A student wants to extract three metals — copper, aluminium, and silver — from their metal oxide ores. Explain which of these metals can be extracted by reduction with carbon, and why the remaining metal(s) cannot be extracted using this method.

AQA GCSE Chemistry (8462) — 4.4.1 Reactivity of metals · Explain · 4 marks · View as Markdown

Written & reviewed by James Millett — Biology (Imperial College London), PGCE Science (University of Cambridge).

Copper is below carbon in the reactivity series. Aluminium is above carbon in the reactivity series. Silver is below carbon in the reactivity series.

Model answer (4 marks)

Copper and silver can be extracted by reduction with carbon because they are less reactive than carbon, so carbon can act as a reducing agent and remove oxygen from the metal oxides. Aluminium cannot be extracted by reduction with carbon because aluminium is more reactive than carbon, so carbon cannot reduce its oxide.

Examiner tips

  • Use the term ‘reduction with carbon’ and explain the role of carbon as a reducing agent.
  • Show that copper and silver are below carbon in the reactivity series, so carbon can reduce their oxides.
  • Explain that aluminium is above carbon, so carbon cannot reduce its oxide.
  • Mention that reduction involves loss of oxygen from the metal oxide.

Common mistakes

  • Saying that all metals can be reduced by carbon, ignoring the reactivity series.
  • Confusing the positions of metals in the reactivity series (e.g., putting aluminium below carbon).
  • Forgetting to mention that reduction involves loss of oxygen.

Mark scheme (4 marks)

  1. Copper and silver can be extracted by reduction with carbon
  2. Because copper and silver are less reactive than carbon
  3. Reduction involves the loss of oxygen (from the metal oxide)
  4. Aluminium cannot be extracted by reduction with carbon because aluminium is more reactive than carbon

Key terms in this question

reduction with carbon · reduction

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