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Metals are extracted from ores in the Earth’s crust - AQA - GCSE Chemistry - Question 3 - 2016 - Paper 1
Question 3
Metals are extracted from ores in the Earth’s crust. Some ores contain metal carbonates and some ores contain metal oxides. 3 (a) (i) Name the type of reaction tha... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Metals are extracted from ores in the Earth’s crust - AQA - GCSE Chemistry - Question 3 - 2016 - Paper 1
Step 1
3 (a) (i) Name the type of reaction that happens when a metal carbonate is heated.
Answer
The reaction that occurs when a metal carbonate is heated is known as a thermal decomposition reaction. During this process, the metal carbonate breaks down into its constituent parts, typically yielding a metal oxide and carbon dioxide gas.
Step 2
Step 3
3 (b) (i) Explain the results for potassium carbonate.
Answer
The potassium carbonate did not decompose when heated, which is evidenced by the fact that the mass remained the same and the limewater did not turn cloudy. This indicates that no carbon dioxide was produced during the heating process. The temperature may not have been high enough to cause decomposition or the compound itself is stable at this temperature.
Step 4
3 (b) (ii) Suggest how the reactivity series can be used to predict which metal carbonate reacts most easily when heated.
Answer
The reactivity series ranks metals based on their reactivity. In terms of metal carbonates, the less reactive the metal, the more easily its carbonate will decompose upon heating. Therefore, by comparing the reactivity of different metals, predictions can be made about which metal carbonate will react or decompose first when exposed to heat.
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Step 7
3 (c) (iii) Give two reasons why iron produced in a blast furnace is converted into steel.
Answer
- Iron from the blast furnace is brittle and not suitable for structural applications without further processing.
- Steel, which is an alloy of iron, has more specific properties, such as greater strength and resistance to corrosion than pure iron.
Step 8
3 (c) (iv) Give three reasons why a steel car body should be recycled and not reused or sent to landfill.
Answer
- Recycling helps conserve natural resources by reducing the need for new iron ore extraction.
- It minimizes pollution and environmental impact associated with mining and manufacturing.
- Recycling reduces landfill waste, which is critical as landfill sites are limited and can lead to environmental degradation.