Metals can be recycled by melting and recasting or reforming into…

The idea

Metals are recyclable because they can be melted and reshaped without changing their chemical identity. Scrap metal is collected, sorted and cleaned, then melted in a furnace. The molten metal is poured into moulds to make ingots or directly cast into new shapes. It can also be reformed by rolling, pressing or extruding into sheets, wires or bars. Aluminium and steel are common examples. Recycling metals saves the energy and raw materials needed to extract metal from its ore. For example, recycling aluminium uses much less energy than extracting aluminium from bauxite by electrolysis. It also reduces the amount of metal sent to landfill and lowers the environmental impact of mining.

What earns the marks

• Metals can be melted and recast or reformed into new products.
• Scrap metal is collected, sorted and cleaned before melting.
• Molten metal can be poured into moulds to make new shapes or ingots.
• Reforming includes rolling, pressing or extruding metal into sheets, wires or bars.
• Recycling metals saves the energy and raw materials needed to extract metal from ore.
• Recycling aluminium uses much less energy than extracting aluminium from bauxite by electrolysis.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Saying metals cannot be recycled because they change chemically.

  Put it right: Metals keep their chemical identity when melted and reformed.

• Confusing melting with burning.

  Put it right: Melting is a physical change, while burning is a chemical reaction.

• Forgetting that scrap metal must be sorted and cleaned.

  Put it right: Impurities can affect the quality of the recycled metal.

Exam tips

• Use the terms 'recast' and 'reformed' to match the statement.
• Give a named metal example, such as aluminium or steel.
• Compare the energy needed for recycling with extraction from ore.
• State that melting is a physical change, so the metal is not chemically altered.