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Science lesson plan · 10th grade (Year 11 in England) · 30 minutes

How metals are extracted from their ores

Chemical reactions, acids and bases

CCSS NGSS.HS-ESS3-2CCSS NGSS.HS-PS1-2England: GCSE Combined Science: Chemical changes (extraction of metals)England: GCSE Chemistry: Using resources

Objective and success criteria

Students will: How metals are extracted from their ores.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: The reactivity series and displacement

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Teacher demo or video, Indicator color chart, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (The reactivity series and displacement). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Reactivity series (most reactive first): potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium (aluminum), zinc, iron, copper, silver, gold. If calcium is added to a solution of zinc sulfate, will a displacement reaction happen? (yes / no) → yesPrompt: A more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its compound.
  2. Why is gold found as the pure metal in the ground? (It is very unreactive / It is very reactive / It is a non-metal / It is magnetic) → It is very unreactivePrompt: Where is gold in the reactivity series?
  3. Reactivity series (most reactive first): potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium (aluminum), zinc, iron, copper, silver, gold. If copper is added to a solution of zinc sulfate, will a displacement reaction happen? (yes / no) → noPrompt: A more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its compound.

Hook · 3 min

  • Drop an antacid tablet in water (or show a clip) and ask whether a new substance is being made.
  • Share the objective: How metals are extracted from their ores. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: How is iron usually obtained?
  • Step 1: Metals less reactive than carbon can be extracted by heating their oxides with carbon.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: reduction with carbon
  • Answer: reduction with carbon
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. How is tin usually obtained? (electrolysis / reduction with carbon / found as the native metal) → reduction with carbonPrompt: Compare the metal's position in the reactivity series with carbon.
  2. Why is recycling aluminium cans so worthwhile? (It uses about 5 % of the energy needed to extract new aluminium / Recycling makes aluminium heavier / Aluminium cannot be extracted from ore / New aluminium is radioactive) → It uses about 5 % of the energy needed to extract new aluminiumPrompt: Extracting aluminium uses electrolysis.

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Bioleaching uses bacteria to extract copper. What is a drawback? (It only works on gold / It releases large amounts of carbon monoxide / It needs huge amounts of electricity / It is slow and can produce toxic leachate) → It is slow and can produce toxic leachatePrompt: Bacteria work slowly.
  2. Extracting metals: which statement is NOT true? (Life cycle assessments compare the environmental impact of products. / An ore is a rock containing enough metal to make extraction worthwhile. / Metal ores will never run out. / Gold is found uncombined because it is very unreactive.) → Metal ores will never run out.Prompt: Is aluminium above or below carbon in reactivity?

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: The reactivity series and displacement.
  • Use concrete materials: teacher demo or video.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-10.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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How metals are extracted from their ores

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    How is sodium usually obtained?

    • A. electrolysis
    • B. reduction with carbon
    • C. found as the native metal
  2. Question 2

    Why is recycling aluminium cans so worthwhile?

    • A. Recycling makes aluminium heavier
    • B. Aluminium cannot be extracted from ore
    • C. It uses about 5 % of the energy needed to extract new aluminium
    • D. New aluminium is radioactive
  3. Question 3

    Extracting metals: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. Life cycle assessments compare the environmental impact of products.
    • B. An ore is a rock containing enough metal to make extraction worthwhile.
    • C. Reduction always means adding oxygen.
    • D. Gold is found uncombined because it is very unreactive.
  4. Question 4

    How is aluminium usually obtained?

    • A. electrolysis
    • B. reduction with carbon
    • C. found as the native metal
  5. Question 5

    In a blast furnace, iron oxide is heated with carbon (coke). What happens to the iron oxide?

    • A. It melts and stays as iron oxide
    • B. It is reduced: oxygen is removed
    • C. It is oxidised: oxygen is added
    • D. It turns into carbon
  6. Question 6

    How is magnesium usually obtained?

    • A. electrolysis
    • B. reduction with carbon
    • C. found as the native metal

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Answer key: How metals are extracted from their ores

  1. 1. A. electrolysis

  2. 2. C. It uses about 5 % of the energy needed to extract new aluminium

  3. 3. C. Reduction always means adding oxygen.

  4. 4. A. electrolysis

  5. 5. B. It is reduced: oxygen is removed

  6. 6. A. electrolysis