OCR A J248 frequency: Low priority (P3, weight 4.0) — typically 2–4 marks across Papers 3 and 4 (Higher Tier). Most likely appears as a short-answer or structured question.
Typical question types:
- "Explain why aluminium is extracted by electrolysis rather than by heating with carbon." (2–3 marks)
- "Explain the role of cryolite in the extraction of aluminium." (1–2 marks)
- "Describe what happens at the cathode and anode during the electrolysis of aluminium oxide." (2 marks)
- "Compare bioleaching and phytomining as methods of copper extraction." (2–3 marks)
- "Name the ore used to extract iron. Give the word equation for the reduction of iron oxide." (2 marks)
Edexcel 1CH0: Examined in Paper 1 (1CH0/1). Carbon reduction and reactivity series reasoning are tested; blast furnace reactions (including the role of coke, limestone, and hot air blast) are Paper 1 staples — Edexcel also tests sustainable extraction methods such as bioleaching and phytomining. In Edexcel-style questions, the command word "Suggest" appears frequently — use your chemistry knowledge to apply to an unfamiliar context.
This exam focus covers Exam Connection within Extracting Metals for GCSE Chemistry. Revise Extracting Metals in Chemical Changes for GCSE Chemistry with 6 exam-style questions and 6 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 12 of 14 in this topic. Treat this as a marking guide for what examiners are looking for, not just a fact list.
Practice questions for Extracting Metals
Which method is used to extract a metal that is MORE reactive than carbon?
Iron is extracted from haematite in a blast furnace. Describe how iron is obtained from iron oxide using carbon, and explain the term 'reduction' in this context.