Topic 11 – Metals – Learning Outcomes
General Level
o State that metals conduct electricity when solid or liquid
o Relate specific properties of metals, eg density, thermal and electrical
conductivity, malleability, strength, to their uses
o Explain the need for recycling metals in terms of the finite nature of the
metal resources
o Describe the reactions of different metals with oxygen, water and dilute
acid
o State that these reactions give an indication of the reactivity of the metal
o State that ores are naturally occurring compounds of metals
o State that the less reactive metals are found uncombined in the earth’s
crust and that the more reactive metals have to be extracted from ores
o Explain why the inactive metals were among the first to be discovered
o Give examples of social and industrial factors, which resulted in large scale
extraction of more reactive metals
o State that some metals can be obtained from metal oxides by heat alone;
some by heating with carbon; and some need other methods
o State that iron is produced from iron ore in the blast furnace
o State the two key reactions, which take place in the blast furnace:
production of carbon monoxide, reduction of iron oxide
o State that an alloy is a mixture of metals or of metals with non-metals
o Give examples of the important uses of alloys, eg brass, solder, “stainless”
steel
Credit Level
o Explain that the extraction of a metal from its ore is an example of
reduction
o Explain in terms of the reactivity of the metal why some metals can be
obtained from metal oxides by heat alone; and why some metal oxides need
to be heated with other substances, eg carbon or carbon monoxide; and why
some metals cannot be obtained by these methods
o Work out empirical (or simplest) formulae from masses or percentage
composition
o Work out percentage masses of elements in compounds from their names or
formulae
Topic 11 Notes
Metals conduct electricity when they are in the solid or liquid state. Metals
have many uses but these depend on properties. Density is how well packet the
atoms are in the metal, malleability is how soft and easily shaped a metal is. If
a metal is ductile it can be drawn out into thin wires. Man can make alloys;
these are a mixture of different metals or metals and non-metals used to
improve their properties for a particular use. Brass, solder and stainless steel
are just some examples of commonly used alloys.
Metals can be placed in order of reactivity depending on their reactions. Very
reactive metals like sodium will react with water, less reactive metals will react
with acids and some metals are less reactive and will not react with acid.
Metals need to be recycled and saved as they are finite resources, this means
they are going to run out. We get metals from metal ores, these are naturally
occurring compounds of metals that we can get metal from. How we get metals
depends on their reactivity. Some metals like gold, silver and platinum are
found naturally and we don’t have to extract as they are very unreactive. Other
metals have to be extracted from their ore; the method of extraction depends
on the metal. The extraction of metals is an example of a reduction reaction as
the positive metal ions in compounds gain electrons to form atoms.
Metal
Mercury
Copper and Iron
Aluminium and more reactive metals
Extraction Method
Heating ore
Heating ore with carbon
Electrolysis
Around the time of the industrial revolution iron was in great demand. The
blast furnace was created for the large scale extraction of iron from iron ore.
Iron ore is reduced to make iron metal. There are two key reactions taking
place in this process. Iron is heated with coke (carbon monoxide) to form
carbon oxide which is then reacted with oxygen from hot air to form iron metal.
Past Paper Questions
07 General:
08 General:
09 General:
10 General:
2a, 2b, 12c, 13a
12, 13b
5a, 8, 14c
7a
07 Credit:
08 Credit:
09 Credit:
10 Credit:
17e
16b, 16c, 16d, 20c
15
14, 16b