AQA · GCSE · Combined Science

Course version: 8464 · Version from Sept 2018

Extraction of metals and reduction: Metals less reactive than carbon can be extracted from their oxides by reduction with carbon.

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Q: Is this Extraction of metals and reduction: Metals less reactive than carbon can be extracted from their oxides by reduction with carbon. guide aligned to the AQA specification?

Yes. This guide is linked to the Extraction of metals and reduction: Metals less reactive than carbon can be extracted from their oxides by reduction with carbon. topic in the AQA GCSE specification.

This statement links the reactivity series to a practical extraction method.

2 key terms

Study notes

From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

The idea

What earns the marks

States that a metal less reactive than carbon can be displaced from its oxide by carbon.
Explains that carbon removes oxygen from the metal oxide, so the metal oxide is reduced.
Identifies carbon as the reducing agent and notes that carbon itself is oxidised.
Uses the reactivity series to justify why carbon works for zinc, iron, copper or lead but not for magnesium, aluminium or sodium.
Writes or interprets a word or symbol equation for a named extraction, such as iron(III) oxide + carbon → iron + carbon dioxide.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

Saying carbon reacts with any metal oxide.
Put it right by checking the metal's position below carbon in the reactivity series first.
Confusing reduction with oxidation.
Put it right by defining reduction as loss of oxygen and oxidation as gain of oxygen in this context.
Writing that carbon is reduced.
Put it right by stating carbon gains oxygen and is therefore oxidised, while the metal oxide loses oxygen and is reduced.

Exam tips

Quote the reactivity series position of the metal relative to carbon before predicting whether carbon extraction works.
Name both products in an extraction equation and balance the oxygen and carbon atoms carefully.
If asked why electrolysis is needed, state that the metal is more reactive than carbon so carbon cannot displace it.

Try the lesson

The start of the Extraction of metals and reduction: Metals less reactive than carbon can be extracted from their oxides by reduction with carbon. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

Have a go first

Which metal can be extracted from its oxide by reduction with carbon?

Tip: press 1 to 4 to choose

Listen

This statement links the reactivity series to a practical extraction method. A metal's position relative to carbon decides whether carbon can take the oxygen from its oxide. Metals below carbon, such as zinc, iron, copper and lead, can be won this way; metals above carbon, such as magnesium, aluminium and sodium, cannot, so they need electrolysis. In the reaction, carbon is oxidised (it gains oxygen) while the metal oxide is reduced (it loses oxygen). For example, heating iron(III) oxide with carbon gives iron and carbon dioxide: 2Fe₂O₃ + 3C → 4Fe + 3CO₂. The carbon removes oxygen from the ore, leaving the metal. This is why blast furnaces use coke, a form of carbon, to extract iron from haematite. A strong answer earns marks for these points. States that a metal less reactive than carbon can be displaced from its oxide by carbon. Explains that carbon removes oxygen from the metal oxide, so the metal oxide is reduced. Identifies carbon as the reducing agent and notes that carbon itself is oxidised. Uses the reactivity series to justify why carbon works for zinc, iron, copper or lead but not for magnesium, aluminium or sodium. A common slip: Saying carbon reacts with any metal oxide. Instead, checking the metal's position below carbon in the reactivity series first. Exam tip: Quote the reactivity series position of the metal relative to carbon before predicting whether carbon extraction works.

See it

A flowchart starting with a box labelled Metal oxide, leading to a decision diamond asking whether the metal is less reactive than carbon. The Yes branch leads to a box saying carbon removes oxygen from the metal oxide, which then branches to three boxes: the metal oxide is reduced, carbon gains oxygen and is oxidised, and the metal is extracted. The No branch leads to a box saying carbon cannot displace the metal, which leads to a final box saying electrolysis is needed. — It shows how a metal's position relative to carbon in the reactivity series decides whether carbon reduction or electrolysis is used to extract it, and that carbon is oxidised while the metal oxide is reduced.

Key words

Say what each word means before you turn the card.

Reduction

Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

Oxidation

Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

See every definition

Reduction: The removal of oxygen from a metal oxide by carbon, leaving the metal.
Oxidation: In this context, the gain of oxygen by carbon when it removes oxygen from a metal oxide.

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