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This question is about copper and alloys of copper - AQA - GCSE Chemistry - Question 8 - 2021 - Paper 2
Question 8
This question is about copper and alloys of copper. Solders are alloys used to join metals together. Some solders contain copper. Table 4 shows information about ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:This question is about copper and alloys of copper - AQA - GCSE Chemistry - Question 8 - 2021 - Paper 2
Step 1
Suggest one reason why.
Answer
Solder B and solder C contain lead and silver respectively, both of which have higher melting points compared to copper. This should make the overall melting points of the solders higher, making them suitable for applications requiring better thermal resistance.
Step 2
Step 3
Suggest three reasons why recycling scrap copper is a more sustainable way of obtaining copper than processing copper ores.
Answer
- Recycling conserves copper ores by reusing existing materials rather than depleting natural resources.
- Recycling uses less energy compared to the energy-intensive process of extracting copper from ores.
- Recycling reduces waste and landfill usage as it transforms scrap into usable copper instead of discarding it.
Step 4
Describe how copper is extracted from low-grade ores by phyto mining.
Answer
Copper is extracted from low-grade ores by first growing plants that are capable of absorbing copper from the soil. These plants are then harvested and burnt to produce ash containing copper. The ash is dissolved in acid to produce a solution of a copper compound, followed by electrolysis or displacement using scrap iron to gain pure copper.
Step 5