1. Explain with references to chemical properties, why aluminium – the most common metallic element on our planet – was not extracted and used until the 19th century whereas gold, a much rarer element was one of the first metals used. (10 marks)
Gold was discovered around 6000 BC; it was first discovered in its Natural state un-combined. Gold can be found in the earth’s crust in two different types of deposits: Lode deposits which are deposits in solid rock and placer deposits which are found in stream beds. Aluminium is the 3rd most common element and the most abundant metal. However it was not extracted and used in its pure form until 1825 many years after Gold. Although Aluminium bearing compounds, have been used in pottery, paint and medicines since early civilisations. Aluminium is never found naturally, it is always found combined in a compound or ore. The reason aluminium is always found combined and Gold is found Un-combined is there reactivity. Gold is not very reactive therefore doesn’t reactive with other elements in its environment, however Aluminium is very reactive and reacts with many things within its environment resulting in it always being found combined. The development of both these elements throughout the years between their discovery and now shows us how far human technology has come from not being able to extract aluminium at all, too now Aluminium being the most produced metal on earth and gold becoming one of the most prized elements of all.
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for 4 metals: a. account for the uses in relation to their physical properties. b. list the energy input required to extract each metal from its most common . ore. c. Relate the energy requirement to each metals
Aluminum is the third most abundant element and most abundant metal in the Earth’s crust. Aluminum is never found in the free element state in nature. It
The global flow of silver effected the mid-sixteenth century to the early eighteenth century economically because silver made the world go round, socially because everyone was dependent on some sort of trade, and politically because silver was a high priority to important world powers. In this document based assignment, it would have been convenient to have a document about the opinion of either a Potosi Indian or a peasant from the commercial city of Hangzhou because both points of view would give further insight into the negative side of this time periods lust for silver, and how the insanity ruined lives.
middle of paper ... ... The Web. 22 Feb. 2014. http://www.chemheritage.org/discover/online-resources/chemistry-in-history>.
Aluminum is the most abundant metallic constituent in the crust of the earth; only the nonmetals oxygen and silicon are more abundant. Aluminum is never found as a free metal; commonly as aluminum silicate or as a silicate of aluminum mixed with other metals such as sodium, potassium, iron, calcium, and magnesium. These silicates are not useful ores, for it is chemically difficult, and therefore an expensive process, to extract aluminum from them. bauxite an impure h...
Gold bears quite a number of chemical properties that I will discuss in details down here. These point out on how gold behaves at various conditions. The chemical formula of gold is Au which is derived from its chemical name. When it comes to gold’s activity, it is not chemically active. This means that it greatly resists any kind of chemical reaction. In most cases, it rarely reacts with other chemicals. Gold is easily reduced from a compound to become a metal. It has two main compounds. These compounds are the Chloral-auric acid as well as the auric chloride. When we come to how gold reacts with certain acids, it is clear that there is an acid that is very able to dissolve this element. This acid is known as Aqua regia and is a combination of hydrochloric and nitric acids. Gold is not able to react with non-metals. Under this case, it only reacts with halogens and forms what is known as halides. The main alloys that can be used to make gold harder include platinum metal and silver (Tocci,
-Discuss the silver vs. gold argument, listing at least one argument for silver and one argument for gold.
Gold has been valued in our cultural history for as long as societies have been able to adopt this valuable metal’s unique properties. Gold is unique in its inherent marvellous glossy shine. Gold is particularly malleable, conducts electricity, doesn’t blemish and blends well with other metals. Because of these exclusive properties, gold creates its ways in our everyday life in many ways or form. Gold has always had remarkable significance, shown by most civilizations as a symbol of wealth and power. Gold has captivated most of cultures around the world and the passion for it brings to the extermination of some cultures and the growth in condition of others. This essay explores the use of gold over time and perception of the cultures that surround by gold.
the iron ore to iron. In the other cases of metals the most common way
Due to the natural processes of magma flow, hydrothermal gradients, sedimentation, and evaporation, minerals are concentrated in various areas of the Earth’s crust. Obtaining these minerals for human use involves four general steps. • Locating the minerals • Then, extracting the minerals from the Earth in the form of ore or rock Then, processing (smelting) the ore to separate the impurities from the desired mineral. Finally, creating a useful product from the minerals. Procedure 1.
In the world today there is not that much physical gold actually left. In total there would be about a 67-foot cube, which is roughly the size of a small office building. Gold is naturally forming so it cannot be created which makes it a very inflexible subst...
Because other metals were thought to be less perfect than gold, it was reasonable to believe that nature created gold out of other metals found deep within the earth and that a skilled artisan could duplicate this process. It was said that once someone was able to change, or transmute a "base" chemical into the perfect metal, gold, they would have achieved eternal life and salvation. In this way, alchemy turned into not only a scientific quest, but a spiritual quest as well. Although the purposes and techniques were often times ritualistic and fanciful, alchemy was in many ways the predecessor of modern science, especially the science of chemistry.The birthplace of alchemy was ancient Egypt, where, in Alexandria, it began to flourish during the Hellenistic period. Also at that time, a school of alchemy was developing in China.
Aluminum is one of a number of soft metals that scientists call "poor" metals. It can be shaped and twisted into any form. It can be rolled into thick plates for armored tanks or into thin foil for chewing gum wrappers. It may be drawn into a wire or made into cans. Aluminum is a generally popular metal because it does not rust and it resists wear from weather and chemicals. (Bowman, 391) Aluminum is an element. Its atomic number is thirteen and its atomic weight is usually twenty-seven. Pure aluminum melts at 660.2ºC and boils at 2500ºC. Its density is 2.7 grams per cube centimeter. Aluminum is never found uncombined in nature. (Bowman, 391) Aluminum is a very useful metal that is light, easy to shape and can be strong. This makes aluminum one of the most used metals in the world, right behind iron and steel. (Geary, 185) In its pure state, aluminum is quite weak compared to the other metals. However, its strength can be greatly increased by adding small amounts of alloying elements, heat-treating, or cold working. Only a small percentage of aluminum is used in its pure form. It is made into such items as electrical conductors, jewelry, and decorative trim for alliances and cars. A combination of the three techniques has produced aluminum alloys that, pound for pound, are stronger than structural steel. Some common metals used in alloys for aluminum are copper, magnesium and zinc.(Walker, 31) The added elements give the aluminum strength and other properties. (Newmark, 41) Aluminum is one of the lightest metals. It weighs about 168.5 pounds per cubic foot, about a third as much as steel which weighs 487 pounds per cubic foot. (Neely, 214) As a result, aluminum has replaced steel for many uses. For example, some ...
Wilson, David A. Alchemy: Creating Gold From Base Metal. Black Mountain, N.C.: Lorien House, 1988.
Gold is the “noblest'; of the noble metals (gold, platinum, palladium, and rhodium), so termed because of their inertness, or reluctance to enter into chemical reactions. Gold will not react with common acids but is attacked by a three-to-one mixture of hydrochloric and nitric acids. This combination is called aqua regia because it reacts with the so-called royal metal. Gold will not combine directly with oxygen, but oxides may be formed indirectly. Gold will also combine with the halogens (fluorine, chlorine bromine, and iodine) and with the cyanides.
John Dalton�s Periodic Tables. 2014. John Dalton�s Periodic Tables. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.sussexvt.k12.de.us/science/The%20History%20of%20the%20World%201500-1899/John%20Dalton's%20periodic%20tables.htm. [Accessed 12 May 2014].