Extraction of Metals

  Metals can be extracted by physical method:

1. Heating the metal ore alone

2. Heating the metal ore with carbon

3. Electrolysis of the molten ore

Reactivities of Metals

  A more reactive metal:

1. requires a lower temperature to start the reaction

2. reacts faster

3. gives out more heat during a reaction

Reactions of Metals with Air (Oxygen)

Conserving and Protecting Metals

  Metals ores in the Earth's crust are limited in amount and non-renewable, so it's necessary to conserve metals. Below are 3 common ways (3 'R's):

1. Reusing metal articles

2. Reducing the use of metals

3. Recycling used metals

  All metals look shiny when they are freshly cut but become dull when exposed to air, so it is essential to store metals with relative methods. To prevent reaction with air, very reactive metals (K, Na) are stored under paraffin oil, and quite reactive metals (Ca) are kept in airtight containers. Gold is the least reactive of all metals - it does not react with oxygen, so it needs no special method of storage, except to be kept with reactive metals. Why when being kept with reactive metals? Check these other articles about metals below:

Reactions of Metals with Water