Extraction of Pure Elements from Nature Which elements are easy?
Easy elements are gases that exist in the elemental form N 2, O 2, noble gases Obtained by distillation of cooled, liquified air.
Preview
Extraction of Metals All metals exist as cations in chemical compounds in the crust. Key: reducing the cations to the neutral metal. Example: Fe 2 O 3 has Fe 3+ ions. To obtain Fe metal, need to add 3 electrons to each Fe 3+ ion.
What we’ll find.
Review of Thermodynamic Control of Reactions Enthalpy: H depends on bond strength reactions favored by negative H (which is forming stronger bonds) Entropy: S depends on randomness (disorder) reactions favored by positive S (increasing disorder, particularly formation of gases)
Consider the decomposition of Fe 2 O 3
Reaction with C: C(s) CO2(g)
Consider the decomposition of HgO
Aluminum Production