of effects on the environment.
That is all for this post!
![broken image](http://custom-images.strikinglycdn.com/res/hrscywv4p/image/upload/c_limit,fl_lossy,h_9000,w_1200,f_auto,q_auto/4979856/602614_674224.png)
References:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dl56LUrAxZH4&psig=AOvVaw301Fy5wlboS5eLM598_0ro&ust=1629132738298000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAsQjRxqFwoTCMiE3cO-s_ICFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.metalcess.com%2Fmetal_extracting%2Fcopper%2FCopper_Blast_Furnace_Smelting_18_show.html&psig=AOvVaw310o5CaMgjI4VQhyiCOAQ6&ust=1629132785945000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAsQjRxqFwoTCIjnidu-s_ICFQAAAAAdAAAAABAJ
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fbyjus.com%2Fjee%2Felectrolytic-refining%2F&psig=AOvVaw3ExkVvAEYL_o2yXOMPuqPn&ust=1629133489815000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAsQjRxqFwoTCMDLlarBs_ICFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD