AQA · GCSE · Chemistry
Course version: 8462 · Version from Sept 2018
Copper ores are becoming scarce and new ways of extracting copper from…
Full specification wording
Alternative methods of extracting metals (HT only): Copper ores are becoming scarce and new ways of extracting copper from low-grade ores include phytomining, and bioleaching.
Copper is a finite resource obtained from ores that contain copper compounds.
Checked against the AQA 8462 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 2 of 8
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Copper is a finite resource obtained from ores that contain copper compounds. Rich, high-grade ores are being used up, so copper ores are becoming scarce; this raises cost and makes traditional extraction from low-grade rock uneconomic. Low-grade ores contain only small percentages of copper compounds, so large masses of rock must be processed to obtain useful copper. Two biological alternatives help here: phytomining, which uses plants, and bioleaching, which uses bacteria. Both release copper compounds into a form that can be recovered, for example by displacement or electrolysis. They suit low-grade ores because they concentrate copper without digging, moving and disposing of enormous volumes of rock.
What earns the marks
- Copper ores are finite and high-grade deposits are being depleted, so copper ores are becoming scarce.
- Low-grade ores contain small percentages of copper compounds, making traditional extraction expensive and energy-intensive.
- Phytomining is a biological method that uses plants to take up copper compounds from soil.
- Bioleaching is a biological method that uses bacteria to produce leachate solutions containing copper compounds.
- The copper compounds obtained must still be processed, for example by displacement using scrap iron or by electrolysis, to obtain copper metal.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Thinking scarcity means copper has run out completely.
Put it right: Scarce means economically extractable high-grade ores are running out, while low-grade ores remain.
Confusing phytomining with bioleaching.
Put it right: Phytomining uses plants, whereas bioleaching uses bacteria.
Assuming the plants or bacteria produce pure copper metal.
Put it right: They produce or concentrate copper compounds that must be processed further.
Exam tips
- Link scarcity to economics: explain that low-grade ores need alternative methods because traditional mining and processing costs too much.
- Name both methods and state the organism used in each, then outline how the copper compound is recovered.
- Use comparative language such as 'low-grade ore' and 'high-grade ore' to show why the method is suitable.
Try the lesson
The start of the Alternative methods of extracting metals (HT only): Copper ores are becoming scarce and new ways of extracting copper from low-grade ores include phytomining, and bioleaching. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which statement explains why phytomining and bioleaching are used to extract copper from low-grade ores?
Listen
Copper is a finite resource obtained from ores that contain copper compounds. Rich, high-grade ores are being used up, so copper ores are becoming scarce; this raises cost and makes traditional extraction from low-grade rock uneconomic. Low-grade ores contain only small percentages of copper compounds, so large masses of rock must be processed to obtain useful copper. Two biological alternatives help here: phytomining, which uses plants, and bioleaching, which uses bacteria. Both release copper compounds into a form that can be recovered, for example by displacement or electrolysis. They suit low-grade ores because they concentrate copper without digging, moving and disposing of enormous volumes of rock. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Copper ores are finite and high-grade deposits are being depleted, so copper ores are becoming scarce. Low-grade ores contain small percentages of copper compounds, making traditional extraction expensive and energy-intensive. Phytomining is a biological method that uses plants to take up copper compounds from soil. Bioleaching is a biological method that uses bacteria to produce leachate solutions containing copper compounds. A common slip: Thinking scarcity means copper has run out completely. Instead, scarce means economically extractable high-grade ores are running out, while low-grade ores remain. Exam tip: Link scarcity to economics: explain that low-grade ores need alternative methods because traditional mining and processing costs too much.
See it
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Phytomining
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Bioleaching
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Low-grade ores
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Scarce
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See every definition
- Phytomining
- A biological method that uses plants to take up copper compounds from soil.
- Bioleaching
- A biological method that uses bacteria to produce leachate solutions containing copper compounds.
- Low-grade ores
- Ores that contain only small percentages of copper compounds, so large masses of rock must be processed to obtain useful copper.
- Scarce
- Describes copper ores as rich, high-grade ores are being used up, while low-grade ores remain.
Label the diagram
Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.
1Box 1
2Box 2
3Box 3
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