From Atoms to Materials

Extension 13.5B E xtracting metals from their oxides (Demo) Experimentt carbon powder 12 spatulas copper oxide 2 spatulas irritant iron oxide 2 spatulas crucible with lid 1 set pipeclay triangle 1 spatula 1 tongs 1 pair glass rod 1 white cardboards 3 Bunsen burner 1 tripod 1 heatproof mat 1 gas lighter 1 Materials and ap p a r a t u s pipeclay triangle 管土三角 Caution • Copper oxide is irritant. DO NOT touch it with bare hands. • Handle hot objects with care. Avoid direct contact with skin. • Do the experiment in a fume cupboard. Wear safety goggles. crucible glass rod mixture of copper oxide and carbon powder pipeclay triangle crucible leaving a small gap Put some copper oxide and iron oxide on two cardboards. Observe and record their colours. 1 Add two spatulas of copper oxide and four spatulas of carbon powder to a crucible. Mix them well with a glass rod. 2 Put the crucible on a pipeclay triangle* above a Bunsen burner. Cover the crucible with a lid, leaving a small gap. Heat it strongly for about eight minutes. 3 More about chemical methods of extraction There are many chemical methods of metal extraction. For example, some metals can be extracted by heating their oxides with carbon. Let’s try this method now. Video Extracting metals from their oxides Video Extracting of iron from iron oxide using a match Steps 68 © United Prime Educational Publishing (HK) Limited 2024 All rights reserved; no part of this publication may be reproduced, photocopied, recorded or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the Publisher. Sample