Last review of metals.

• Areas of emphasis today in other words lesson

objectives.

• The name and purpose of all reactions during

extraction of iron

• The products of extraction of iron including the

waste gases.

• What happens during electrolysis (movement of

ions during electrolysis then Reduction and
oxidation as used in electrolysis the)
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Extraction of iron

• Hematite is the iron ore

• Chemical name of hematite iron oxide

(Fe2O3)

• The main impurity in hematite is sand which

is chemically silicon dioxide (SiO2).

• Materials used to extract iron are Coke

(carbon), Oxygen and limestone.

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Uses of each raw material

• Coke is used to perform

two roles
1.To increase heat in the furnace
as it reacts with plenty of
oxygen at the bottom of the
furnace.
C(s) + O2(g) → CO2(g)
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Second function of coke

2. To reduce the iron oxide to iron.

How?
In the middle of the furnace, there is less oxygen so
the coke in the middle of the furnace reacts with
less oxygen forming carbon monoxide.
C+ ½ O2 → CO
It is this carbon monoxide which reduces
the ore (Fe2O3) to iron.
Fe2O3 + CO → Fe + CO2

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Limestone

• The chemical name of limestone is calcium

carbonate (CaCO3)
• The heat from the bottom of the furnace
breaks down limestone. This is known as a
decomposition reaction.
• Decomposition is when a compound splits
into other compounds without reacting with
any other substance.
• CaCO3 (s) ---> CaO (s) + CO2 (g)

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So how is limestone used?

• Limestone is not used as limestone during

extraction of iron but rather one of the
products of this reaction is used.
• Which one is it?
• The calcium oxide.
• What does calcium oxide do?
• It removes the acidic impurity in the ore
(silicon dioxide).
• This reaction is a neutralization reaction
because the calcium oxide is basic while the
impurity is acidic
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How are the impurities removed and
carbon content reduced?
• Iron from the furnace still contains some
impurities.
• To reduce the amount of carbon we use
oxygen which reacts with carbon forming
carbon dioxide.
• The silicon oxide is removed in the same
way as we have just seen (using calcium
oxide)

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 Electrolysis

• Electrolyte. Breaks down when electricity is

passed through it.
• Example Al2O3  Al3+ + O2-
• Cations are the positive ions e.g. Al3+
• Anions are the negative ions e.g. O2-
• Electrode: a point where electrons enter or
leave the electrolyte e.g. graphite
electrodes
• Cathode is negative electrode
• Anode is positive electrode.
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What happens during electrolysis

• The ions from the electrolyte move to

oppositely charged electrodes.
• Example
• The Al3+ (aluminium ions) move to the
cathode
• The O2- (oxide ions) move to the
anode

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What happens at the cathode and anode?

• Anode is loss of electrons

• 2O2- -2e  O2
• Cathode is gain of electrons
• Al3+ + 3e-  Al (reduction

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Extracting aluminium – redox equations
What redox processes occur at the
electrodes during the electrolysis
of aluminium oxide (Al2O3)?
At the negative electrode:
Al3+ + 3e-  Al (reduction)
At the positive electrode:
2O2-  O2 + 4e- (oxidation)
What is the overall equation for the extraction of aluminium
by electrolysis?

aluminium oxide  aluminium + oxygen

2 Al2O3 (l)  4 Al (l) + 3 O2 (g)
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If we stay focused and time allows…

• We will do a flame test lab and see the

different colours of flames given out
when different metals burn in air. It is
one way scientists used to distinguish
metals. If not today, we can do it on
Monday

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