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Science lesson plan · 10th grade (Year 11 in England) · 45 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 · 5 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 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.
  2. What does "oxidation" mean in terms of oxygen? (gain of hydrogen / melting / gain of oxygen / loss of oxygen) → gain of oxygenPrompt: Rusting iron gains something from the air.
  3. Reactivity series (most reactive first): potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, aluminium (aluminum), zinc, iron, copper, silver, gold. If silver is added to a solution of aluminium (aluminum) sulfate, will a displacement reaction happen? (yes / no) → noPrompt: A more reactive metal displaces a less reactive metal from its compound.

Hook · 5 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 · 10 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 · 10 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 gold usually obtained? (electrolysis / reduction with carbon / found as the native metal) → found as the native metalPrompt: Compare the metal's position in the reactivity series with carbon.
  2. Why is recycling aluminium cans so worthwhile? (Aluminium cannot be extracted from ore / New aluminium is radioactive / It uses about 5 % of the energy needed to extract new aluminium / Recycling makes aluminium heavier) → It uses about 5 % of the energy needed to extract new aluminiumPrompt: Extracting aluminium uses electrolysis.

You do: independent practice · 10 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. 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. / Gold is found uncombined because it is very unreactive. / Aluminium can be extracted by heating its oxide with carbon.) → Aluminium can be extracted by heating its oxide with carbon.Prompt: Is aluminium above or below carbon in reactivity?
  2. How is platinum usually obtained? (electrolysis / reduction with carbon / found as the native metal) → found as the native metalPrompt: Compare the metal's position in the reactivity series with carbon.

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/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Phytomining grows plants on land containing low-grade copper ore. How does it work?

    • A. Plants turn copper into gold
    • B. Plants release copper gas
    • C. Plants absorb copper compounds; they are burned and copper is extracted from the ash
    • D. Plants dig up the ore

  2. Question 2

    How is magnesium usually obtained?

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

  3. Question 3

    Extracting metals: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. Gold is found uncombined because it is very unreactive.
    • B. An ore is a rock containing enough metal to make extraction worthwhile.
    • C. Carbon can reduce zinc oxide to zinc.
    • D. Metal ores will never run out.

  4. Question 4

    How is gold usually obtained?

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

  5. Question 5

    How is aluminium usually obtained?

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

  6. Question 6

    Bioleaching uses bacteria to extract copper. What is a drawback?

    • A. It needs huge amounts of electricity
    • B. It only works on gold
    • C. It releases large amounts of carbon monoxide
    • D. It is slow and can produce toxic leachate

  7. Question 7

    Why is recycling aluminium cans so worthwhile?

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

  8. Question 8

    How is sodium 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. C. Plants absorb copper compounds; they are burned and copper is extracted from the ash

  2. 2. A. electrolysis

  3. 3. D. Metal ores will never run out.

  4. 4. C. found as the native metal

  5. 5. A. electrolysis

  6. 6. D. It is slow and can produce toxic leachate

  7. 7. D. It uses about 5 % of the energy needed to extract new aluminium

  8. 8. A. electrolysis