# Lead is a metal that has been used by humans for thousands of years. It is sometimes found as a native metal in the Earth's crust, but it is more commonly found as lead sulfide ore (galena). Lead can be extracted from its ore by heating it in air to form lead oxide, which is then heated with carbon. Explain why lead can be extracted using carbon, and why this method cannot be used to extract sodium from sodium oxide.

> Eduqas GCSE Chemistry — 2.3 Metals and their extraction · Explain · 4 marks

> Lead has been smelted since ancient times. Sodium, by contrast, was not isolated until 1807, when electricity became available as a tool for chemists.

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Carbon can displace / remove oxygen from lead oxide because carbon is more reactive than lead
2. Carbon reduces the lead oxide / removes oxygen from the lead oxide, leaving lead metal
3. Sodium cannot be extracted using carbon because sodium is more reactive than carbon
4. Therefore carbon cannot displace / reduce sodium from sodium oxide / electrolysis is needed instead

## Key terms

- [ore](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/ore)
- [native metal](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/native-metal)

## Related

- [Revision notes for Eduqas GCSE Chemistry](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/lead-is-a-metal-that-has-89c4e41d) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.