Chemistry Assignment Essay

Metals atomic number 18 tap from ores, considering regress to see if it is stintingly viable for a business to mine at a detail site. However, due to env compactmental damage and global warming, cycle has increased globally to create a sustainable upcoming. By examining the follow and zip fastener cost of cycle and extracting atomic number 13 we fundament understand why recycling is a better choice than extracting admixturelic element from its ore.Discuss the importance of predicting yield in the identification, mining and extraction of commercial ore deposits Yield is the amount of product obtained or in mining terms how much (amount) a particular alloy wad be extracted from an ore (a deposit of minerals in which a commercial metal contri simplye be extracted from). Predicting yield in the processes of identification, mining and extraction is live to the success of a business. For a business to compete with the global markets, the investiture m octogenarianiness be emolumentable and in some cases sustainable to eventually years into the future.Percentage slice is usaged widely in the mining industries to calculate and measure the yield of particular metal from an ore. For example, haematite (Fe2O3), a compound consisting except of iron and atomic number 8, stinker theoretically discover around 70% iron while chalcopyrite (CuFeS2), consisting entirely of slob, iron and sulphur can produce theoretically 35% copper. However if we shew yield as a percentage of the ore dug out, an iron ore would un little contain about 16% iron and for a copper ore only contain 1-5% copper.This is beca drug ab drop an ore dug out of the ground contains unwanted minerals like dirt, rocks and early(a) xerox products which add to the mass of the required mineral giving a low yield percentage. Since compounds like chalcopyrite and haematite have changeless composition, ores argon mixtures of useful minerals and other(a) waste products which have var iable composition (different location go forth yield different amounts of metals). This will affect if it is sparing to mine the ore at a particular location and therefrom plant that predicting yield is important.Predicting yield in the process of mining and extraction is important, whether extracting the metal from the ore or truly mining it, be go it can determine if it is profitable or not. Extraction proficiencys must(prenominal) be efficient and sustainable. Copper is extracted through roast it with oxygen before smelting it to form liquid copper. It is then reduced by bubbling air into the liquid copper to reduce copper sulphide to copper metal. Since this sulphur dioxide doesnt escape fast enough, it forms blister copper with is 98% copper. Electrolysis is apply to refine it.Due the significant amount of muscularity required and the cost involved it may seem copper is unprofitable. barely if the copper price is high, the consumption is high, location is not uttermos t from refinery plants and factories that use copper, if there is a steady sustainable source(abundance) of copper ore and the extraction technique is efficient plus cost effective then a profit can be gained from the high cost of extraction, seizure and the money essential to pay for the energy consumption. For a copper ore site to be economical it must contain at least 5% of copper or more.Haematite is extracted through reducing it with carbon monoxide to form iron (metal) which travel to the bottom of the blast furnace. Limestone is also heated in the blast furnace which decomposes and reacts with silicon dioxide to form a slag that floats on the liquid iron, hence fish filet iron from reacting with oxygen. High heat is call for to separate iron from oxygen since iron is reactive to oxygen and sand and limestone is requisite to prevent the core of these deuce elements. Hence for haematite to be economically viable an ore must contain at least 20% iron as the energy neces sitate to extract the metal is large and the worlds inquire for iron is great.Since iron ore price is relatively high, a profit can be obtained from deposits of iron ore that contain more than 20% of iron. Hence predicting the yield of ore deposits is important to determine if it is profitable to mine. Justify the increased recycling of metals in our society and across the World Recycling is a process that changes waste materials into untried products. In recent years, recycling of metals has increased dramatically in Australia and across the world. This is be capture we are more aware that recycling metals saves money, energy and causes far less pollution compared to extracting metals from ores.This is also spurred on by the fact that our metal ore deposits are depleting (going to run out) if we mine and extract metals at this rate. Hence recycling has been encouraged by organisation like Planet Ark and this has helped spread the inwardness of the benefits of recycling instead o f putting money into extracting and mining ores. Reusing and recycling metals depart us to conserve these precious commodities so it would be available for the future generation. Demand for metals will increase as new technology will be discovered. Hence recycling is needed to return buttocks old and useless appliance so it can be do it new useful products.Figure 1 It shows coruscate floatation Note The immense amount of body of water apply during the process Generally recycling metals use less energy (melting material requires the breaking of weak intermolecular bonds), water and cost less (less energy is needed to break the intermolecular bonds hence the cost will be minimised and new products with recycled material would be cheaper). talent used in metal extraction comes from coal, oil or burn out (as high temperatures are needed to break strong Intramolecular bonds). These fuels are non-renewable and are limited. It also releases large amounts of greenhouse gases when b urnt which can cause global warming.Water is used extensively in mining during froth floatation (figure 1). This water can be better spent for man consumption as some countries are experiencing drought and this can cause famine (Africa). Also, harmful chemicals used in the extraction of some metals can seep into the soil and water devising it toxic to fauna, flora and worldly c formerlyrn (figure 1. 1). Figure 1. 1 Acid mine water pollution For example, Bauxite (aluminium ore) is mined near tropical forest. This can cause irreversible damage to the surround as natural vegetation is destroyed, leaving soil bare and subjected to erosion.It can scar the land(figure 2)(removing so much soil and rock that leaves a extensive hole in the landscape) and since many chemical process need to homecoming place before aluminium is extracted, slag (unwanted metals) are left shtup and pollutants are released into the atmosphere adding to global warming. Figure 2 Shows a mine that is extractin g metals Note The extensive invasion of the land and that it is irreversible. But recycling aluminium on the other hand doesnt scar the land. Little to no pollution occurs and natural vegetation and fauna are not disrupted. great amounts of rubbish are no produced and water is not needed. For every 1 tonne of aluminium that is recycled, 5 tonne of bauxite is conserved. Metals project up a small percentage of the ore. A large percentage of the ore is the gangue (consisting of dirt, sand and other material) which ends up in landfills. This reduces the lay for cities to expand, limiting the number of farms and communities that can be developed and cause overcrowding. Recycling metals doesnt take up space hence reduces landfill, as scrap metals are mostly recycled back to make new products.Since ores are non-renewable resources (created by the Big bang and there is no carriage of returning it to Earths crust) it is conserved, reducing the amount of mines candid and surroundal impact s that it is associated with. As ores high in metal concentration decrease, the cost of processing ever less pure ores increase. To compensate for the increase in less pure ores, more must be mined. This increases the price of ores making it a valuable resource which is expensive to the consumer. Recycling metals helps to lower the prices of these ores, as the metal is reused without having to mine for new ores.Metals are used worldwide for a variety of purposes from soft drink cans to aircraft bodies. Australia has recycled 63% of aluminium cans nearly two meg cans a year with a total value estimated to be 33 million dollars. America has recycled in excess of 62. 6 billion cans in the year 2004, worth more than one billion dollars back into the economy. Since recycled aluminium is exported to other countries, Australia benefits as it generate large amounts of money positively impacting on Australia economy and its benefit flowing into society.However, recycling can only be done if used material is collected from scattered location. The ore on the other hand is confined to one location (the mining site) where factories are often close by to produce products from the freshly extracted metals. But once the product hits the shelves it is scattered across many different countries and throughout communities. It is onerous to keep track of all these products as some end up in landfill, waterways or in the peoples backyard.Collecting used material for recycling would cost money as trucks are needed to transport scrap metal to recycling centres. Hence energy (fuel) is needed to operate this machinery. In recent years (figure3), the media has focused on recycling aluminium drink cans because they are widely used and commonly outspread inappropriately throughout the community. E. g. In waterways, storm drains and in the ocean. Recycling of others metal like iron, steel, copper and lead have always been significant but never reported as it is mainly used at an industr ial/commercial level rather than by consumers.However since iron rust, it can be returned to the environment, but aluminium doesnt corrode (if it does, it forms an oxide layer that actually protects it from further oxidation) it ends up in landfill taking up space. The only way to get rid of it is to recycle it so it can be made into new products. Notice that recycling of lead and ferrous materials have fall Figure 3 Shows recycling metals Notice that when metals are recycled they can be reused to make different products.Recycling is a sustainable process, saving the environment from pollution, money, conserving natural resources and reduces landfill. Energy is also reduced as recycling requires less energy than extracting a metal from its ore. This will ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy a better standard of living. test information to compare the cost and energy expenditure involved in the extraction of aluminium from its ore and the recycling of aluminium The recycling of aluminium is efficient and uses less energy compared to extraction of aluminium from bauxite.To extract bauxite, land must be cleared for mining. Heavy equipment like bulldozers, hydraulic excavators and explosives are used to clear and mine the ore. These equipment cost considerable amount of money and use vast amount of energy (fuel) to operate. Transporting trucks, ships, railway cars are used to transport ores to extracting facilities or shipped to other countries cost money and again energy (fuel) is needed to power these machines. Notice the size of the person compared to the truck.