EXTRACTION

OF
METALS
WELCOME
Metals are an essential part of our everyday lives, from
the cars we drive to the gadgets we use. But how are they
obtained from their ores? Today, we will explore the
process of extracting metals from their ores.

Presented by: Lena Unice Jatta, Fatoumatta Jack, Haja

Ousmane Jallow AND Yusuf Touray

Date: 3RD OCTOBER 2023

Ores & Minerals
Many of our useful metals come from metal ores. A
metal ore is a rock that contains enough of the
metal to make it worthwhile extracting the metal.
Since the earliest times, metals have been extracted
from the ground and provided us with useful
materials to make tools, weapons, buildings, bridges
and aeroplanes.

Although the Earth’s crust contains native

metals such as gold and silver, many of the useful
metals such as iron and aluminium are locked up in
ores, in the form of oxides such as iron(III) oxide and
aluminium oxide, so a metal extraction method
must be used to obtain the metal.
Method Of Ectraction Of Metals From
Ores
1

The ease of obtaining metals from their ores is directly related to their position in the reactivity series. The
reactivity series is a list of metals ranked in order of their reactivity with other substances. The more reactive 2
a metal is, the more stable its compounds are, making it more difficult to extract from its ore. Here's how the
reactivity series influences the ease of obtaining metals: Methods of
extraction of
Many of our useful metals come from metal ores. A metal ore is a rock that contains enough of the metal to metals from
make it worthwhile extracting the metal. Since the earliest times, metals have been extracted from the ores
ground and provided us with useful materials to make tools, weapons, buildings, bridges and aeroplanes.
Although the Earth’s crust contains native metals such as gold and silver, many of the useful metals such as
iron and aluminium are locked up in ores, in the form of oxides such as iron(III) oxide and aluminium oxide,
so a metal extraction method must be used to obtain the metal. In every case, extraction of metals
3
by reduction takes place. Reduction is the removal of oxygen from an oxide.
Unreactive metals such as gold and platinum do not react with oxygen. Some reactive metals such as sodium
react easily with oxygen. Aluminium and iron can also react with oxygen although much more slowly.
metal + oxygen → metal oxide 4
When metals react with oxygen a metal oxide is formed, for example:
iron + oxygen → iron(III) oxide
4Fe (s) + 3O2 (g) → 2Fe2O3 (s)
[1.] **Highly Reactive Metals (e.g., 1

Potassium, Sodium, Calcium):**

- These metals are very reactive and readily form compounds with other 2
elements, especially oxygen and water. Methods of
extraction of
- They are typically found in nature as compounds and require strong reducing metals from
agents or methods like electrolysis to extract them from their ores. ores

- Obtaining these metals is energy-intensive and often involves high- 3

temperature processes.

4
[2.] **Moderately Reactive Metals (e.g.,
1
Zinc, Iron, Aluminum):**
2
- These metals are moderately reactive and form stable compounds with
Methods of
elements like oxygen and sulfur.
extraction of
metals from
- They are usually found in nature as oxides or sulfides and can be extracted ores
using a combination of pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical methods.

- The extraction of these metals is relatively less energy-intensive compared to 3

highly reactive metals.

4
[3.] **Less Reactive Metals (e.g.,
1
Copper, Silver, Gold):**
- These metals are less reactive and form relatively stable
compounds. They are often found in nature in elemental or native 2 Methods of
form. extraction of
metals from
- Extraction of these metals is typically achieved using smelting ores
techniques or by leaching with acids.

- Obtaining these metals is generally less energy-intensive

3
compared to highly and moderately reactive metals.
4
[4.] **Least Reactive Metals (e.g.,
1
Platinum, Gold):**
- These metals are extremely unreactive and are often found in
nature in their native form. 2 Methods of
extraction of
- They require minimal processing and can be obtained through metals from
physical methods like panning or simple chemical techniques. ores