Metals and their uses 2

Metals and their uses 2

1. Extracting copper

   • extracted from copper-rich ores
     • limited resource
       • scientists finding new ways from low-grade ores
         • Phytomining= uses plants to absorb copper compunds from ground plants then burned and produce ash where the copper is extracted from
         • Bioleaching= uses bacteria to produce solutions containing copper compounds
         • less harsh on enviroment then smelting
   • smelting
     • produces impure copper purified by electrolysis
     • requires alot of heating and electrisity
     • heating the ore to high temperature melting rock leaving metal
   • copper also extracted from solutions of copper compunds by electrolysis.

2. Useful metals

   • elements in centre box of periodic table = transition metals
     • all metals
       • good conductors of heat and electricity
       • many strong but malleable
       • usefull for buildings, vehicles, continers, pipes and wires
   • copper= good conductor of heat + electricity, doesnt react with water, malleable but hard enough to keep its shape,
     • therefore good for, pipes, tanks in water and heating systems, electrical wiring
   • most metals we use are alloys

3. Metalic issues

   • mining for ores= digging up lots of rock. produces waste material and ruien landscapes
   • recycling saves resources cause less ore needs mining. less fossil fuel is needed to provide the enerygy to extract metal