🎯 Common Question Types:
- Explain why a method is used — always link back to position in reactivity series (2–3 marks)
- Describe electrode reactions — must state which electrode (cathode/anode) and what happens (2 marks)
- Compare sustainable methods — bioleaching vs phytomining (2–3 marks)
📝 Key Command Words:
- Explain — state the reason AND link to the concept (reactivity series position)
- Describe — state what happens at each electrode; say "reduced" or "oxidised"
- Compare — give a similarity AND a difference when asked to compare methods
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid:
- Saying "cryolite is the ore" — it is the solvent; bauxite is the ore
- Not stating which electrode (cathode vs anode) when describing electrode reactions
- Confusing which substance is oxidised and which is reduced — use OIL RIG
- Forgetting that carbon anodes must be regularly replaced (they burn away in oxygen)
This exam tips covers Exam Tips for Metal Extraction 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 13 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.
Quick recall flashcards
What is haematite, and where is iron extracted from it?
Haematite is iron oxide (Fe₂O₃) — the main ore of iron. Iron is extracted from haematite in a blast furnace using carbon (coke) as the reducing agent.
Which metals must be extracted by electrolysis, and why?
Metals MORE reactive than carbon (e.g. aluminium, sodium, potassium) must be extracted by electrolysis. Carbon is not reactive enough to pull oxygen away from them.