AQA · Chemistry · 8462
GCSE Chemistry: Alternative methods of extracting metals
Using resources · AQA GCSE Chemistry (8462), specification point 4.10.1.4. Cards are generated from the exam board's own specification for "Alternative methods of extracting metals", and every card links back to the page it came from. Higher tier only. Specification © AQA — used with attribution.
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Why are new methods of extracting copper being developed?
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Copper ores are becoming scarce, so copper must be extracted from low-grade ores.
Name two biological methods of extracting copper from low-grade ores.
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Phytomining and bioleaching.
What does phytomining use to absorb metal compounds?
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Plants — they absorb metal compounds from the soil as they grow.
What is done with the harvested plants in phytomining?
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They are burned to produce ash that contains the metal compounds.
Bioleaching uses ? to produce leachate solutions containing metal compounds.
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bacteria
What is a leachate solution in bioleaching?
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A solution, produced by bacteria, that contains dissolved metal compounds.
Which cheap metal displaces copper from copper compound solutions?
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Scrap iron — iron is more reactive than copper, so it displaces it.
Name two ways to obtain copper metal from a solution of copper compounds.
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Displacement using scrap iron, or electrolysis.
What environmental drawback of traditional mining do phytomining and bioleaching avoid?
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Digging, moving and disposing of large amounts of rock.
The Earth's resources of metal ? are limited.
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ores
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