Starter quiz
- What is meant by the term 'finite resource'?
- a limited resource that is being used faster than it is being made ✓
- a resource in a plentiful supply
- a renewable resource
- an infinite resource that will never run out
-
- Which of the following are examples of finite resources?
- rocks such as limestone and sandstone, used in construction ✓
- natural gas, used as a fuel ✓
- metal ores, used to provide metals ✓
- cotton, used in clothing
- the Sun, used as a renewable energy resource
-
- What scientific term is used to describe a reaction where a more reactive element takes the place of a less reactive element in a compound?
- 'displacement' ✓
- Why can iron be used to extract copper from a copper compound?
- iron is more reactive than copper ✓
- iron is less reactive than copper
- iron will displace copper in a copper compound ✓
- copper will displace iron in a copper compound
-
- Which of the following are disadvantages of traditional mining?
- noise pollution ✓
- loss of habitats ✓
- requires plant growth which is a slow process
- bacteria used in the process produce toxic substances
- large machinery produce pollutants ✓
-
- What is the name of the process that uses electricity to break down a compound?
- 'electrolysis' ✓
Exit quiz
- What is the name of the method of extracting metals by growing bacteria on low-grade ores?
- 'bioleaching' ✓
- Which of the following are advantages of bioleaching?
- conserves high-grade ores ✓
- produces toxic substances that can cause environmental damage
- it is a slow process
- reduces air pollutants released during traditional mining ✓
- can be used to extract metals from low-grade ores ✓
-
- Which of the following are part of the method for phytoextraction?
- Grow plants in soil containing low-grade ore. ✓
- Grow bacteria on low-grade ores.
- Burn plants to produce ash rich in metal compounds. ✓
- Dissolve the ash in acid to produce a leachate. ✓
- Bacteria break down the ore to produce a leachate.
-
- How can a metal such as copper be extracted from a leachate?
- heating with a less reactive metal, such as gold
- using electrolysis ✓
- displacement reaction using scrap iron ✓
- growing bacteria on the leachate
- growing plants in the leachate
-
- Which of the following are disadvantages of phytoextraction?
- creates an eyesore and noise pollution
- process is slow ✓
- weather dependent ✓
- process destroys habitats
- more expensive than traditional mining ✓
-
- Which of the following statements about copper ores are correct?
- low-grade ores contain a lower percentage of copper than high-grade ores ✓
- low-grade ores contain a higher percentage of copper than high-grade ores
- high-grade ores are becoming more difficult to find ✓
- the percentage of copper found in ores has been decreasing ✓
- the percentage of copper found in ores has been increasing
-
Worksheet
Presentation
Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- In phytoextraction, metal is extracted from a crop of plants that absorb metal ions through their roots.
- In bioleaching, metal is extracted from bacteria that extract metal from an ore.
- Electrolysis is a process used to separate metals from their compounds.
- There are advantages and disadvantages associated with each method of extracting metals.
Common misconception
Students struggle to distinguish between phytoextraction and bioleaching.
Reinforce that the term 'phyto' is a combining form meaning 'plant'.
Keywords
Low-grade ore - An ore is a rock that contains metals or metal compounds. A low-grade ore contains a lower percentage of metal or metal compound than a high-grade ore.
Phytoextraction - Phytoextraction is a method of extracting metals by growing plants in soil containing low-grade ore.
Displacement - Displacement is where a more reactive element takes the place of a less reactive element in a compound.
Electrolysis - Electrolysis is a process that uses electricity to break down a compound.
Bioleaching - Bioleaching is a method of extracting metals by growing bacteria on low-grade ores to produce a leachate.