Higher:
Can describe how phytomining and bioleaching are used to extract copper
Middle:
Lower:
Lesson Starter: How many tonnes of copper are produced each year? Why is the demand for copper so high?
Lesson Starter Slide
Extracting copper from rock | The Alchemist's Apprentices | BBC Teach
Expert Film
Using the handout read the text then answer the following questions:
Explain how electrolysis is used to purify copper
Describe and explain the process of phytomining
State the advantages of phytomining
Why is it important to find alternative methods to extract metals?
Stage the main steps involved in phytomining
Phytomining is often said to be a “carbon neutral” process
Create a diagram which illustrates the process of phytomining.
Handout
Explain how electrolysis is used to purify copper
Describe and explain the process of phytomining
State the advantages of phytomining
Why is it important to find alternative methods to extract metals?
Stage the main steps involved in phytomining
Phytomining is often said to be a “carbon neutral” process
The Earth’s resources of metal ores are limited.
Copper ores are becoming scarce and new ways of extracting copper from low-grade ores include phytomining and bioleaching. These methods avoid traditional mining methods of digging, moving and disposing of large amounts of rock.
Phytomining uses plants to absorb metal compounds. The plants are harvested and then burned to produce ash that contains metal compounds.
Bioleaching uses bacteria to produce leachate solutions that contain metal compounds.
The metal compounds can be processed to obtain the metal. For example, copper can be obtained from solutions of copper compounds by displacement using scrap iron or by electrolysis.
Evaluate alternative biological methods of metal extraction, given appropriate information.
Presenting reasoned explanations, including relating data to hypotheses