M From Minerals to Elements

M1 Synopsis

A study of the extraction and uses of two elements, used to introduce major classes of chemical reactions. Main topics:

•       extraction of bromine from sea water;

•       transportation and uses of bromine;

•       mining and extraction of copper;

•       copper as a commodity;

•       environmental implications of mineral extraction;

•       major classes of chemical reactions: acid-base, redox and precipitation.

 

M2 Learning outcomes

 

Candidates should be able to:

 

(a)     use the concept of amount of substance to perform calculations involving concentrations of solutions;

 

(b)     use conventions for representing the distribution of electrons in atomic orbitals (no treatment of the shapes of atomic orbitals is expected);

 

(c) recall the classification of elements into s, p and d blocks;

 (d)

 

deduce (given the atomic number) the electronic configuration of atoms from hydrogen to krypton in terms of main energy levels and s, p and d atomic orbitals;

 

(e)

recall the following physical properties of the halogens:

 

(i)

appearance and state at room temperature,

 

 

(ii)

volatility,

 

 

(iii)

solubility in water and organic solvents;

 

(f)

assign oxidation states to the elements in a compound;

(g)

 

use oxidation states to decide which species have been oxidised and which reduced in a redox reaction.

(h)

 

describe redox reactions of s- and p-block elements in terms of electron transfer, using half-equations to represent the oxidation and reduction reactions.

 

(i)

explain the redox changes which take place when chlorine, bromine and iodine react with other halide ions.

(j)

 

explain the redox changes occurring in the extraction of bromine from sea water;

(k)

compare the relative reactivity of the halogens;

(l)

recall the reaction between halide ions and silver ions;

 

(m)   show awareness of the health and safety precautions needed in industry when     hazardous chemicals are being stored, transported and used;

 

(n)     show awareness of the economic importance of bromine and chlorine and their compounds;

 

(o)     describe the structure of an ionic lattice, exemplified by sodium chloride;

 

(p)     write ionic equations to represent precipitation reactions and other reactions involving ionic compounds;

 

(q)     describe the hydration of ions in aqueous solution;

 

(r)      describe and explain the major stages in the extraction of a pure metal from its ore;

 

(s)     show awareness of the scale and importance of mineral extractive industries and discuss the environmental implications of mineral extraction;

 

(t)      interpret flow diagrams showing the sequence of operations in a chemical process;

 

(u)     recognise from the balanced equation for a reaction whether it is an acid-base, redox or precipitation reaction;

 

(v)   recall that acid-base reactions involve proton transfer;

 

(w)    identify the proton donor and proton acceptor in an acid-base reaction;

 

(x) recall the procedure for carrying out an acid-alkali titration and be able to work out

the results.

 

(y) recall the procedure for vacuum filtration;

 

(z) describe examples of giant covalent (network) structures, such as diamond

     and   silicon(IV) oxide;

 

(aa) interpret differences in the physical properties of CO2 and SiO2 in terms of

         their different structures.